IF I COULD TALK TO THE TROOPS
By Sandy Cook
Perhaps the toughest conundrum in the current and past wars is the question of whether or not a protest hurts the troops. Very few would argue with the fact that the right to protest in general about anything is quintessentially American and democratic. Very few would argue that any question is beyond discussion.
But, when I raise my voice in protest over this particular war I am told, “Shut up! You are a traitor! Your protest hurts the troops. Your questioning the war questions their sacrifice, and says that they ‘died in vain’”. And the worst one of all, “You are walking on their graves.”
How do I, a patriot both at heart and through demonstrable long service to my country, answer these charges? How do I act in the face of such an indictment? IF I COULD TALK TO THE TROOPS
By Sandy Cook
Perhaps the toughest conundrum in the current and past wars is the question of whether or not a protest hurts the troops. Very few would argue with the fact that the right to protest in general about anything is quintessentially American and democratic. Very few would argue that any question is beyond discussion.
But, when I raise my voice in protest over this particular war I am told, “Shut up! You are a traitor! Your protest hurts the troops. Your questioning the war questions their sacrifice, and says that they ‘died in vain’”. And the worst one of all, “You are walking on their graves.”
How do I, a patriot both at heart and through demonstrable long service to my country, answer these charges? How do I act in the face of such an indictment?
The nut of the problem, of course, is that I cannot talk to the troops in these exchanges, I can only talk to their self-appointed ‘defenders’, often folks who believe that somehow patriotism is the blind following of the Commander-in-chief’s desires. These are most often folks who have no stake in the current game – no child or other loved one in or on their way to Iraq or Afghanistan – no service of their own – no allegiance except to some comic book idea of the Constitution and the nation.
If I could talk to the troops I could tell them that I protest for them not against them.
If I could talk to the troops I could say that your promise to defend the nation is always matched by the President’s promise not to send you except to defend the nation, and only when all else has failed; and that while you have kept your oath, the “powers that be” have failed in theirs.
If I could talk to the troops, I could tell them that we went before you and in some cases, such as any theater in WW II, we knew that we were defending the country, and that our President had sent us there only because he had to; that Congress had deliberated the issue, and that the nation’s representatives – our representatives – had decided that they must declare the war that we were fighting.
If I could talk to the troops I could tell them that even in Korea, despite claims by some to the contrary, we were on the ground, we were attacked, we were defending ourselves, and our President knew why he had us there, even if Congress couldn’t deliberate their way through the issue.
If I could talk to the troops I could tell them that many of us have been where they are now; that many of us never knew why we were in Vietnam other than in service to our sworn oath, that few of us believed that if we didn’t fight the Viet Cong and the NVA they would attack us in Lafayette Park, and most wondered why our President couldn’t tell us the reason and why Congress wouldn’t wrestle with it at all.
If I could talk to the troops I would tell them that they should never be sent into battle ill-armed and ill-trained as happened month after month with unit upon unit in this conflict.
If I could talk to the troops I would tell them that their families deserve to be defended at home, and that their wives and children shouldn’t have to travel hundreds of miles and wait days and weeks on end for medical and other family services, shouldn’t have to wonder if their pay was going to arrive, and shouldn’t have to suffer loss of family homes and businesses because of someone’s secret plan.
If I could talk to the troops I could tell them that no person who valorously stands up and follows his oath and his leaders’ orders by going into battle, and therein perishes, dies in vain; no one wounded doing his sworn duty is wounded in vain. But I would also tell them that such death or woundings are a further charge on the malfeasance of their leaders.
If I could talk to the troops I could tell them that nothing and no one ever trivializes their sacrifice in our eyes; only failures by their military and civilian leadership trivializes their sacrifice in any sense.
If I could talk to the parents and loved ones of the troops I would ask them to stand with us as we stand with their dear sons and daughters.
If I could talk to the troops I couldn’t tell them why no one else is sacrificing when they are giving all, damn it!
If I could talk to the troops I could tell them that I revere their personal nobility while I deny the nobility of their leaders’ cause.
If I could talk to the troops I know that they would understand and that many of them would agree.
If I could talk to the troops I would never lie.
If I could talk to the troops.
With devotion to the nation and our service men and women and their families
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