USO: “…82% of military families feel that the public doesn’t understand their sacrifices.”

A Promoted Tweet from the USO frequently reminds us that:

“According to the 2018 Blue Star Families’ Military Family Lifestyle Survey, 82% of military families feel that the public doesn’t understand their sacrifices. Let’s change that this Military Appreciation Month. Sign the card to help us reach 200K+ Americans thanking our troops…”

Military Appreciation Month was in May. The tweets are still coming in mid June.

I have not attempted to mute these tweets, because I see them as an opportunity to think about the message.

Thoughts for the USO:

People might come around if they had a say in undeclared/unwon wars that never end. When do we get to vote on all this?

Do the folks who honor and support military families also advocate for phasing out undeclared/unwon wars that never end?

If some sort of military/civilian divide has taken hold, here are a few recommendations for ending the divide:

Stop glorifying military service.

As the decades of undeclared/unwon wars stack up (The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.) the greater the cultural urge to glorify people who do, or did time in uniform.

Stop telling us that undeclared/unwon wars overseas are somehow linked to American rights & freedoms.

In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our physical security. That’s as good as it gets.

In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.

Many comments are posted below these USO tweets. Most are supportive, something like: My husband did 23 years in the Army and we support your sacrifices.

If you are proud of your time in uniform do you automatically support decades of undeclared/unwon wars overseas?

This comment stood out to me:

“The Military and everyone in it are practically worshipped in this country.
I find it deeply disturbing.”

I’d have more respect for traditional veterans groups and the organizations that support military service if they promoted more of an Armistice Day message.

We’re not there yet.

One of the nation’s largest, oldest and most respected veterans organizations tells us: Veterans, not politicians, ‘give us the right to vote,’ observers at Amherst Veterans Day ceremonies told

Veterans give rights?

It turns out The Troops were in no hurry to enable all adults to act on their right to vote.

US Military operations conducted in the 1940s, 50s & 60s didn’t get the job done.

It wasn’t until July of 1971 that 18 year old adults could take delivery on one of the freedoms we hear so much about.

Hey school teachers–

If veterans fought for our right to vote- how come women were not allowed full voting rights at the end of WWI?

Why the need for a 1965 Voting Rights Act if overseas military operations somehow secured voting rights?

Men Died For the Right to Vote?

Congressman Derek Kilmer

Wars are for freedom and democracy.

Congressman Kilmer,

If wars are fought for democracy- how come women were not allowed full voting rights at the end of WWI?

Why the need for a 1965 Voting Rights Act if overseas military operations somehow secured voting rights?

With all this talk of freedom- would it be OK to grow a marijuana plant in the back yard?

Can I take my 20 year old girlfriend (a responsible adult) down to the bar to order up a few beers for freedom?

Should we check with the Joint Chiefs of Staff first?

Questioning undeclared/unwon wars that never end:

June 11, 2019

GI Suicide: Maybe It’s The Job?

by Lawrence Wilkerson

“The U.S. government has told these young men and women that they are killing these people for freedom’s sake, for democracy, for women’s rights, for justice, to protect Americans, and for all manner of reasons that these troops know are just so much hogwash.”

“Lawrence Wilkerson served 31 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a colonel. He is the Distinguished Visiting Professor of Government and Public Policy at the College of William & Mary.”

Possibly of interest:

Freedom Comes And Goes – Joint Chiefs of Staff Play No Part

Jet Noise Made Them Free?

Military Town – Hometown Pride

Jet Noise Protects Your Right To Protest?

Armistice Day – Six Months Out

Armistice Day Is Now Free Chow Day

Liberty And Justice For All?

U.S. Senator Susan Collins – More Lies About Freedom

Loyalty Day – A little understanding of freedom

Memorial Day- long weekend/BBQ guilt trips

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