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 .

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