VETERANS SHOULD BE HONORED - NOT VILIFIED
A very distasteful scene occurred at the New School graduation in NYC last week. To those that might have missed it, two former American soldiers, Senator John McCain and former Senator Bob Kerry, were treated shamefully at the graduation ceremony by members of the school community. The timing of the callous treatment could not have been worse, as America heads into the Memorial Day weekend.
This is the weekend where our country honors heroes like McCain and Kerry. It doesn’t matter that the men drifted to opposite sides of the political fence as they grew older, each man put their life on the line for their country. At a time when our country was divided over our military obligations, Kerry and McCain performed their duty. Both of these men saw real action in wartime, and that is why America listens up when they speak on military issues.
It is too bad that the New School community left their manners at home. Booing and catcalls do not further rational discussion of an important issue, it diminishes the argument. Senators McCain and Kerry know that because of their courage as young man, these very same graduates are free to express their opinions. Without men and woman willing to sacrifice their lives throughout the years, free speech would not be a fundamental right enjoyed by our people.
So this weekend, give the loudest applause to the veterans. The ranks of the vets from the world wars of the twentieth century are dwindling each day, and we can only stare in awe at these remarkable men and woman. Their legacy of sacrifice lives on in the new generation of soldier today, who is putting their life on the line in the war against terror. The long march of freedom starts with the soldier, and it is a lesson that the New School community forgot last week. Let’s not make the same mistake this weekend.
