Patriotism For Sale

We've harped on this topic before, so feel free to tune out.

As America takes yet another holiday to salute those who fought and died in what turned out to be unnecessary wars that began after 1945, we've been wondering how it's impossible to turn on the TV or your favorite mobile device these days without images of Old Glory in your face.

It turns out that the Department of Defense has been spending millions of dollars over the past few years to partner with pro sports teams (mostly in the NFL) to produce lavish spectacles designed to show support for returning veterans, so-called "wounded warriors" and anyone else who happened to be wearing a uniform.  That's right.  It's all product placement to get more bang for the buck on both sides, so to speak.  Just as long as we don't see the ones who aren't returning.

This also extends to Corporate America, who also use high-buck advertising to convince us that those who served are just like you and me.  Only we don't go around shooting people on the government's dime on the other side of the world, for the sake of someone's ideas about freedom and democracy.  Oh, and we also don't get free meals and lifetime passes to sports events just because we've never worn a uniform.  But we can always find bargains for half off at the local mall.

It makes you wonder about all those "spontaneous" reunions of returning soldiers and their families that turn up on the evening news.  Were they bought and paid for with your tax dollars?

If the Pentagon is really concerned about "supporting the troops", they'd take better care of those they tricked into fighting in one military misadventure after another.  That includes so-called "wounded warriors", suicide victims and those who can't get ahead even with the GI Bill.

Those who have or are currently serving in the military deserve our support.  As long as it is made clear that you are there of your own free will, and that you are supposed to be defending America's borders, not someone else's.  And please don't lord over your military accomplishments as if we're supposed to be impressed.  We're not.

Old soldiers and certain politicians love to lecture the rest of us about how "freedom isn't free", as if they owned the patent on freedom and democracy.  But they are right in another sense.  Who knew that patriotism could be paid for with greenbacks instead of Army green?