Patriotism Lite, Part 2

It's easy to have the resolve to continue the Iraq War -- when 95% of the American people make no sacrifice in blood or money for the cause. That's what Uwe Reinhardt -- father of a Marine -- writes in the Washington Post. He calcualtes that when you add up the troops and factor in extended families -- you only come up with 10 million Americans touched daily by the war and it's real dangers.

Mr Reinhardt highlights what military sociologists are beginning to call "Patriotism Lite" -- where Americans place symbolism over sacrifice.

They may "support the troops" -- but do nothing concrete to help them or the war effort. Mr Reinhardt is critical of how the troops are treated even by the government who sends them into combat -- debating a billion dollar shortfall in the VA budget -- when the American economy of 13,000 times that much could easily help our wounded without much economic pain.

But he really draws a bead on those folks who's support stops after they slap the magnetic yellow ribbon on their SUV.

He points out how Illinois and Rhode Island both allow taxpayers to send their tax refunds to military familes going through hard times because a father or mother or both are overseas.

Illinois raised 3-cents per person. Rhode Island, a penny a person.

And Washington insulates civilians from war these days. Politicians, fearful of hard times on voters leading to hard times getting re-elected, make sure we feel no hell on the homefront. More than 285-million civilians stay comfortable while a handful of American service members dodge sniper bullets and roadside bombs and lose life and limbs for us.

We have sanitized war for the masses. With the rallies and yellow ribbons, we mimick sports fans rooting for their team and sporting team colors.

Politicians become cheerleaders in this game. Rallying voters to their side to cheer the team on to victory.

That's not a good model to have. The problem with winning is you want another "winning season."

War is not a game.

The best way to support the troops is to leave them in harms way for a little time as necessary. War is horrible for those who fight it. It should be a at least burden on the homefront, too -- so that civilians demand a quick victory from our politicians. (WashPost) [Photo Credit: National Security Archives]