We Get Letters

"...Please understand that I am speaking for the general public also. We know we blew it and we don't know how to make it up to you. We wish we had been there for you when you came home from Vietnam because you were a hero and you deserved better. Inside of you there is a pain that will never completely go away and you know what? It's inside of us, too; because when we let you down, we hurt ourselves, too. We all know it and we suffer guilt and we don't know what to do so we cheer for our troops and write letters to "any soldier" and we hang out the yellow ribbons and fly the flag and we love America. We love you too, even if it doesn't feel like it to you. I know in my heart that, when we cheer wildly for our troops, part of the reason is trying to make up for Vietnam. And while it may work for us, it does nothing for you.

We failed you. You didn't fail us, but we failed you and we lost our only chance to be grateful to you at the time when you needed and deserved it. We have disgraced ourselves and brought shame to our country. We did it and we need your forgiveness. Please say you will forgive us and please take your rightful place as heroes of our country. We have learned a terribly painful lesson at your expense and we don't know how to fix it."

From the heart,

Julie

Stuff like the above has been popping up for decades now, and while it must be said that sweet Julie's heart is in the right place, men do not require parades or welcome-home banners every 15' or thereabouts. The more people tender 'apologies', the more certain men will feel the need for them, and that simply makes us weaker.

So thanks for the thought, Julie. But it is not necessary. Men have been fighting and dying in battle for thousands of years, will continue to do so ad infinitum, and having you weep for them is the last thing they need. Hard to concentrate with alla that crying going on.

By the way, ma'am; the only 'pain' I feel from the effort is in not wasting even more of the enemy than I did. If they ever declare a do-over I promise to be better at it, mkay?