Beyond Yellow Ribbons

As veterans and combat warriors, we appreciate whatever support we receive from the people we have sworn to protect. But it is very apparent that support for the troops has been waning over the past few years. Indeed, people across the country are still losing their homes and their jobs. Finding the time to concern oneself with the fate of others seems to take a back seat to keeping a home or job. For some, we can hardly blame them for setting aside support for the troops when they are struggling to simply support their own families. Fights over state and national budgets have erupted as well as race and education. Perhaps the biggest fight at the moment is over health care. Who has time for the War? We have argued over Iraq so many times, there is nothing left to debate.

For many, supporting the troops is a distinct reminder of not only the mounting casualties, but the political fiasco handed to us by our leaders in Washington of a war gone bad, or at minimum, unpopular. As the war becomes mundane and routine, so do the associations people have with it-in this case, the troops. For good or bad, the hawks who pushed for the war effort were happy to distribute yellow ribbons and bumper stickers. Does not support for the warrior imply support for the war? Sure it does, but with the war in Iraq becoming increasingly unpopular, fewer people are eager to keep that ribbon on the back of their car.

I'm not writing this to make a case for or against the war. I am simply pointing out the hazard of using our young men and women as a rally cry for a political agenda. When that agenda becomes unpopular, then so do the men and women-just by association. Equally disheartening would be for me to make a case to rally for support again, not for the war mind you, but for our troops. It will not happen. People do not want to be reminded.

In an odd and unfortunate way, the increased troop levels in Afghanistan may provide the answer. Afghanistan is a just war, at least in the minds of many Americans. Sending our forces after those who actually attacked us on September 11, 2001 allows us to raise the flag again. It is unfortunate because we are losing more and more of our finest young men and women. I doubt we will see any more yellow ribbons, but perhaps a new focus on Afghanistan will also give us a new focus on the warrior. May god bless them all.

American Combat Veterans of War is a nonprofit organization that recruits combat veteran volunteers to mentor, coach and assist our warriors suffering from combat stress, allowing them and their families to lead productive and fulfilling lives.

Please visit www.acvow.org for more information and to give your support to our combat veterans.

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