As I have mentioned in an earlier post, I am a former team member of Army Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha 585. I fought in Afghanistan, from the earliest days. I am currently a member of law enforcement. In other words, I am everything that the cliche says should make me a conservative. I am a progressive.
For the last few days, I have read/watched as Repubs and other conservatives have whined about the criticism being leveled at those abhorrent Marines who urinated on the corpse of an Iraqi. I have read/watched as they have made excuses, attributed the behavior to the stress of war, and proclaimed that "you didn't hear liberals" criticize terrorists as they beheaded people.
And all I have to say to these Repubs is: Why do you hate the military?
How dare you? How dare you people suggest that there is some reason, some explanation for behavior that demeans all of us who have served, that violates every concept of honor and duty that we are sworn to uphold. I speak to many, many veterans -- Army, Marines, et. al. -- and to a one, they are appalled and upset about the story of these "soldiers" who know nothing about what it means to serve. They have disgraced every one of us who has ever put on a uniform for the American military. This is not who we are, and if any of us becomes that, they should be drummed out of the military, with a court martial and a prison sentence.
That is what the people who have actually done the fighting and dying believe. But these talking heads, these Republican politicians, somehow don't understand the magnitude of meaning that military men and women attribute to the word "honor." With their dismissive "boys will be boys" mindset, they demean us all. Honor means nothing if it is appropriate to urinate on the dead. These people have never worn the uniform. If they did, they would never say the things that they say.
Then of course there is the "liberals didn't criticize the beheading terrorists" slander. Excuse me, but what? How in the world does anyone believe that? I know they believe that liberals are inhuman demons, but this kind of lie goes beyond the pale. Moreover, criticize it? It's not like we're talking about tax cuts or the placement of ballistic missiles. We are talking about CHOPPING OFF SOMEONE'S HEAD! Does a civilized person really need to stand back and say "tsk, tsk -- that's terrible." It goes without saying! And, even still, it was said. This is like saying "well, they didn't criticize the slaughter of millions in Cambodia, so how can they object to the death penalty" It is a pernicious lie, by pernicious liars.
But, worse: How dare they! How dare they, in any way shape or form, make any comparison between American soldiers and butchers! To compare us -- you may was well say "Well, the Nazi military killed millions of innocent people, so how can you criticize the My Lai massacre?"
Which leads to a golden oldie: John Kerry's medals were manipulated and fake. Do any of those people understand that, by saying that, they are demeaning every single soldier who has ever been decorated? Kerry was nobody back then, just a brave soldier fighting bravely. He won some of our nation's highest military honors. And these -- scum (I'm sorry) -- turn around and say, well, the medals are just awarded out of political and manipulative ways.
I have friends who lost their legs who were awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart. And with what the conservatives said, they demeaned the awards and honors. These men were rock-ribbed Republicans, but in 2004, they voted for Kerry because the Repubs were demonstrating themselves to detest soldiers as anything other than a symbol to waive before shoving them into the meat grinder and demeaning their service simply to score a political point. They noticed, as have I, that the Dems never do that. Ever. And strangely, there tend to be more dems that have served in the military, and they are far less of war-mongers than the republican chicken-hawks.
So, the next time you hear someone defend the urinators, or attack Kerry for his "fake" medals or complain that people didn't criticize terrorists for decapitating innocents compared to what they say about the military, tell them this:
A decorated American soldier, one of the first to enter Afghanistan, has this to say to them:
How dare you demean me, my fellow veterans and my fallen comrades? Your ignorant attitude is an insult to everyone who has ever worn the uniform of the American military. And before you open your mouth again, go sign up. Because one thing is for sure -- no one who ever has served would ever justify the actions of soldiers whose behavior is an insult and embarrassment for all of us.