One can honor military personnel without honoring war. [View all]

[MineralMan]

I have been opposed to all military operations in the Middle East for as long as I can remember. I believe, and have believed, that we have no business sending our military to that part of the world to deal with internal issues in the countries there. I was completely opposed to George W. Bush's decision to invade Iraq and Afghanistan at the time, and oppose our continuation of military operations there. I do understand that immediate withdrawal isn't the best way to leave, though.

However, President Obama's honoring of an enlisted man who had volunteered to serve 10 deployments was not honoring the war. It was honoring the service of one man as an example of all of those who serve in our military and are deployed to conflict areas. They did not start the conflict. They have nothing to do with the strategy of any military operations. They have, instead, joined the military for various reasons, and serve in the military as ordered by those who do plan the strategy. They are members of our military.

President Obama has overseen the end of our military involvement in Iraq, and is overseeing the end stage of our involvement in Afghanistan. How well he is doing that is open to discussion, of course. I would have preferred a more rapid drawdown in Afghanistan, for example, and believe we should already be out of there.

However, I do not make military policy, or any policy at all. Neither does the Sergeant who was honored at the SOTU address last night. Grievously injured, he has served honorably, and was rightly presented as someone who has served his country faithfully and at great cost to himself. Opposition to war in general or to individual wars does not have anything to do with honoring an individual who has served in our military.

My father piloted B-17s in WWII. He's 89 years old now. I have my own issues with strategic bombing, as it was carried out in WWII, and especially when civilian targets were bombed. My father flew some of those missions. He didn't plan any of them. He served as a pilot and flew his plane and crew in and back safely for over 20 missions, near the end of the war.

I disagree with the bombings, but not with my father's service. I disagree with our military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, but not with the service of the injured man honored for his service by President Obama. Both served honorably in our military, as have countless others. All deserve honor. They are who they are. They are members of our military, and serve willingly and bravely.

It's fine to believe that we should not engage in military activities. It's fine to blame those who plan those activities and send our military personnel into harm's way. It is not fine to blame those who serve honorably. The President was right to honor this enlisted man, who paid a great price to serve. Those who stood and applauded the Sgt. are right to have done so.