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I Want To Thank You.... For What?
by James Glaser June 1, 2010 
Yesterday, Memorial Day, while eating breakfast I had on some morning news program. There was Rockie Lynne's country rock band playing a song about wanting to thank Vietnam veterans for their service, and the lyrics said how sorry they were that it took this long before they got around to thanking us. Here are those lyrics:
I guess it was some time in the 1990's that people started thanking me for my time in Vietnam. I was always a bit embarrassed whenever it happened, and in the back of my mind I was wondering what the heck they were thanking me for. Were they thanking me for killing those people who we perceived to be the enemy? Maybe they thought I was one of the guys that killed the million plus innocent civilians—the women and the children, the old and the infirmed that were slaughtered in our decade-long destruction of Vietnam. Maybe they thought I was one of the guys that dropped more bombs on Vietnam than all the allies dropped in all of World War II. Bombs, what are bombs compared to the chemical warfare weapon of Agent Orange that slowly over the years killed so many American troops, along with the Vietnamese, in a cruel form of Friendly Fire? But as the years went on, and more and more people thanked me, I came to realize that they were really thanking me for was being one of the millions of sheeple who followed our country's call to arms like lemmings, to attack another pitiful third world country in order to keep our economy strong. There were no stories about Weapons of Mass Destruction in Vietnam to get our patriotism up, but there was the fear of Communism. Also, like in every other American war, churches, their ministers, and their congregations were all so proud of the young man who would volunteer to protect our way of life. Of course being a teenager and plum full of testosterone could have had a lot to do with my joining up. Really now, who could possibly look better than a Marine in Dress Blues. They looked sharp back then, and they look sharp today. Then there was Hollywood, and all the movies where the soldier got the pretty girl. This Memorial Day Weekend was filled with old war propaganda movies to get the blood flowing in another generation of youngsters who will be able to sign up to "defend America" and "our way of life." thinking back on it now, I believed "our way of life" had something to do with apple pie and family, but in truth it was about GDP, foreign trade, and interest rates. In the end the Communists won, and they still have Vietnam. Now there are swank resorts there for wealthy Americans to have fun at. American corporations make all sorts of clothing products there and ship them back here to sell to, yep, Vietnam Vets and other loyal Americans. It seems Communism isn't all that bad now, and they do have cheap labor. So, why is Rockie Lynne now thanking Vietnam veterans? Could it be the same reason that so many of us went off to war? Does Rockie see a niche market for his songs? Check out this song list on his latest album titled, "Songs for Soldiers." Proud To Be a Soldier We Want To Thank You Heroes Come From Small Towns Red, White, and Blue Rockin' In The Free World So You Don't Have To Go Will the Circle Be Unbroken/ I'll Fly Away Home America the Beautiful/Battle Hymn of the Republic I hate to be the cynic here (really I do), but tell me, is this album targeted at a certain market? If records were still made in vinyl and housed in a cardboard jacket, I can just imagine tears staining the back cover as the listener reads along with the lyrics. Rockie Lynne might or might not know it, but he is helping to send another generation of young Americans off to war to defend Americas Corporations, which are now "our way of life." I think it is very clever how he couches war, veterans, and national pride in with a few religious songs. Maybe he missed one. How about, Killing for Jesus? There would be a true American song title. So, when you decide to get around to thanking a Veteran for his or her service, take a minute and think what you are really thanking them for. Just maybe you should pat your wallet each time you do.
I have to tell you that when I hear Taps being played at cemetery on Memorial Day, or when I am a member of a Honor Guard unit at a Vet's funeral, tears do come to my eyes. I hear the speeches about how Veterans have given their all in defense of our nation, and that affects me, too. But then I wake up and remember that many times the people speaking the words would never think of defending our nation. I think of Dick Cheney and Joe Biden, two men who have pushed and pushed for wars we have had, and neither man served in our armed forces, and that goes for Barack Obama, George Bush (don't even try and tell me George served. He should be in prison for desertion.) Bill Clinton pushed for war, but he never went. Then we have the radio and TV people who just love war, like Rush Limbaugh, Joe Scarbough, and Sean Hannity. They love war, and they have the utmost respect for our troops, but none of them would ever put on a uniform. The same is true for Karl Rove, Newt Gingrich, and Joe Liberman. They too push us into war, but would never personally help out. Even John Wayne, with all his war movies where he was the hero never fought. So, I feel bad when Taps are played, and patriotic speeches get to me too, but then I remember who fights our wars and who makes the money from our wars. That's two different groups of people. The rich and powerful in America cheer-lead and speak the platitudes about those who fight, while it is the poor and middle class of America who do most of the bleeding. That is the real reason I get a tear in my eye. Because every Memorial Day I can picture another group of young people getting suckered into feeling their patriotic duty, and I can see that other group thinking about the profits they will be making off of that patriotism. |
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