Throughout my life, the musical "My Fair Lady" resonated within me. As I reflect upon our soldiers, and the oft-heard phrase, "Support Our Troops," I am again reminded of this theatrical production. Eliza Doolittle sang a song, "Show Me." She emphatically stated, "Make me no undying vow. Show me now! Sing me no song! Read me no rhyme! Don't waste my time, Show me!"
This was exactly my thought as I read a New York Times article, "Veterans Await a Resting Place That Is Truly Final." We offer our troops words; too often, our actions do not show them that we mean what we say. Apparently, whether we are discussing our soldiers serving in Iraq or those toiling in Afghanistan, there is reason to believe, that we, the people of United States of America, do not truly support our troops; in life; nay in death.
There was much talk in the news of lost or stolen veteran files. The mainstream media began flooding the airwaves with justifiable concerns for identity theft in May. At the time, citizens were told only veterans were affected. This week we learn millions of active duty soldiers are also impacted.
This initial report was released on May 22. The robbery occurred on May 3, 2006. A Veterans Affairs employee's home was burglarized. Among the items taken was a computer disk. Supposedly, pertinent and personal records of millions of military veterans were imprinted on the compact disk. Now we know that was not true, there was more.
Much of what was revealed in May was inaccurate. Information was withheld and incomplete. No reason was given for the delay in reporting. Apparently, officials were hoping for a speedy recovery; however, that did not happen.
President George W. Bush spoke today from the comfort of his Washington White House home. King George II, a man that never served in battle said of the accused Marines, "I am mindful that there is a thorough investigation going on. If in fact the laws were broken there will be punishment.'' ?This statement was the first the Emperor made on the Haditha killings.
Mr. Bush assured the American public that "The Marine Corps is full of men and women who are honorable people . . . they know the law." "That proud culture will be reinforced." For they are the "The few. The proud. The United States Marines." Bush said nothing of what war might do to minds that were once sound, though how would he truly know.
Early in April 2005, I wrote of how we tentatively support our troops. I shared the odd ways in which we honor those that we love. I questioned Department of Defense policies. The Pentagon does not accurately report the actual number of war casualties. "Casualties" are considered persons that are "hurt directly by the bullets and the bombs of the enemy." If an ally wounds a soldier, if a soldier is injured in an accident, or if a serviceperson hurts him/herself, s/he is not "counted' as a casualty!
I wrote of how the government fears losing support for the war effort. They do not wish to expose the truth of our conflicts. They fear the "Dover test." When our war wounded and fallen soldiers are flown back into the States, they arrive at Air Force Bases, such as, Dover. When citizens see images of these, when they are forced to face the reality of war, they often withdraw their support. It is difficult to tolerate the loss of young lives. Equally troublesome is the loss of an eye or a limb; the cruelty of war-imposed pain is not a welcome sight. Therefore, our government has chosen to screen what we see; they want us to feel good about our wars.
Now, on April 28, 2005, I discover others questioning and actively conquering military conventions, and more pictures. After an extensive legal battle, the Pentagon was forced to reveal 360 photographs of United States soldiers killed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other conflicts.
We, Americans, speak of loving our troops, supporting our soldiers and yet we demonstrate this in the oddest of ways. Recently, on April 1, 2005, I was listening to what I wish were an April "Fool's Day" ruse. Sadly, it was not. I was tuned into On the Media, a National Public Radio program. The topic was "Wounded in Abstraction." Radio host Brook Gladstone was interviewing Salon correspondent, Mark Benjamin. Mr. Benjamin has been covering the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has followed the injured soldiers, listened to their stories, and observed their stresses.
He has written much on the subject. During this discourse, he spoke of the Pentagon, its practices, policies, and the manner in which it calculates war casualties. He offered that the numbers are "deceptively low" and he explained why this is.
Reporter Benjamin shared that the Pentagon selectively defines the term "casualties." Casualties are only persons that are "hurt directly by the bullets and the bombs of the enemy." If an ally wounds a soldier, if s/he is injured in an automobile accident, if a combatant commits suicide, or is s/he is impaired accidentally, then s/he is not considered a casualty of war.
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