This memorial day: just shut up and support the troops!

[Cow Poke]

Remember the fallen...and also remember that the Europe that a large fraction of them died for has yet managed to produce people who do them proud:

Remember, while the troops are away, the task of saying "It belongs to us" about your nation falls on you. No matter how the state thrashes about, treating the nation it's in as a demon treats its host body.

This well reasoned and incredibly cogent post makes me miss Epo.

[Epoetker]

Remember the fallen...and also remember that the Europe that a large fraction of them died for has yet managed to produce people who do them proud:

Remember, while the troops are away, the task of saying "It belongs to us" about your nation falls on you. No matter how the state thrashes about, treating the nation it's in as a demon treats its host body.

[seanD]

yuh

Or it could also just be an excuse to hide behind the cloak of sentimentalism in order to avoid the ugly.

[Cow Poke]

True, which is why I mentioned it was a faux pas to mix up the subjects.

yuh

[seanD]

Memorial Day is not about "supporting the troops" - it's about remembering the fallen.

True, which is why I mentioned it was a faux pas to mix up the subjects. Veterans Day unfortunately doesn't get nearly as much attention in the media, nor does it stop this government from exploiting it for their own agenda...

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/worl...icle-1.1805131

[Cow Poke]

It is astounding how many people confuse Veterans Day with Memorial Day and versa vicey.

Yup. You probably remember when it was "Decoration Day".

[rogue06]

Memorial Day is not about "supporting the troops" - it's about remembering the fallen.

It is astounding how many people confuse Veterans Day with Memorial Day and versa vicey.

[Cow Poke]

Memorial Day is not about "supporting the troops" - it's about remembering the fallen.

[foudroyant]

Thought for some time now that it seems once a soldier is "used up" the rallying for their support is not as vocal.

[seanD]

Happy memorial day, everyone. I know this is a faux pas on such a day, but I can't help not notice the disparity in two very contrary realities, one much uglier than the other. Support the troops. You hear it ad nauseam on "conservative" networks when there's some war for natural resources they want everyone to rally around and support. But what does it mean exactly? Are they just talking lip service or actually supporting the troops? Here's how the US government honors and supports our vets...

It classifies them as potential rightwing terrorists...

The American Legion on Tuesday criticized a new Homeland Security report as unfairly stereotyping veterans by suggesting that some soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan could be recruited by right-wing extremists to participate in violent actions.
...

The report, which prompted a storm of outrage Tuesday from conservatives, cited the example of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh in warning that the return of disgruntled military veterans could lead to “terrorist groups or lone wolf extremists capable of carrying out violent attacks.”

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...s-terror-risk/

It allows thousands of backlogged veterans' benefits...

The Department of Veterans Affairs' promise to end by 2015 its massive, benefits backlog for disabled veterans has "stalled," according to an analysis released Monday by a leading veterans' organization.

After slicing its glut of pending claims from a peak of 600,000 cases in March 2013 to 400,000 in November, the VA has been unable to budge below that threshold this year, according to "The Red Tape Report," authored by the group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Consequently, hundreds of thousands of veterans who were permanently disabled or made ill by their military service are waiting months for their compensation checks to arrive to help pay bills and, in some cases, to buy food. Some of those veterans are physically unable to hold jobs.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2014...rt-claims?lite

It creates veteran "death panels"...

At least 40 U.S. veterans died waiting for appointments at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care system, many of whom were placed on a secret waiting list.

The secret list was part of an elaborate scheme designed by Veterans Affairs managers in Phoenix who were trying to hide that 1,400 to 1,600 sick veterans were forced to wait months to see a doctor, according to a recently retired top VA doctor and several high-level sources.

For six months, CNN has been reporting on extended delays in health care appointments suffered by veterans across the country and who died while waiting for appointments and care. But the new revelations about the Phoenix VA are perhaps the most disturbing and striking to come to light thus far.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/23/health...h-care-delays/

And remember, while veterans are left languishing, al-qaeda loyalists in Libya and Syria (the same group that orchestrated 911) are enjoying the fruits of your tax dollars in the hundreds of millions (not including weapons caches).

But don't let reality stymie sentimentalism. It's all about holding one's tongue about such criticism lest one give the impression they're a traitorous commie to this country. It's all about getting teary-eyed at the ole red white and blue, giving applause to the troops at the Superbowl, shouting the tribal laudation "USA, USA, USA!"