thedrifter
04-23-07, 09:05 AM
Protesters should focus on policymakers, not recruiters
By Suzanne Vautrinot -
Posted : April 30, 2007
Several recent confrontations have put some of our troops in harm’s way. These conflicts didn’t occur on the streets of Baghdad or in the skies over Afghanistan but right in America’s back yard.
Over the past few weeks, protesters in several U.S. communities have shown their displeasure over the war in Iraq and the Defense Department’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy by targeting military recruiting stations. While some protest peacefully, others resort to setting off smoke bombs, tossing paint onto buildings, vandalizing vehicles, breaking windows and shouting profanity at recruiters. Even more troubling are protesters picketing and vandalizing recruiters’ homes, placing their families in danger.
Subjecting military recruiters to a public stoning when citizens are unhappy with public policy is like smacking a dog because his owner put an ugly sweater on him. It’s misdirected anger at best and criminal at worst.
The dark days of Vietnam when many citizens openly vilified and harassed young service members returning from Southeast Asia should have served as a harsh lesson as to what happens when Americans turn their frustrations on fellow countrymen. The physical display of frustration builds contempt and anger on both sides.
Recent protests in New York City; Milwaukee; Syracuse, N.Y.; Winona, Minn., and other American communities have subjected our young soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines to real danger. These junior troops are not villains, not decision-makers and certainly not targets. But that’s what they’re being made out to be.
Recruiters come from the operational forces. They are security forces, mechanics and medical technicians. Many have returned from deployments in the Middle East as well as humanitarian missions in Indonesia and Africa. Respect for their contributions and a little “humanitarian” response in their hometowns seem a small thanks to request.
We live in a complex world, one where terrorists ignore compassion, perspective and humanity. Your military will continue to deter them and defend America.
Recruiters are often the only military members in the communities they serve. In each of them, you’ll find a patriot who holds integrity, service and excellence as core values. They are someone’s parent and child, someone you’d like to have as a neighbor.
When these honorable men and women volunteered for military service, they understood the potential dangers that lay ahead. None expected to come under fire on the streets of America.
Recruiters don’t hide behind tall fences or security guards. They can be found at the mall, in the school cafeteria and on neighborhood streets, talking to parents, teachers and prospective recruits. They are highly visible members in America’s communities. However, this doesn’t mean they should bear the brunt of the public’s dissatisfaction with decisions made by officials in Washington.
While many Americans may grow increasingly frustrated with the situation in the Middle East, support for our troops is strong. We all take an oath to protect and defend the Constitution, which allows the privilege of free speech. All we ask is that citizens speak to those with an ability to change policy, rather than insult or attack those who defend their rights to speech as well as their homeland.
It’s time to stop the harassment of recruiters and heed the lessons of a generation ago. After all, we are all one team. We are all Americans.
The writer, a brigadier general, is commander of the Air Force Recruiting Service.
Ellie
By Suzanne Vautrinot -
Posted : April 30, 2007
Several recent confrontations have put some of our troops in harm’s way. These conflicts didn’t occur on the streets of Baghdad or in the skies over Afghanistan but right in America’s back yard.
Over the past few weeks, protesters in several U.S. communities have shown their displeasure over the war in Iraq and the Defense Department’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy by targeting military recruiting stations. While some protest peacefully, others resort to setting off smoke bombs, tossing paint onto buildings, vandalizing vehicles, breaking windows and shouting profanity at recruiters. Even more troubling are protesters picketing and vandalizing recruiters’ homes, placing their families in danger.
Subjecting military recruiters to a public stoning when citizens are unhappy with public policy is like smacking a dog because his owner put an ugly sweater on him. It’s misdirected anger at best and criminal at worst.
The dark days of Vietnam when many citizens openly vilified and harassed young service members returning from Southeast Asia should have served as a harsh lesson as to what happens when Americans turn their frustrations on fellow countrymen. The physical display of frustration builds contempt and anger on both sides.
Recent protests in New York City; Milwaukee; Syracuse, N.Y.; Winona, Minn., and other American communities have subjected our young soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines to real danger. These junior troops are not villains, not decision-makers and certainly not targets. But that’s what they’re being made out to be.
Recruiters come from the operational forces. They are security forces, mechanics and medical technicians. Many have returned from deployments in the Middle East as well as humanitarian missions in Indonesia and Africa. Respect for their contributions and a little “humanitarian” response in their hometowns seem a small thanks to request.
We live in a complex world, one where terrorists ignore compassion, perspective and humanity. Your military will continue to deter them and defend America.
Recruiters are often the only military members in the communities they serve. In each of them, you’ll find a patriot who holds integrity, service and excellence as core values. They are someone’s parent and child, someone you’d like to have as a neighbor.
When these honorable men and women volunteered for military service, they understood the potential dangers that lay ahead. None expected to come under fire on the streets of America.
Recruiters don’t hide behind tall fences or security guards. They can be found at the mall, in the school cafeteria and on neighborhood streets, talking to parents, teachers and prospective recruits. They are highly visible members in America’s communities. However, this doesn’t mean they should bear the brunt of the public’s dissatisfaction with decisions made by officials in Washington.
While many Americans may grow increasingly frustrated with the situation in the Middle East, support for our troops is strong. We all take an oath to protect and defend the Constitution, which allows the privilege of free speech. All we ask is that citizens speak to those with an ability to change policy, rather than insult or attack those who defend their rights to speech as well as their homeland.
It’s time to stop the harassment of recruiters and heed the lessons of a generation ago. After all, we are all one team. We are all Americans.
The writer, a brigadier general, is commander of the Air Force Recruiting Service.
Ellie