I don't support the troops,
America, and neither do you. I am writing this as I have just learned
of the suicides of two more of our active duty reservists who live here
in the Traverse City, Michigan area. That brings the total number of soldier
suicides (that I know of) in the past year, in this rural area, to four.
I am tired of the ruse we are playing on these brave citizens in
our armed forces. And guess what -- a lot of these soldiers and sailors
and airmen and Marines see right through the bull**** of those words,
"I support the troops!," spoken by Americans with such false sincerity
-- false because our actions don't match our words. These young men and
women sign up to risk their very lives to protect us -- and this is what
they get in return:
1. They get sent off to wars that have NOTHING to do with defending
America or saving our lives. They are used as pawns so that the military-industrial
complex can make billions of dollars and the rich here can expand their
empire. By "supporting the troops," that means I'm supposed to shut up,
don't ask questions, do nothing to stop the madness, and sit by and watch
thousands of them die?
Well, I've done an awful lot to try and end this. But the only way
you can honestly say you support the troops is to work night and day to
get them out of these hell holes they've been sent to. And what have I
done this week to bring the troops home? Nothing. So if I say "I support
the troops," don't believe me -- I clearly don't support the troops because
I've got more important things to do today, like return an iPhone that
doesn't work and take my car in for a tune up.
2. While the troops we claim to "support" are serving their country,
bankers who say they too "support the troops" foreclose on the actual
homes of these soldiers and evict their families while they are overseas!
Have I gone and stood in front of the sheriff's deputy as he is throwing
a military family out of their home? No. And there's your proof that I
don't "support the troops," because if I did, I would organize mass sit-ins
to block the doors of these homes. Instead, I'm having Chilean sea bass
tonight.
3. How many of you who say you "support the troops" have visited
a VA hospital to bring aid and comfort to the sick and wounded? I haven't.
How many of you have any clue what it's like to deal with the VA? I don't.
Therefore, you would be safe to say that I don't "support the troops,"
and neither do you.
4. Who amongst you big enthusiastic "supporters of the troops" can
tell me the approximate number of service women who have been raped while
in the military? Answer:19,000 (mostly) female troops are raped or sexually
assaulted every year by fellow American troops. What have you or I done
to bring these criminals to justice? What's that you say -- out of sight,
out of mind? These women have suffered, and I've done nothing. So don't
ever let me get away with telling you I "support the troops" because,
sadly, I don't. And neither do you.
5. Help a homeless vet today? How 'bout yesterday? Last week? Last
year? Ever? But I thought you "support the troops!"? The number of homeless
veterans is staggering -- on any given night, at least 60,000 veterans
are sleeping on the streets of the country that proudly "supports the
troops." This is disgraceful and shameful, isn't it? And it exposes all
those "troop supporters" who always vote against social programs that
would help these veterans. Tonight there are at least 12,700 Iraq/Afghanistan
veterans homeless and sleeping on the street. I've never lent a helping
hand to one of the many vets I've seen sleeping on the street. I can't
bear to look, and I walk past them very quickly. That's called not "supporting
the troops," which, I guess, I don't -- and neither do you.
6. And you know, the beautiful thing about all this "support" you
and I have been giving the troops -- they feel this love and support so
much, a record number of them are killing themselves every single week.
In fact, there are now more soldiers killing themselves than soldiers
being killed in combat (323 suicides in 2012 through November vs.about
210 combat deaths). Yes, you are more likely to die by your own hand in
the United States military than by al Qaeda or the Taliban. And an estimated
eighteen veterans kill themselves each day, or one in five of all U.S.
suicides -- though no one really knows because we don't bother to keep
track.
Now, that's what I call support! These troops are really feeling
the love, people! Lemme hear you say it again: "I support the troops!"
Louder! "I SUPPORT THE TROOPS!!" There, that's better. I'm sure they heard
us. Don't forget to fly our flag, wear your flag lapel pin, and never,
ever let a service member pass you by without saying, "Thank you for your
service!" I'm sure that's all they need to keep from putting a bullet
in their heads. Do your best to keep your "support" up for the troops
because, God knows, I certainly can't any longer.
I don't "support the troops" or any of those other hollow and hypocritical
platitudes uttered by Republicans and frightened Democrats. Here's what
I do support: I support them coming home. I support them being treated
well. I support peace, and I beg any young person reading this who's thinking
of joining the armed forces to please reconsider. Our war department has
done little to show you they won't recklessly put your young life in harm's
way for a cause that has nothing to do with what you signed up for. They
will not help you once they've used you and spit you back into society.
If you're a woman, they will not protect you from rapists in their ranks.
And because you have a conscience and you know right from wrong, you do
not want yourself being used to kill civilians in other countries who
never did anything to hurt us. We are currently involved in at least a
half-dozen military actions around the world. Don't become the next statistic
so that General Electric can post another record profit -- while paying
no taxes -- taxes that otherwise would be paying for the artificial leg
that they've kept you waiting for months to receive.
I support you, and will try to do more to be there for you. And
the best way you can support me -- and the ideals our country says it
believes in -- is to get out of the military as soon as you can and never
look back.
And please, next time some "supporter of the troops" says to you
with that concerned look on their face, "I thank you for your service,"
you have my permission to punch their lights out (figuratively speaking,
of course).
(There is something I've done to support the troops -- other than
help lead the effort to stop these senseless wars. At the movie theater
I run in Michigan, I became the first person in town to institute an affirmative
action plan for hiring returning Iraq/Afghanistan vets. I am working to
get more businesses in town to join with me in this effort to find jobs
for these returning soldiers. I also let all service members in to the
movies for free, every day.)
Yours,
Michael Moore
MMFlint@MichaelMoore.com
@MMFlint
MichaelMoore.com
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