Two Thoughts
Two things have bothered me today, and they both come back to a concept
of patriotism. Not the superficial, everyone's patriotic, nor the "you
can't be a 'loyal patriot' and question the government" brands of
patriotism, but the common sense, "I love my country, and want it to be
better" kind.
First, there are "reports" almost every day that there are
soldiers, in our voluntary armed services who are upset that they are
still deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, or where ever. Depending on the
news source, they are almost demanding that they shouldn't have their
lives interrupted by the war(s). Now, don't get me wrong. I have no
doubt that the separation and stress of constant danger is trying. I
have very deep respect for the men and women who, as part of our armed
forces, live with the knowledge, day-in-and-day-out, that their lives
could be changed by international events at almost any moment. But to
complain that they are deployed "too long" and that the war is causing
"too much disruption" seems odd to me. These folks signed up for the
Army. It was their choice, and they should have gone in understanding
the risks. No one was drafted. Yes, the sacrifices are great, but
nothing worth having is easy to come by. Not relationships, not
material items, and not peace.
Second, I was told by the local "news" paper yesterday that the
American flag is a "prop" for political candidates, and that the flags
hanging in the background of some of the photos of certain candidates
would be "digitally removed". These are American citizens, exercising
their American democratic tradition of citizens running for public
office, IN AMERICA. And the flag of our country is a PROP??? The
reporter indicated, "I don't think the paper wants to allow just
anything in the background of the pictures we print. You'll end up with
people with puppets or something behind them." So, being the smarty I
am, I asked, "So, the paper equates the flag of our country with a
puppet?" That's when he said the policy was against "all props".
Pretty soon, you'll be elected by standing naked, in the public
square, unable to speak about any issue, and unable to utilize any
media to get your message out. You think we have bad leaders now...
Sigh.
esw - October 2003