"What I am not following here, is how are the protesters at Walter Reed attacking the troops? At least from what I read above, they are attacking the administration, not the troops."
Carbine,
I shall try to explain, or at least to provide my view (which is based on having been one of those troops for over twenty years).
Imagine you are seriously enough hurt that you have been evacuated to Walter Reed. This means your wounds are not routine, since, if they were, you would be treated at a less-sophisticated military hospital (FYI, Walter Reed and Bethesda are essentially at the top of the military medical "food chain”). In addition to being gravely wounded, it is most likely you have seen your closest brothers-in-arms – and, believe me, they are frequently a lot closer than biological brothers – killed and/or severely wounded. You have considerable time while hospitalized to contemplate the war, your future, the fate of your comrades, and so forth. Now, regardless of your personal opinions regarding the war, politics, President Bush, etc., YOU REALLY WANT TO FEEL THAT YOUR SIGNIFICANT SACRIFICES ARE APPRECIATED BY THE AMERICAN PUBLIC. This is critical to your recovery and your re-assimilation into our society. After all, you may well have lost a limb (to cite an all-too-prevalent example at Walter Reed) for this nation, which really means for the average citizen’s freedom and well-being. You go out the main gate with a couple buddies on Saturday afternoon and here are those same “average citizens” protesting the war.
Even if the protesters intend to differentiate their opinions re the conflict, terrorism, politics, Bush, and so forth from their attitudes about the warriors, it is VERY likely you will be deeply offended by their demonstration. Understandably, this results because you have given so much – perhaps an arm, an eye, or a leg – and these folks are not only opposing the cause for which you have fought and profoundly sacrificed, but also doing it at a venue that is CERTAIN to affect you quite personally.
I know, without any doubt, how these service members feel. I was on active duty throughout the Vietnam War, and when I returned to the United Sates from overseas, I experienced – as did countless others – the hostility on my fellow citizens. I was spat upon, in uniform, in the Chicago airport while in transit to the Pacific. I was called a “baby killer “ (and much worse) in Philadelphia. At that time, I was a VERY junior officer and, obviously, I had NO influence on foreign policy or the conduct of the war; rather, I was simply doing my duty as a citizen, to serve in the military (and, yes, the pre-lottery draft was in full-force when I enlisted and was commissioned).
This brings me back to my initial post to this thread. If individuals want to protest the war, which is clearly their right, they may do so. However, when they do it in ways that are GUARANTEED to further hurt the youngsters who have borne the REAL COSTS of the conflict – only to garner publicity – they are, at best, insensitive and, at worst, despicable.
They should be ashamed of their conduct, not for protesting the war, but for doing so in extremely self-interested ways that are CERTAIN to further exacerbate the wounded kids’ burdens.
