Another Kind of Gratitude

Win's reference below to Max Boot's LAT article deserves to be underscored. We should "give thanks for these patriots" who are fighting and dying in a harsh, faraway place, faithfully fulfilling their commitments to the rest of us. The fact that some vocal (and privileged) Americans have been hostile-to-tepid about the ends to which this bravery and sacrifice have been dedicated does not, thank goodness, seem to have affected the determination of our soldiers much. But a lot more gratitude from the rest of us, loudly and lavishly expressed, would surely help.

Ben Stein has a thoughtful column about this in the American Spectator, in which he observes and laments the "inequality of service" in this cause. But, while I respect his sentiments, I don't think he has it quite right. I suspect that living in the bubble of prosperous Beverly Hills has a lot to do with the quality of his unease. Where I live in Tennessee, it is not hard to find young men---including my own former students, and the church and scout-troop friends of my own son---who are in Iraq or on their way. They don't ask that we share the direct burden of service. That's their job, and they knew what they were getting into, by and large. But they do want to be honored for what they are doing. That is the key thing, and that is something we can, and should, do.

And for those who want to move affirmatively to express their gratitude, see this helpful and fairly comprehensive listing.