GranolaBox

I’ve been told far too many times that by saying I support our troops but not the war that I’m a hypocrite. I’m sick of hearing it, and I’m pleased that a group of patriotic Americans have come forward to affirm my patriotism, rather than debase it.

When my father stepped off the airplane returning home from his final tour in Vietnam, he and the other troops on the plane were pelted with garbage by anti-war protesters. Here was my father, a devoted husband and family man, a decorated war hero… MY hero to this day being pelted with garbage. All for selflessly doing his job.

My father didn’t lose his life, but my sister-in-law’s father did. My father lost a lot of his hearing, has damage to the bottom of his feet from Agent Orange, and hasn’t sought a penny of compensation from the government because he believes it would be unpatriotic.

I’ve vowed that I would never participate in any form of protest that debases our soldiers. That’s why I’ve started typing the names of the fallen one by one in my posts. They are heroes and patriots, my father is a hero and a patriot, and I am a proud patriot.

I believe that, in the words of Howard Zinn; “dissent is the highest form of patriotism.”

To help the vets, visit their website at votevets.org.

Comment!

Is it a contradiction to be opposed to the war and still support our troops?

Technorati Tags: support our troops, Vietnam, Agent Orange, Howard Zinn

Filed under: Politics on January 31st, 2007