One can support the troops without supporting the war
This Letter to the Editor appeared in Fort McMurray Today Sept. 13, 2006
During this war in Afghanistan, support of our troops is equated with support of the war. This is simply not true. It is very possible tosupport the war and not truly support Canadian women and men in uniform. It is also possible to support the troops and not support the war.
I will not get into a debate here on whether or not we should support involvement in the Afghan war. People must be informed about facts on both sides of this issue, including the likely length of the conflict, and the culture and history of the region. Then and only then can they decide whether or not to support our government's decision to continue to send Canadian troops to Afghanistan.
However, every patriotic Canadian must support our troops regardless of opinions on the war itself.
I do not know whether the media is failing to keep us informed or whether our government is failing to give people in uniform and their families the support they deserve. There are some serious questions that need answers.
Returning soldiers find it very hard to return to family duties and many marriages collapse after their return. What support systems are in place to help armed service personnel rebuild marital and family relationships?
What assistance is given to families when a member is serving overseas in this war? In particular, what counselling is available to children who may have trouble adjusting to the absence of a father or mother? What financial assistance is given to schools to offer programs for children of absent service members?
What assistance is given to life partners of service personnel killed in action, regardless of the nature of the relationship? What assistance and counselling are given to their children in order that they can make a healthy adjustment to life without one parent? What long-term followup is given to bereaved families (and I am not just talking about financial assistance)?
What long term followup is undertaken by the defence and Veteran Affairs departments to ensure injured and retired service members have all the assistance to live healthy and productive civilian lives? One lesson from the Vietnam war is that those who served in that war suffered serious long-term physical, mental and emotional health problems. Often, these problems made it impossible for them to resume normal and constructive civilian life.
Furthermore, these health issues also caused trouble for family members.
Are all armed service personnel paid adequately so they may support families and be able to save for long-term needs? We still hear too many stories of armed service families who cannot meet their financial needs. If the salaries of people in uniform are inadequate, then we are not supporting them. If it means raising taxes to ensure armed service personnel are paid adequately, then the government has a moral obligation to do so.
If support for our troops is deficient in any of these areas, we may well be supporting the war, but we are failing to support those our government has sent to fight in that war- and that is immoral. It is our responsibility to support our troops whether or not we agree with involvement in this war.
WAYNE MADDEN
© Copyright 2006, Fort McMurray Today.
During this war in Afghanistan, support of our troops is equated with support of the war. This is simply not true. It is very possible tosupport the war and not truly support Canadian women and men in uniform. It is also possible to support the troops and not support the war.
I will not get into a debate here on whether or not we should support involvement in the Afghan war. People must be informed about facts on both sides of this issue, including the likely length of the conflict, and the culture and history of the region. Then and only then can they decide whether or not to support our government's decision to continue to send Canadian troops to Afghanistan.
However, every patriotic Canadian must support our troops regardless of opinions on the war itself.
I do not know whether the media is failing to keep us informed or whether our government is failing to give people in uniform and their families the support they deserve. There are some serious questions that need answers.
Returning soldiers find it very hard to return to family duties and many marriages collapse after their return. What support systems are in place to help armed service personnel rebuild marital and family relationships?
What assistance is given to families when a member is serving overseas in this war? In particular, what counselling is available to children who may have trouble adjusting to the absence of a father or mother? What financial assistance is given to schools to offer programs for children of absent service members?
What assistance is given to life partners of service personnel killed in action, regardless of the nature of the relationship? What assistance and counselling are given to their children in order that they can make a healthy adjustment to life without one parent? What long-term followup is given to bereaved families (and I am not just talking about financial assistance)?
What long term followup is undertaken by the defence and Veteran Affairs departments to ensure injured and retired service members have all the assistance to live healthy and productive civilian lives? One lesson from the Vietnam war is that those who served in that war suffered serious long-term physical, mental and emotional health problems. Often, these problems made it impossible for them to resume normal and constructive civilian life.
Furthermore, these health issues also caused trouble for family members.
Are all armed service personnel paid adequately so they may support families and be able to save for long-term needs? We still hear too many stories of armed service families who cannot meet their financial needs. If the salaries of people in uniform are inadequate, then we are not supporting them. If it means raising taxes to ensure armed service personnel are paid adequately, then the government has a moral obligation to do so.
If support for our troops is deficient in any of these areas, we may well be supporting the war, but we are failing to support those our government has sent to fight in that war- and that is immoral. It is our responsibility to support our troops whether or not we agree with involvement in this war.
WAYNE MADDEN
© Copyright 2006, Fort McMurray Today.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home