Independence

The Fourth of July is a national holiday when Americans celebrate personal freedoms. It was on that day in 1776 when Thomas Jefferson released his revised version of the document that spelled out the colonists’ grievances against the Crown of England in no uncertain terms.

Most of us know the opening line -- When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them to another -- but we forget that most of the document is a laundry list of grievances against King George. Independence from England was necessary, so felt the Founding Fathers, because the Crown had, for example, imposed taxes on us without our consent. It’s an impressive list.

Another big cause for celebration on July 4 is the US military. We thank the men and women through generations who have put their lives on hold and their bodies in grave physical danger to uphold freedoms for all Americans. One patriotic thing I heard over the weekend was that soldiers protect the flag so those who disagree at home can burn it if they choose. It’s such a dichotomy that it seems absurd: Citizen soldiers risking life and limb abroad to protect freedom of speech back home. Such is just one of the contradictions of this land we call the United States of America.

Let me make this perfectly clear: I respect the military and thank them deeply for their sacrifices. I can’t imagine the pain of getting news that a son or daughter has been killed by a roadside bomb and the fabric of a family irreparably torn forever. I can’t imagine re-starting a life with lost limbs in a wheelchair after being blown apart by an IED. It’s part of the reason I cringe when my own grandsons play with faux military weapons like they are just toys. I truly hate it.

On the other hand, I have a problem this time of year with celebrating the tasks we assign our military to do. I mean, we train these people in the use of lethal weapons to fight an enemy, we are told, who hates our freedoms and wants to kill us. We teach our military to fly aircraft and fire rockets that do not know the difference between right and wrong, good and bad. Both bad guys and civilians die. We see this tragic news now and then on CNN, then pretty much forget about it by lunch time. Collateral damage we are told. It happens.

But the folks in other countries where we fight don’t forget. They must look at the impact craters and mourn their dead -- and wonder what kind heartless enemy could do such a thing.

And what about soldiers who are trained to kill and maim an enemy of someone else’s choosing? What do they do with that knowledge -- that mindset -- once they finish their tour? Dive for cover when firecrackers go off in neighborhoods after they come back home? Live with nightmares they can’t even talk to their spouses about?

Yes, there is evil in the world. Yes, the military is necessary. Yes, our forces will be called on to suppress injustices when called upon. And, yes, their sacrifice can be beyond anything any other American might be called upon to make, except perhaps firefighters and police officers.

My July 4th point is this: While our military deserve remembrance on this day, so do the aforementioned firefighters and police officers, as do EMTs, teachers, social workers, judges, assembly line laborers, garbage men, street maintenance crews, construction workers, communications technicians, and so many others. So many have dedicated their lives to making America and the world a better place. In my view, they deserve some accolades, too, for working diligently and non-violently to get it right. For doing what they can to make everybody’s home safer.

There have been good wars when evil needed to be stopped. World War II is a good case in point. But there have been so many other wars waged by US -- the good guys -- only because high rollers in power wanted to further their markets and their ability to attain resources we don’t have enough of. Like oil. Good soldiers, we are told, don’t ask questions. Theirs is to serve and do and die when necessary.

Maybe it’s a bad war. Maybe they are viewed as invaders and occupiers in the countries where they fight and die. Doesn’t make any difference. They must live by the military code. Nobody made them put on the uniform. They signed up as volunteers.

Still, others went to college or learned some technical skill that makes the US, and the world, a better and safer place. These folks opted to take a path that wasn’t consumed with violence to contribute to the greater good. And I think they deserve some accolades on the Fourth of July, too.

Today’s elder idea: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Declaration of Independence

¶ 2

Image: From the Story People collection by artist Brian Andres.

See his work at https://www.artiststowatch.com

For another take on celebrating American military, see “Our American Heroes: Why It’s Wrong to Equate Military Service with Heroism” by William J. Astore from TomDispatch.com. (22 July 2010)