Riding home on Quakerbridge Road yesterday, I was behind a truck with a "support our troops" sticker on it.
I was trying to decide whether I do support our "troops". I do support the men and women who are in the military as self sacrificing people who work to protect us from out enemies, and so do work for the common good. But I am not convinced that the places our troops are in right now are actually doing that.
America's military budget is one of the main items crippling our economy. I am not opposed to soldiers who are sent to areas where we have a real need to be. I applaud the Navy Seals who took down bin Ladin and also the ones who rescued that news reporter. I think Obama is wise to use our soldiers selectively. But do we really need an armed force that is larger than all the others in the world combined?
The other thought that struck me was the lack of support in this country for citizens in any other tax dollar sponsored job besides the militarily. Why not bumper stickers that claim support for teachers? or policemen? or firefighters? How come we don't see supporting health care for all as a means of protecting our people? Why not support measures to make this country a better place for all, rather than a select few? It is sad, in my opinion, that focus on warring entities exults killing as something to be applauded, and more important than taking care of our people in other ways?
Don't get me wrong, I admire the truly brave who keep our freedoms safe, but I also admire people who work here at home more, for they are truly trying to improve the common good!
