Why are They Applauding?

Recently I was sitting in the Dallas-Fort Worth airport during one of those times when a series of thunderstorms sent a rippling of delays throughout Continental Airlines’ timetable. A long line had queued up in front of the podium to seek information regarding connecting flights. I sat there next to this long line as the plane making up my flight arrived and passengers started coming through the door. My view of the door was blocked so I was not able to see these folks until they passed by the 40 or 50 people in the line at the podium. The people in the line started applauding for some reason as these people came off. I had no idea why until I saw the half dozen or so soldiers in desert BDUs walk by me.

This response to the sight of these guys puzzled me, and I did not join in on this lemming love fest. While I have the utmost of respect for these guys, I could not bring myself to elevate them to anything than they really are - members of the military who have chosen a profession that may at times put them into harm’s way. (Note that I did not say protect our country, because the idiot in the White House has chosen to renege on a campaign promise that he would not enter into nation building activities. While they could certainly be called upon to protect the US at some time in the future, our military has not done so since the Spanish-American war.) These guys are doing their job like anyone else. Some are doing it well and others are not, just like anyone else. To stand and applaud them seems silly, unless you have fallen for the daily streams of fascist propaganda initiated by the current administration.

Before you unwrap the flag from your body in order to free your hands to start typing a seething response, consider that these folks volunteered for this duty. When the soldiers returned from Vietnam they were spit on and ridiculed by the majority of the populace. These were people that went into the military unwillingly, i.e., they were drafted. If anyone should be, or in this case should have been, applauded these guys should have, for not taking one of many draft dodging ways out, like Bush, Cheney, and the rest of the chicken hawks in the current administration.

The next time you see a Vietnam vet, let them know that you appreciate that they made a sacrifice, one that few of us can imagine. When you have a chance to applaud these guys do so. As for the current troops, continue to give them the respect that they deserve, but think again before placing them on a pedestal for just doing their job. Applauding them in an airport will only demonstrate your ignorance of what is really going on.