Thursday, September 18, 2008
By publishing op-eds like Steve Almond's: Supporting our troops
PERHAPS the most insidious byproduct of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, has been a reflexive sanctification of the military. To put this in bumper stickerese: Support the Troops.
Well, I have an ugly confession to make: I don't support the troops - at least not unconditionally. When somebody tells me they serve in the military, my first impulse isn't to say, "Thank you for your service!" like those insufferable chickenhawks on talk radio.
My first impulse is to say, "I'm sorry to hear that." Because I am. I'm sorry to know that the person I'm talking to might someday be maimed or killed on the job, or might someday kill someone else. Or refuel a plane that drops bombs on buildings...
A fringe point of view? I say more mainstream on the left that some people want to admit.
Let's see...
Loathing of the American military, check...
A Michelle Obama-like attitude about the United States, check...
A preening, over-bearing ego, check...
And an utter cluelessness about economic and political realities, check and check...
...UPDATE! I had forgotten that Steve Almond is the nitwit who resigned from his part-time job at Boston College because they dared to invite Condi Rice as a commencement speaker. Apparently he was lobbying for William Ayers instead...
FROM A LISTENER:
I had to laugh this morning about the Globe article and his "feelings" about the military. It reminded me of a conversation with my 10 year old who "feels" that it is wrong to kill animals but still wanted a hamburger for dinner.
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: How the Boston Globe Supports the Troops.
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As an antidote to the Steve Almonds out there, I thought I'd post up this piece sent in by reader and occasional guest-poster, Tom Glennon: As the proud father of a member of the US Air Force, I am getting... Read More
