As I see the zillionth "support our troops" bumper sticker/car magnet today I made a connection between the driver of the vehicle and the slogan. A majority of the drivers are Vietnam era age. Either old enough to have gone, old enough to remember someone who was there or just old enough to remember the public backlash of contempt for those who served.
The treatment of Vietnam veterans by the American people was appalling. No one who serves this great country from Marine Corps to Peace Corps deserves to be treated in such a disgusting manner. It is great to see the American people as a collective whole stand up and say "never again". What's not so great is the American political system, more so the right than the left use heart felt remorse and patriotism as a blunt weapon against its dissenters. Lets not forget that the American governments hands are not clean when it comes to embracing Vietnam veterans to its bosom. In contrast to World War II veterans, they were not given any benefits beyond what soldiers receive when they serve in a time of peace. Only 1,800 of some 250,000 soldiers who were exposed to the defoliant Agent Orange received compensation for the effects of that exposure.
http://en.wikipedia.org/....
As time has passed hawkish bureaucrats have accused Americans that question any military action as "unpatriotic" or a number of other talking points and catch phrases that suit their purpose. These cut downs are a self serving attack that subliminally tap into the Vietnam portion of the collective American psyche and bring those dark times to the surface no matter if you lived them or not.
Its great that we remember history and take action that the rough spots never happen again, but to be held hostage and to let your self be beat over the head with history by this chickenhawk administration is unacceptable. To put it in personal context. I am black. I think that it is really important for whites to recongnize slavery as an American holocaust. Also take some time to learn about the civil rights struggles in America, but in no way do I blame or expect whites to feel guilt for these atrocities. Just recognize it and make the country better. Lets change the policy, foreign and domestic. Not let our government make us feel guilty about our reaction to their policy. No matter how hurtful the reaction is.