Here is my idea of a loyal opposition: Criticize the leadership to your heart's content, but never, ever say that a soldier who lost his life in the line of duty was a "wasted life."
If you have read about D-Day, you know that when troops disembarked on the landing beaches they were mowed down by the thousands to become virtual stepping stones for those to follow. This was partly due to miscalculations of enemy strength, insufficient bombardment of defenses, equipment failures (e.g. "amphibious" tanks that sank like a rock), and other avoidable mistakes. Those men never had a chance.
That does not mean that their lives were wasted.
We (Republicans and Democrats alike) ask our military to put their lives on the line in defense of our nation. War is hell, and not every engagement, or every battle, or even every war, proves in hindsight to have been necessary or desirable. Yet the best of our young women and men still come forward to serve. And many die willingly for their country.
The least we owe them is to honor their memory with respect for their ultimate sacrifice.
Criticize the leadership, the strategies, the battles, or the wars themselves all you want.
But don't ever say a soldier doing his duty died in vain.
That's my idea of loyal opposition. |
