I hate Veteran's Day.
Next to Pumpkin Spice Latte day at Starbucks, it's my least favorite day of the year -- especially in the age of social media.
As usual, I feel the need to remind everyone that I don't speak for all veterans nor do I hate veterans or America, so save the hate mail for another day.
The original holiday, Armistice Day, was meant to commemorate the ending of the First World War in1918. The idea was to remind people of the destruction and devastation that can result when cooler heads don't prevail, when we lose touch with our humanity.
World War I was based upon petulant desires for power and glory, to assert dominance upon the most influential and globally powerful continent at the time. Europe lost nearly an entire generation of young men over monarchical chess and the death of Franz Ferdinand.
The pride and hubris of the few ruling elite killed millions.
November 11 was meant to celebrate peace and warn against diplomatic failures.
In 1954, Congress changed the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day to honor the men and women who served during the bloodiest wars of the 20th Century.
In the subsequent decades, it was simply a day to be at home with loved ones and remember those who served, which happened to be a relatively large portion of the population.
After 9/11, Veteran's Day took a new form, became something more than just a day to remember those who serve or have served. Now it has become more than just a day, more than just a tribute to those who've worn the uniform for their country. It's become a pseudo religious observance with those who disagree with veterans becoming heretics. Veterans have become something more than just citizens who chose to serve, they've become infallible messiahs. Veterans Service Organizations have become Pharisees condemning those who give anything less than their full-throated support.
I hate it.
Maybe I just hate attention or maybe I just dislike the pomp and ceremony. Maybe I've just become too cynical from serving with arrogant, entitled members of society. Maybe I'm tired from being told I should feel disrespected by the actions of others. Maybe I'm just tired of being thanked for my service when I'm trying to go about my business and be left the fuck alone.
I know I'm tired of veterans taking advantage of this new-found social status; a social status that has largely become based upon pity. It's based upon people feeling guilty or sad for vets who can't find a job or don't get paid enough to support their family. It's based upon a deceptive statistic of 22 veterans committing suicide every day.
I'm tired of the idea that veterans are something more than sovereign citizens.
In his book, Tribe, Sebastian Junger talks about the feeling of separation from civilian society or the lack of community and camaraderie. There's a lack of people who understand what vets have been through, the things they've experienced. There's a certain disconnect, veterans don't feel like a normal member of society.
Elevating them to a status above civilians, isn't helping.
The suicide rate among veterans is largely attributed to this idea that veterans feel isolated, that they feel disparate from the rest of society. During the last few years of World War II and the years following its end, the suicide rate among veterans and active military was nearly half what it is today. Does that mean WWII vets were twice as appreciated or felt twice as connected to civilians?
I understand why veterans have been elevated; in the pendulum of societal norms, it's more or less an overcorrection for the Vietnam War. Service members have gone from "baby killers" to "heroes."
I get it, but heroes is a little strong.
There are some who are true heroes, those who saved the lives of countless team members and sacrificed themselves so their brothers and sisters in arms could continue the mission. But not all veterans are heroes just like heroes are not all veterans.
Veterans are actually one of the most diverse groups of people, nearly every demographic being represented in proportional numbers to the American population at large. With that diversity comes some bad eggs as was evidenced by the shooting in Texas last week.
In short, veterans are just people.
Their elevation doesn't help anyone, least of all vets.
If you want to thank a vet for their service, truly thank them, contribute to the political process, engage leaders to make meaningful changes for the whole. There's very little veterans truly need to be happy. We don't nee more programs or more money. Fix what's broken in the VA, fix the political discourse, fix child healthcare. Care for people and make this a country worth sacrificing for.
Don't feel sorry for vets, don't elevate vets into an elite class.
Treat them like the citizens they are.
Treat them like people.
Keep your feet moving