Support our troops

My Dad fought in Korea in the 1950s, and I've had several cousins serve in the military.

So far my sons and daughter have all been spared that experience. I actually considered joining out of high school, but it would have cost me a full four-year scholarship. The terms of my ride mandated that I enroll right after high school and complete my coursework in four years. And I was in no position to forego the free money.

Still, I know I've profited from the pain, suffering, and death of many others who joined and served for a variety of reasons. But I find it hard to stand up and cheer when soldiers are announced on planes, introduced at ball games, etc. I feel like I'm aiding and abetting a giant fraud on these people.

I read that the single demographic factor most closely associated with military service is the county unemployment rate. What that says to me is that a lot of young people are going in because they have few other options. (Unlike Dick Cheney. And me.)

Despite that, I see people I know clapping and cheering wildly for servicemen and women who would (I believe) advocate strongly against such service for their own children. Most of the Bush/Cheney cabal that started an unnecessary war in Iraq avoided military service themselves. My Dad always called them "chicken hawks", and he resented the facile patriotism of yellow ribbon magnets and jingoistic bumper stickers.

Once when I had a layover in Las Vegas I agreed to give up my seat to a soldier on an overbooked flight. It had nothing to do with "supporting the troops"; I got $700 in flight credits and a few free hours in Vegas. But some fat-ass blowhard on the flight was loudly telling everybody else in the waiting area that he'd pay $100 to anybody giving up their seat. When I agreed to be bumped, he shuffled up and offered it to me. I declined and he beat a quick retreat.

So this is "patriotism". Offer to throw a little money around, but don't actually volunteer to be inconvenienced yourself. I guess it's to be expected. All Bush asked of us after 9/11 was to go shopping. So when we're asked to "salute the troops in attendance" or give a standing ovation to a bunch of teenagers being sworn in, I get queasy. I feel like there's some cruel joke being played on them, and that when the commander shakes their hands he's passing them a folded up paper with "It sucks to be you" printed on it.

I do appreciate their service. I just wish the service didn't consist of being callously used and thrown into danger to protect Halliburton shareholders and as a Viagra substitute for George Bush.