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An Honorable Protest

(This article first appeared in the May/June 2008 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.)

Upcoming Events OWCP Training May 21-25, 2008 Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom May 25, 2008

For most Americans, the war in Iraq and Afghanistan plays out in 15-second news clips. But for the families of those who serve, the war is quite another story. News reports become a lifeline, as they try to catch a glimpse of their loved ones. The sound of an unexpected knock at the door stops them cold in their tracks, and phone calls stir their fears. These families exist from moment to moment, holding their breath.

For our courageous service members, it’s the everyday pleasures they miss most — their favorite foods, a son’s birthday, a daughter’s soccer goal, the family’s summer cookouts. Young people prepare wills and health proxies long before most people their age would even consider undertaking such gloomy tasks. They reassign household duties and impose budgetary constraints in preparation for deployment. They make plans for their return in an effort to remain positive.

They are the best our nation has to offer, driven by their sense of duty, despite the risks. And so far, more than 4,000 have been killed. More than 30,000 have been wounded — nearly half of them so severely that their lives have changed forever.

In March, as we marked the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, anti-war activists protested, while supporters of the war countered that the demonstrators were un-American, and that their protests were disrespectful of the troops.

A scene from the 2007 “Ride for Freedom.”

I am perplexed by the suggestion that we must choose between supporting the troops and opposing the war. Whether or not you believe in the principles, strategies, or tactics of the war, don’t all Americans feel an enormous amount of pride and gratitude for the service members who willingly put their lives on the line?

No one wants to think their sacrifice will be in vain. But is it really un-American to feel outrage for every life lost, for every pained family, and for everyman or woman who must wage a new battle once they return home?

Two-thirds of Americans believe the war should be ended, and that the troops should come home. Not because they don’t believe in the troops, but because they don’t believe in the mission. They believe that the best way to support our troops is to end the war.

As the presidential election approaches, the stakes couldn’t be higher. We will be offered a clear choice: To support the current policies or to end the war.

I can think of nothing more patriotic than exercising the freedom of speech to help end the war. In the meantime, there are many ways to get involved: Write your legislators — repeatedly — and insist that they stop the war now, and be sure to vote. Until all of our heroes are home, we can continue to give them our support.

For the past five years, the APWU Human Relations Department has worked to demonstrate our union’s support by raising money for APWU-sponsored troop events and by collecting donations for care packages to distribute to these brave men and women. Last year, for the first time, we hosted a barbeque and festival for recuperating service members and their families at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington DC over the Memorial Day weekend. APWU members rounded out their weekend by participating in Rolling Thunder’s “Ride for Freedom,” a motorcycle rally organized to raise awareness about veterans’ issues. We will do so again this year. For our efforts to continue, your help is needed. Locals and members are asked to give generously.

For more information about helping the troops, click here. When you see a service member or a vet, please take a moment to say thank you.

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