Al Sharpton’s TV show is rumbling in the background in my home office.
Then he introduced an upcoming segment about ensuring how to find jobs for “our troops.”
Something curious occurs to me. Sharpton is a noted progressive/liberal. I’ve spoken already to the way America has changed its attitude toward veterans and military personnel during the past two generations.
Given that I don’t know Sharpton, nor can I read his mind or peer into his soul, I’ll ask the question with some caution: Would this particular progressive talk-show host have this discussion during the Vietnam War, when many Americans were (a) turning their backs on returning veterans or (b) spitting in their faces?
He would say that he never did those things back in the old days. A lot of liberals did, however.
They’ve changed. I hear many liberal and progressive commentators on the air say much the same thing that Sharpton said today. They want to honor our veterans and those who are fighting for our freedom.
I’m glad the country has changed its attitude. I also am happy to hear progressives talk about jobs programs for veterans, calling on Americans to honor them by employing them when they return from the battlefield.
It wasn’t always this way.
Oddly enough, I have noticed that Veteran’s Day has changed. And it has been in the last ten or fifteen years.
I have been out of the military for 37 years. I was enlisted during the Viet Nam war. I will not deny that I encountered some animosity during the war, but I was still in service when the war ended and the animosity ended then. The hard feelings were directed at the war itself. At least that was my experience.
But it has only been lately that restaurants began giving free meals to veterans. If they did that 20 years ago, I wasn’t aware of it. And it seems that there is no shortage of people who will say, rather unconvincingly, “Thanks for your service.” It reminds me of someone saying “Sorry for your loss.” I just am not certain that they mean what they say with such a pat phrase.
I have also noticed a large number of older men wearing baseball caps with military marking or slogans. Those can be purchased at the flea market by anyone, veteran or not. I wonder how many of these dudes just bought the hat. I’m hoping it’s only a few.
Anyway, I’m just rambling. The point I’d like to make is that the changes that happened concerning Veteran’s Day lately alarm me. I am not a fan of nationalism. I have been acquainted with a few Germans who regret the nationalism that dragged them into an insane war. Let’s just hope that this only goes as far as feeding a few old grey beards with camouflage hats.
“Thank you for your service” sounds a bit like “Have a nice day” to me. It has become a cliché. Your take on Vets Day is most interesting. Thanks for your comment.