Veterans Day

Warning: long entry.

Yesterday, America held Veterans Day. A day that appears to sit very uneasily with many over in the States. Cathy wrote a powerful entry at the close of Veterans Day, which actually prompted me to write this post. Many in J-land made a tribute entry yesterday, and I did so myself. Although I'm not native to Lewis, I have discerned from a distance the deep and abiding pain that the loss of hundreds in two World Wars has produced. In 1940, the Hebrides were referred to as the Isles of Sorrow.

In the 1960s, geopolitics demanded that Uncle Sam go to war in Vietnam. It was a deeply controversial war, and those that managed to wheedle their way out of service in Nam were held to be heroes. Those that did serve, came away scarred in body or mind. Only to find, on return home, that there was no moral support. The troops were scorned, and the same appears to be happening now, with US forces entangled in the quagmire of Iraq, and trying to pacify Afghanistan - something that is forever doomed to failure. The Soviet Union tried it in the 80s, and failed. The British were forever battling the  tribes on the Northwest Frontier [the Pakistan / Afghan border] before 1947.

UK troops are deployed in the same 'theatres of war' as the Americans. The decision to go to war in Iraq was not widely supported, and is likely to be Tony Blair's legacy. Not the one he wanted though. The difference with the United States is that although the war is unpopular, the troops are still supported at home. "They're our boys", is the motto.

If I may, I'd like to theorise a little why the Americans don't support their forces. Iraq and Afghanistan are distant dustbowls that (with all respect) many will have difficulty locating on a map of the world. Many people also do not know let alone understand why their menfolk have to go and fight.

But worst of all, the legacy of Vietnam was a steady stream of bodybags. Which, to my mind, acts as a bodyblow to the American psyche. The pioneer spirit of the 19th century lent them a sense of invincibility - they conquered an entire continent for themselves, vanquished the Red Indians and pulled themselves up by their bootstraps. From rags to riches is many an American's tale. Vietnam and Iraq serve(d) to blow that image to smithereens. They're not invincible. Those that come back from their tour of duty are held to have failed America.

I have always held America in high regard, although a couple of things have moderated that view. Hurricane Katrina showed the vulnerability of America - by  not taking care of its most vulnerable citizens. This does not just apply to the poor people of New Orleans. Through these journals, I have learned that the same applies to those who have little money. I am appalled at the American health care system, which places a higher priority on the money than on the actual health of the patient. That is downright unethical and in contravention of the Hippocratic oath that all doctors have to swear by before they're qualified to practice.

Veterans Day is not an easy day for America. I hope it will learn to embrace all that it sends out to fight, however bad the decision was to send them out in the first place.