A word of thanks...

Someone from my church sent me a link this morning, and it piqued my interest enough to do hatpost on it. I'm still conflicted, however, about the whole campaign, but it's enough to make me think a little bit harder...

For now, I put this link here for anyone who is interested in sending a word of thanks to the troops in Iraq. It's a simple three step process: choose a greeting card design, write a word or two and sign your name, then the company will send the card -- gratuis -- to a soldier involved in this war.

I think it is a good idea to provide a forum/opportunity for folks to say show support and encouragement for the men and women who are abroad b/c of this conflict. It is especially difficult for them to be over there while family and friends are celebrating the holiday season over here.

However, I find it objectionable that this becomes an opportunity to promulgate the idea that this is a war fought for our safety, fought to secure our freedom. It is not sufficient to reduce the war to such "patriotic" motivations. If anything, we can say for certain that there are multiple motivations/reasons for US involvment in the war (I'm drawing a blank -- what are they again?). There are plenty of "agendas" out there, and it is wrong to reinforce such simplistic reductions of such terrible, unrelenting violence in that region of the world.

Even more devastating is that the cards were (supposedly) designed by young children 9, 10 year old (an age that I thought is still fairly innocent). Either they were told what to draw -- in very suggestive terms, no doubt. Or they've been influenced (to put it lightly) towards very, ahem, patriotic and nationalistic sentiments. Every single card exhibits some gratuitous display of thoroughly American patriotism... flag waving, stars and stripes, etc. etc. And the terminology on the greeting cards! Ay yay yay! It saddens me to think that children are being taught this way. What happened to multiple perspectives? What happened to constructive ideology?

It is also unbelievable that they are using these cards to mislead (appropriate term?) people into thinking that they are displaying patriotism by engaging in such bloodshed, that they are protecting the American soil, that they are upholding freedom and liberty and justice. Whose soil are they being led to trample on? Whose citizens are being killed? Whose livelihoods are being threatened? Plus, the troops are risking their lives for a cause which has been dressed up and renamed it all sorts of pretenses and badly directed.

Granted, it is easy to say that U.S. presence is important - necesary - in those regions. But, I'll have to think long and hard about this. I mean, I can understand that there may be some who feel that it is important to have American troops supporting, encouraging, and protecting the Iraqis government, citizens, troops, etc. I also understand that some see US involvement as similar to the Vietnam/American War situation -- when troops came in, the situation escalated, then the troops were abruptly withdrawn leaving a devastated country and a people unprotected by the newly arisen system...

But, nothing is easily summed up with a bunch of silly emotions and fiery language. I can rant and sigh and fight over this, but I won't have much effect or create much change with ignorant speech. In the end, it is only good to show the troops that they are cared for and wanted -- at home. Home.