In responding to the July 15 letter “Show support in tangible ways,” I would like to suggest some intangible ways in which our troops may be supported. Although some may disagree with the reasons for the war in Iraq, I seriously doubt that any thinking Americans hold the troops responsible for the war. It is no little thing to lobby Congress and the president to restore the veterans benefits that have been eliminated by our current legislators. This is something that many peace-minded citizens continue to do.
Most Americans learned a bitter lesson from the Vietnam War, i.e., that the troops must never be tangled in the political conflicts that exist during wartime. No one would accuse troops of declaring war. They are loyal citizens, committed to a task they agreed to do when they enlisted. No one sees them in any way except exemplary and honorable. Those who support present government policy in Iraq should never confuse the willingness of the troops to fulfill their military obligation with an endorsement of the policies that cause that obligation to continue. One price of living in a democracy is permitting lawfully-expressed dissidence to exist. Going a step further, persons who can help the troops, often young and inexperienced in such matters, understand that everyone is behind them, regardless of their political opinions. It’s one intangible way that could contribute to the mental health of the troops when the time comes for them to return to civilian life.
Mary-Alice Strom
Marysville
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