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It’s Unpatriotic
By Truman Scott
I am a Vietnam veteran who was welcomed home with epithets such as
“Baby Killer”, “War Monger”, and “Murderer.” Perhaps the current
support and patriotism for our troops comes about because those who
used those types of epithets in the 60’s and 70’s had a change of
heart. From the outset, let me be clear that I do support our
troops.
In Vietnam, I recall arguing with my fellow Marines who said that the
“hippies” and “college kids” were being unpatriotic by not supporting
our efforts in Southeast Asia. I argued, on the other hand, that these
demonstrators had every right to protest our presence in Vietnam and
that it would have been unpatriotic of them not to do so. After
all, what were we fighting for if not for the freedoms we have? Freedom
of Speech is the cornerstone in our democratic way of life. Two
years after my discharge, I found myself marching in protest against
the war.
I have become rankled by the lack of anger towards those who have
sought war to line the pockets of the great oil companies in the first
place. I submit that it is unpatriotic for us not to be creating
and using alternative means of fuel and transportation. It is
unpatriotic for us to be driving gas guzzling cars.
When I see Hummers and cars of their ilk, I think that the driver is
unpatriotic because our sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers have
fought and died so the driver can get eight miles to the gallon.
It’s unpatriotic that those who have served and been wounded return
home to veteran hospitals that are underfunded and understaffed.
It was unpatriotic that the money set aside for this war was not used
to help us re-build roads, bridges, and schools.
It is unpatriotic when we have less than fifty percent of our voters
turn out to vote.
It is unpatriotic when we accept racial slurs without indignation which
demonstrates a lack of respect for others and their culture.
It is unpatriotic for our children to spend twelve years in school and
graduate without being able to read or think critically!
It is unpatriotic to see professional athletes making millions and
millions of dollars while citizens within earshot of the great sports
venues, are going hungry and don’t know how they’ll pay the rent.
My father used to tell me that paying our taxes was a privilege, but I
submit that it is unpatriotic for some to pay taxes while the more
affluent can “wiggle” their way out of paying taxes period!
It is unpatriotic for our citizens not to have full health care
coverage. It is unpatriotic for our senior citizens to have to
sell everything they own just so they can be placed on Medicaid.
It is unpatriotic for us to be required to pay into Social Security or
some other governmental retirement system, and when it is time to
retire our social security can be penalized because of another
retirement plan with the explanation that it is illegal “to double dip”.
Further, it is unpatriotic that those making these retirement decisions
don’t pay into Social Security, and they can sleep at nights knowing
that their retirement plans can’t be touched.
It is unpatriotic for those congressmen and senators who seek only to
bring money to their state for “pork barrel” projects without regard
for their neighboring states.
America is a great country and we have many freedoms. However, we
have lost our way and have become blinded by our greed to the point
that in many respects we are not united as states but rather divided
because of all of these unpatriotic reasons!
Perhaps now that the President is drawing down our troops, we can start
creating jobs to rebuild our infrastructure, begin to switch over and
utilize alternative energy, and to make sure that no child, woman or
man is without healthcare.
America will have a bright future when we to turn from war to peace.
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