No sympathy for our soldiers???

With Thanksgiving kicking off the Holiday season you can’t help but think
about our troops overseas, no matter where in the world they are. The sacrifice
of giving up these holidays with their family and friends is what they signed
up for and you will never hear a soldier complain. They spend all the holidays
eating meals with their fellow soldiers in a cafeteria style type of atmosphere
and then maybe they are able to watch football if they are not on duty that
night. Again, they do not complain. Would they rather spend these days with
their families? Of course they would. I am not or never have been a soldier but
I can imagine the homesickness during the holidays being somewhat unbearable.
So any piece of home is greatly appreciated by these soldiers, and the support
from people back home is deserving.

So last week when I saw that Suffolk Law professor Michael Avery sent an
e-mail to his colleagues stating that they should not partake and the school’s
annual care pack for soldiers drive was disturbing. It’s not that fact that he
did not want to participate, he has that right. It was the fact that the he
claims the soldiers don’t deserve it. His claim was “I think it is
shameful that it is perceived as legitimate to solicit in an academic
institution for support for men and women who have gone overseas to kill other
human beings”. Is this clown kidding me? He went on to say that
sympathy for American troops in harm’s way “is not particularly
rational in today’s world”

I think I just threw up in my mouth reading that last quote.

Avery is a Constitutional Law professor and he is able to recycle this
garbage in his class room. He probably gets very excited when talking about the
1st Amendment. I am curious to know how is class time goes when he is talking
about Article I, Section 8 that covers Congress’ power to provide and maintain
an Army and Navy. He has every right not to support this drive at his place of
his employment, but to disrespect the men and women of our Armed Forces is way
out of line. I have the honor to be friends with many people that are soldiers,
and some that are former soldiers. They are the most stand up and respectful
people I know. To be quite honest, I don’t thank them enough for the service
they do and have done for our country.

Now, if Prof. Avery has issues with the war, that’s one thing. Everyone to
some degree has issues with war. That just means you need to march to 1600
Pennsylvania Avenue and discuss that with the Commander-in-Chief. The President
and Congress decide whether our soldiers go to war. Not the soldiers. They are
simply carrying out orders directed by the commanders. They are protecting a
nation and they are sacrificing a lot more than you, Prof. Avery. Do not show
your aggression to the soldiers. They need our support, they want our support
and most importantly they deserve our support. In writing this only one thing
comes to mind and it’s a quote from Jack Nicholson in a Few Good Men:

“……..I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain
myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that
I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather
you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up
a weapon, and stand a post……”

Nicholson’s character in the movie was a little off but he couldn’t have
been more spot on. So when you are having Thanksgiving dinner this week
surrounded by your family and friends. Take a minute to give thanks to the
people that make Thanksgiving possible. When you are at stores shopping at 9pm
Thursday, Midnight or 4 am Friday, if you are able to, purchase something for a
soldier overseas, maybe even just a Christmas Card. It will do wonders for a
soldier’s morale.

 I agree with Prof. Avery on one point, I don’t feel sympathy is rational for
our soldiers. I think respect and gratitude is more deserving to our soldiers
is more appropriate. I am honored to be an American Citizen and I am proud of
the men and women of our Armed Services.

If you would like to send a care package to our troops there are many
charities that provide that service, just search the net. Here is one that I
like, Operation
Gratitude .

3D

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