Thank You to Our Veterans
We live in a complex world. It is not black-and-white. Some politicians may choose to draw artificial lines on a world map and classify certain countries as members of an “axis of evil.” But truth is not arrived at so easily by calling one country “good” and worthy of protection, and another “bad” while promoting strategies than render its entire citizenry worthy of annihilation. There are many shades of gray that characterize all the nations of this world.
I have been reading the fascinating book by Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky entitled Manufacturing Consent: the Political Economy of the Mass Media. These co-authors show that the media “defend the economic, social, and political agendas of the privileged groups that dominate … the global order.” But the truth is that America is not “all” good. America has made lots of mistakes in its leadership of the world. America has not always been even-handed in her defense of freedom and democracy. Sometimes America cloaks military intervention for selfish economic or political interests under the guise of humanitarian assistance to refugees in crisis. We intervene when certain refugees suffer. And we turn a blind eye when refugees in other parts of the world are being similarly suppressed and oppressed.
These are ugly realities. But I separate the sometimes flawed and self-serving decisions of powerful, partisan politicians from the incredible bravery of the men and women who put on a uniform and fight valiantly – not for elected officials who own stock in corporations that stand to profit exponentially when the United States goes to war – but for the safety of their mothers, grandmothers, sisters, sons and daughters.
America is far from perfect, but America is safer because of the sacrifice of ordinary men and women who have served our country in the Armed Forces.
So, as the son of an airman, the brother of a sailor and a soldier, and the proud pastor of so many more, I salute you Veterans today. And I thank you for your service.
Sincerely,
Keith S. Goodman
Pastor
I have been reading the fascinating book by Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky entitled Manufacturing Consent: the Political Economy of the Mass Media. These co-authors show that the media “defend the economic, social, and political agendas of the privileged groups that dominate … the global order.” But the truth is that America is not “all” good. America has made lots of mistakes in its leadership of the world. America has not always been even-handed in her defense of freedom and democracy. Sometimes America cloaks military intervention for selfish economic or political interests under the guise of humanitarian assistance to refugees in crisis. We intervene when certain refugees suffer. And we turn a blind eye when refugees in other parts of the world are being similarly suppressed and oppressed.
These are ugly realities. But I separate the sometimes flawed and self-serving decisions of powerful, partisan politicians from the incredible bravery of the men and women who put on a uniform and fight valiantly – not for elected officials who own stock in corporations that stand to profit exponentially when the United States goes to war – but for the safety of their mothers, grandmothers, sisters, sons and daughters.
America is far from perfect, but America is safer because of the sacrifice of ordinary men and women who have served our country in the Armed Forces.
So, as the son of an airman, the brother of a sailor and a soldier, and the proud pastor of so many more, I salute you Veterans today. And I thank you for your service.
Sincerely,
Keith S. Goodman
Pastor
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