Two weeks before 9/11 in 2001, my eldest son, John, after screwing around his first year of college enlisted in the Marine Corps. His enlistment wasn’t an act of patriotism or a desire to serve his country, it was simply a response to pressure from his father and the too few options he felt he had a available to him. Yet, when the media replayed, again and again, the images of the free fall collapse of the World Trade center towers and the pyroclastic dust clouds swallowing Manhattan, John was hooked and for the first time in his life was swept into the wave of superheated patriotism that emerged from the rubble.
John completed boot camp with a stripe on his shoulder, an expert rifleman pin on his lapel and miraculously even knew the names of the secretary of defense and the joint chiefs of staff and he left for war firmly believing in the American ideal that all people are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. He left for war believing he was a warrior fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves, for you and for me and he was willing to die to protect us. Today, like many combat veterans of foreign wars, he wisely questions the official reason America invaded Iraq and like many of his friends he has rightly felt betrayed by his leaders yet that spark, that love of country, that willingness to protect and defend, even to die for an ideal that is greater than self still burns in his warrior’s heart.
Much more adamantly than my son, I too feel betrayed by my leaders. Recklessly acting on weak intelligence, or worse, handpicking intelligence to make a case for war, there lurking in an office on Pennsylvania Avenue a choice was made that my child was expendable, inconsequential and nothing more than a pawn in a grand undisclosed scheme of empire hatched by unnamed plutocrats. If Americans were truly independent, if Independence Day really represented freedom from oppression and “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights” then shareholder blood would be on the battlefield and quarterly margins reduced by the cost of war.
Americans are dependent upon foreign manufacturing, foreign oil, centralized power production and distribution, factory farming and food distribution to name but a few essential services. We are not an independent nation or a free people. Foreign interests may now invest in American politics through political action committees not for love of country or a sense of loyalty and patriotism but for profit. Politicians that accept money from these interests are not patriots, they are not putting their lives on the line to defend your interests or mine, they have no loyalty to country at all… they are bought and paid to make decisions not for the greater good but to improve the bottom line for foreign investors.
My boy didn’t risk his life, play chicken with vehicle born IEDs, collect his friends’ body parts, kill Iraqi citizens defending their own soil and condemn himself to a lifetime of recurring nightmares just to enable foreigners to plunder American resources and put Americans out of work. If a foreign army invaded these boundaries all of us would take up arms to defend our country. The foreign invaders are here, they aren’t using guns yet, instead of bullets they are using dollars but they are definitely here. As a patriot the best way to fight for independence and defend our country is to vote against candidates who accept those dollars at the national, state and local level.
John Sweet sent me a response clarifying his military service.
“Was there ever anything out there that insinuated that I had been in Viet Nam? If so, it did not come from me, and I would like to clear that up. My service time was spent in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, Ft. Lewis, Washington, and a little time in Germany as part of a military buildup there just after the Berlin Wall was put in place.
John”
Whoa! I wish I had caught this thread sooner and I will first say the discussion appears to have veered way off topic.
Having said that, I will say that while there are veterans who not only believe that spitting on Vietnam veterans was commonplace but also firmly believe they were spat on themselves the evidence simply does not support this assertion. Like aghast!’s brother, many of my Vietnam combat veteran friends feel their sacrifice is besmirched when others repeat the claim that anti-war protesters blamed the troops for US foreign policy.
The protest signs back then are identical to those seen today. “Bring them home now”, “No more blood for treasure”, “Don’t die for a lie”… I know hundreds of sixties and seventies peace activists and not one of them blamed the troops, most had loved ones in harm’s way or had served in Vietnam themselves.
My kid brother was a drafted marine and had his 19th birthday at the battle of khe sanh where he earned two purple hearts. Nothing upsets him more than someone who lies about their service or claims they were spat on. IT IS A MYTH and I won’t believe anything you post here.
Dear Aghast, from your postings of many months ago regarding the guilt (before trial) of one of your Coquille neighbors, Mr. McGuffin, your identity is known. Generally I would not post more response to your message. But, you need help. Unlike you, I served my country in uniform. I was stupid and volunteered the first time and served during peace time. I was assured that I would not be recalled and I returned to university, superb employment, and a family. But, because so many draft dodging cowards were running to Canada, or getting student deferrments, or were avoiding the service because they were friends of the right people, and because Navy / Marine Corpsmen were a top priority for killing by the Asian people, I was recalled. For your info, if you kill a medic, they can’t save the injured to fight again another day. The content of my DD214 contains verifiable information that I do not discuss with you or any other person. I prefer not to remember Sergeant Clifford burned over 100 percent of his body (the only place for an IV was between his toes) (and he lived three days) or the 17 year old whose guts I shoved back inside so his parents could bury the entire body, or much more that causes PTSD. Most Viet Nam era service peoples would find your comments offensive. The next time that you see a person in uniform, thank him or her for their service. Please get educated about the WAR and stop believing all the bull that you read about myths and debunking.
The saddest commentary on all of this is that the US government did not learn one single thing about the war in Vietnam. Not one single thing. Please note: I said WAR, because that’s what it was.
skeptical, what company and regiment did you belong to? where and when were you in vietnam?
aghast, as my Marine Corps friends of today may say after reading your “debunked” “myth” post – Whiskey Tango Foxtrot! Were you in uniform during the late 60’s and 70’s? Did you have blood or animal shit thrown onto you because you wore a uniform? Maybe you were the one throwing. Most of my frineds did not volunteer for Viet Nam – they were drafted. Most returned home as damaged goods – drunks or druggies. I was spared, only PTSD. I assure you that persons returning in uniform in major communities, me to the Los Angeles area, were not welcomed by the unbathed war hating, Nixon hating, flag buring hippies – many who today reside in Eugene.
meant to say “probably” never served. By the way, that whole “spat on” myth has been debunked
http://www.vvaw.org/veteran/article/?id=350
thank you for all thats served and thank you to families who have gave all for this great nation, and the freedoms that we all enjoy.
“All gave some and some gave all” RIP LTC James L Wiley
Rickey Wiley
aghast, I recall that like me, Mr. Sweet is a Viet Nam era Marine. We share the nightmares. We were spat upon when returning home after fighting a war that none of us understood.
PS. Happy 4th!
The likes of Fred, Johm Sweet, Tim Bishop and Melissa Cribbins who never served probably think its unAmerican NOT to sell out to corporate influence.
Well said Mary! I agree whole heartedly. What has happened to our leadership? I don’t whole heartedly condemn the political establishment but I do condemn those who are unwilling to work on issues important to we Americans. Just the basics mind you. Just the opportunity to earn a good living for our families and ourselves, to be respected by our leaders and consulted and have those opinions shared be respected.
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for an excellent piece, MGx. Selling out this country is not patriotic, and buying their lies is not the American way.