Veterans Day

We just went through another Veterans Day holiday and I have a few observations about it. First, I am a veteran of the navy. I write this because some people, many people, think only a military veteran can comment about veterans.  It's sort of like saying one must be a mechanic to have an opinion about a car. That kind of illogic is what we get on Veterans Day.   If you're not a veteran your supposed to shut up, aside from verbally "thanking the veterans" for their service.

That thanking thing baffles me. Why does serving in a military deserve special thanks? We don't thank teachers, or plumbers, or fireman or sanitation people. Yet they are as essential to a nation as are members of the armed forces. Sure there is a much greater danger in joining the military. But every person who enlists in the military in the United States does so voluntarily. They place themselves at risk and receive many benefits- a free education inn the military or after, early retirement with very generous benefits, great health care for the soldier and family members, the chance to travel to many places round the world that most non military workers can not afford to see on their own, specific job placements that translate well to civilian jobs after discharge from the service etc.

I think Veterans Day today has been taken over by politicians, who use it as a platform to promote themselves. The average politician uses the transfer propaganda technique on Veterans Day by claiming an identification to the veteran. Voters see the politicians slobbering all over the veteran in praise of him, yes, "thanking the veteran for his service" loudly and often enough to win points with voters. Hmmmmm Maybe all politicians should be banned from any Veterans Day celebrations.

Some people are bothered by all the fuss we make over veterans of the military. They claim it is a war-like crush that sends the wrong message to citizens, that those of us who serve in a military and fight in wars are somehow, braver, better and more important than non military citizens.  I'm not sure that opinion isn't a bit of a stretch in the other direction. In my view, if we wanted to honor our military citizens we should honor them at Labor Day, with every other occupation that is honored.  That might promote the idea that all occupations are equally important to a nation and that claiming any one  of them is better or more important than the rest is disrespectful to the others.