Every Fourth of July I feel anticipation. Patriotic décor, hamburgers and family. And one more thing: angst. After 20 years of Army service, with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, I don’t like fireworks. Indeed, one of the bases on which I served in Afghanistan, Forward Operating Base Shank, was nicknamed “Rocket City” for its daily rocket attacks. So, every Fourth of July and New Year’s, I have a bittersweet taste as my fellow countrymen try to simulate some of the sights and sounds of war in the name of fun and patriotism.
Until this year. Now, I would gladly accept the worst startle response and flashback induced by fireworks than what I am seeing in America. Fourth of July and New Year’s are two days out of the year. American democracy is supposed to be forever.
Recently Rep. Dan Crenshaw was called “Eye-Patch McCain” by Tucker Carlson and a “traitor” by attendees at the Texas Republican convention. In the past, Rep. Adam Kinzinger was called a “traitor” by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Like many veterans, I am not registered with any political party. I lean right on some issues, and lean left on others. Having never been on social media, I try to prevent myself from becoming polarized. But calling my fellow veterans “traitors” is starting to polarize me.
Crenshaw, John McCain and Kinzinger all have three things in common: Republican, congressional service, and war service. Sometimes I have agreed with them, other times not. But one thing I never questioned: their patriotism. McCain kept the faith by not taking an early release from a POW camp, subjecting himself to years of torture. Crenshaw lost an eye. Kinzinger served in multiple combat deployments. Traitors? Absolutely not.
Veterans are uniquely positioned to help America overcome its current political divergence. People from urban settings, rural areas, suburbs, and exurbs come together as a team, supporting the common good. Each part of the political spectrum can be found in uniform. Every race, religion, and yes, even gender, are represented in the military. Once the first bullet flies, none of that stuff matters. What matters is the person next to you is willing to sacrifice for the mission and the group’s survival. After our service, whether it be four years or 30, we go back to where we started. But we carry with us the memories of how a widely diverse group of Americans have always come together to defend America’s values: democracy, liberty, equality, and choosing one path over another because it is correct, not because it is easy.
Yet, there is an increasing tempo of disrespecting veterans. Donald Trump’s wrangling with McCain and his disrespect of a Gold Star Family; the use of the word “traitor” against these particular patriots. As Americans we should take these verbal attacks as a warning. An attack on veterans is an attack on the nation as a whole because veterans both defend and represent America’s core values. If veterans can be targeted, then no one is safe. It’s just a matter of time.
Republicans once hailed Ronald Reagan as the epitome of conservative values. They credited him with restoring America’s self-confidence in the post-Vietnam era and with re-instilling Americans’ patriotism and honoring of the military. What would he say now?
I know that many Republican voters do not support this anti-veteran, anti-American sentiment expressed by the far right. But this will continue until everyday Republican voters and donors say, “Enough Is enough!” The far right wing of the Republican Party is being emboldened by the silence of the majority of the party. The elected Republican leaders have shown they will not stand up to the far right wing out of fear of losing donations and votes in primary elections. So, it falls upon regular Americans to do it.
To my fellow citizens, I ask that you thank veterans for their service not by saying the hackneyed phrase, but by defending them.
To my fellow veterans, I ask that you send a message. Send the only message to which our elected leaders will listen: withdrawing your money and your vote. Force these leaders to silence the anti-American extremists attempting to overtake the Republican Party. Remember your oath, and keep it.
Until this year. Now, I would gladly accept the worst startle response and flashback induced by fireworks than what I am seeing in America. Fourth of July and New Year’s are two days out of the year. American democracy is supposed to be forever.
Recently Rep. Dan Crenshaw was called “Eye-Patch McCain” by Tucker Carlson and a “traitor” by attendees at the Texas Republican convention. In the past, Rep. Adam Kinzinger was called a “traitor” by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Like many veterans, I am not registered with any political party. I lean right on some issues, and lean left on others. Having never been on social media, I try to prevent myself from becoming polarized. But calling my fellow veterans “traitors” is starting to polarize me.
Crenshaw, John McCain and Kinzinger all have three things in common: Republican, congressional service, and war service. Sometimes I have agreed with them, other times not. But one thing I never questioned: their patriotism. McCain kept the faith by not taking an early release from a POW camp, subjecting himself to years of torture. Crenshaw lost an eye. Kinzinger served in multiple combat deployments. Traitors? Absolutely not.
Veterans are uniquely positioned to help America overcome its current political divergence. People from urban settings, rural areas, suburbs, and exurbs come together as a team, supporting the common good. Each part of the political spectrum can be found in uniform. Every race, religion, and yes, even gender, are represented in the military. Once the first bullet flies, none of that stuff matters. What matters is the person next to you is willing to sacrifice for the mission and the group’s survival. After our service, whether it be four years or 30, we go back to where we started. But we carry with us the memories of how a widely diverse group of Americans have always come together to defend America’s values: democracy, liberty, equality, and choosing one path over another because it is correct, not because it is easy.
Yet, there is an increasing tempo of disrespecting veterans. Donald Trump’s wrangling with McCain and his disrespect of a Gold Star Family; the use of the word “traitor” against these particular patriots. As Americans we should take these verbal attacks as a warning. An attack on veterans is an attack on the nation as a whole because veterans both defend and represent America’s core values. If veterans can be targeted, then no one is safe. It’s just a matter of time.
Republicans once hailed Ronald Reagan as the epitome of conservative values. They credited him with restoring America’s self-confidence in the post-Vietnam era and with re-instilling Americans’ patriotism and honoring of the military. What would he say now?
I know that many Republican voters do not support this anti-veteran, anti-American sentiment expressed by the far right. But this will continue until everyday Republican voters and donors say, “Enough Is enough!” The far right wing of the Republican Party is being emboldened by the silence of the majority of the party. The elected Republican leaders have shown they will not stand up to the far right wing out of fear of losing donations and votes in primary elections. So, it falls upon regular Americans to do it.
To my fellow citizens, I ask that you thank veterans for their service not by saying the hackneyed phrase, but by defending them.
To my fellow veterans, I ask that you send a message. Send the only message to which our elected leaders will listen: withdrawing your money and your vote. Force these leaders to silence the anti-American extremists attempting to overtake the Republican Party. Remember your oath, and keep it.
