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My dad, an avid reader of military books introduced me to a book titled, What it's like to go to War by Karl Marlantes, a Vietnam veteran. I began researching and found an interview he did about this book for the beloved NPR. In it, he says,
'There are yellow ribbons, beer commercials showing people clapping at airports, and banners on freeway overpasses. There is the well-intended 'thank you for your service,' and a hasty handshake."
I think he perfectly characterizes how society reacts to the return of troops. Of course we care, this isn't Vietnam, where as Marlantes writes in his book that he was spit on by a young women when he was in uniform. These days, we say we care. We respect those who serve, but is caring and respecting troops and veterans enough? Marlantes doesn't think so, and I don't either. Hopefully, I will be able to explore this topic further over the next month.
Why is there a disconnect between military and non-military in the US?
Why don't we try to better our treatment of returning troops and veterans so that their transition is easier?
I think that things like the yellow ribbon are an easy way for people to show their support and be done with the issue. For whatever reason, America's war efforts are no longer a part of daily life but no one wants to be called "not patriotic" so they do the minimum to show their support. This is a pretty broad, sweeping statement and it certainly doesn't pertain to everyone but I think this attitude can be seen in other areas as well. To show people care about the environment, for example, they participate in Earth Day and recycle to "show they care". Obviously, there are people who are really dedicated to the cause, but for the most part, the general population does the bare minimum to ally themselves with the right cause and move on with their daily lives. I think about the stories my grandma tells about when everyone participated in the war effort, collecting scrap metal and what not, and it makes me wonder where this sense of a community and collective power towards a common goal has gone in the American identity.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post Leah, and I agree with Kathleen, but I also think that the way Americans treat returning soldiers is similar to the way that they act in many other situations. America is fast-paced and the expression "time is money" seems to fit perfectly here, as most Americans seem to value their time so much that they adapt their lives to save small, seemingly significant amounts of it. I think that many Americans do wish to show their support of our veterans, but they are looking for a quick, one-time action that shows the veterans (and the world) that they care and then they, as you said, move on. I feel as if this is not the most effective way to help returning servicemen and servicewomen readjust into society. It is an ongoing problem that needs repeated and ongoing efforts to fix it, not just a one-time action such as putting up a sign. Not to downplay the significance of showing support, but a better way for Americans to show support of the very people who defend their freedoms would be to get a little more involved and take a step up from doing what Kathleen refers to as the bare minimum.
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