That'll be the Day

I didn't come here to America
To give up the ghost and die
--Five Points, Black 47
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Since Purple Heart Magazine published Ranger's Anti-Warrior stance last month, he is going to push the envelope with a new challenge:

Dear Ed,

It is my contention that the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) should be dedicated to the principal that there should not be any more Purple Hearts (PH's) being awarded in our current meaningless and endless hostilities in Iraq and AFPAK. This means advocating for ending the wars.

In the past, PH's purchased freedom and liberty, eventually leading to victory and success. The last Victory Medal awarded was 1945. Since then, the volume of PH's have not bought the American taxpayer anything except political compromise and open-ended conflicts. The MOPH should not glorify such actions, and should do everything possible to end the misery and suffering caused by combat wounds that benefit naught.

It is clear that DVA policies are broken and will continue to provide marginal care to the returning wounded and disabled. In the face of the inadequacy of the DVA -- with a current backlog of almost a million disability cases -- how can fraternal organization like the MOPH continue to glorify and support the current wars, in which victory is undefinable and therefore unattainable?

Our efforts need to be reassessed and realigned to protect those that need not be needlessly sacrificed to a false concept of freedom or liberty.

What a revolutionary move it would be if the MOPH adopted a posture opposing continued U.S. involvement in the current phony wars on terror. This is the leadership required of old soldiers in the face of degenerate national policy.

These are harsh words to speak to fellow patriots, but as Justice Brandeis said, sunshine is an excellent disinfectant.


Sincerely,


Jim Hruska

Getting Braver All the Time

Suffers who suffer all
Can swim upon the desert
Where avarice have ravaged all
In spite of good intentions
-- Seven Deadly Sins, Flogging Molly
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The Purple Heart Magazine (May/June) ran Ranger's Letter to the Editor in opposition to the use of the term "warrior" to describe today's soldiers.

This is no small thing. We noticed the liberalization beginning in June of 2007 when Gary Kurpius, national commander of the 2.4 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars, backed recently released Marine Corps veteran Adam Kokesh in his right to protest the U.S.'s involvement in the Iraq war.

It amounts to a sea change when the editorial arm of a military fraternal organization like the MOPH is willing to publish opposition to an accepted ooh-rah stance. The letter is reprinted below:

Editor:

The last issue reports the MOPH [Military Order of the Purple Heart] organization issued Sen. Jim Webb a special leadership award this year for, among other things, his legislation to create a new G.I. Bill. “Webb’s legislation . . . will make it possible for today’s young warriors and their families to live the American dream.” (Purple Heart Magazine, Mar/Apr. ‘09).

Sen. Webb is a great advocate for veterans issues, though he has never referred to himself or our soldiers as “warriors” (aside from its use in the so-called “Wounded Warrior” Project.)

Unfortunately, the P.H. Magazine and by extension, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, is endorsing a “warrior mentality” which is the opposite of the beliefs of our Founding Fathers.

The American dream used to be peace and prosperity and adherence to a set of core values. Both the concept of being a warrior and arriving at the American dream through warfare are gross distortions of the concept of a democracy.

George Washington, the originator of the Purple Heart, never branded himself or his soldiers as warriors. Like the insurgents of Iraq and Afghanistan, Washington fought only in a defensive posture. This is not the stance of the warrior. Washington left office warning of the dangers of entangling foreign alliances.

We have run afoul of his vision.

Respectfully,

Jim Hruska