Every day, on my drive to work, I go past a Super 8 Motel that’s had “We Support the Troops” on their sign for several years now.  Many times I’ve driven by that sign and thought, “What exactly do you do to support the troops other than put up that silly sign?”  In truth, I can find nothing that Super 8 does in support of the troops other than offer room discounts.  In addition, it never fails that I drive behind a car that has all kinds of bumper stickers including the ubiquitous yellow ribbon magnet that implores “Support the Troops!”  or the latest fad, “Pray for the Troops!”  I’m always annoyed by these bumper stickers because, once again, I come back to the same question, “What are you doing to support the troops other than paying some company for an overpriced magnet?”  Does that company support the troops?  I doubt it.

Whenever I read articles like this one it makes me realized that we aren’t doing enough to support out troops as they deal with multiple deployments, PTSD, injuries, and death.  Contrary to what the right wingers tell us, supporting the troops transcends politics, political parties, and politicians.  It doesn’t matter if you are for the war or anti-war.  It doesn’t matter if you’re Democrat or Republican.  Men and women have volunteered to serve their country and go to war when asked, yet we don’t do enough to support them when they come home both physically and mentally damaged; hell, we don’t do enough to support them when they deploy!  That needs to change, but in order for it to change we need people to speak out.

This is what always comes to mind when the debate about gays serving openly in the military comes up:  “What are you afraid of?”  Gays have been serving in the the military all over the world for decades with honor and bravery and let’s be honest in American, as well, just hidden against their will. 

Once again, another study is showing that gay men and women serving openly in the military will have no affect on unit cohesiveness.  Why would it?  What do people think will happen?  That men and women will live in fear of being hit on?  That these same men and women will somehow become homosexual by being around other gays and lesbians? Come on!  Let’s be upfront here, it would be the openly gay men or women who would have more to fear from physical harm than straight men and women being turned gay. It’s time for this to end and it would great if it came to an end under the Obama administration.