Go
Team Go.
March
Madness is upon us and no
matter where you go these
days it’s inescapable.
All over the country you can
see people swept up in the
excitement – sporting
team tee shirts, holding signs
with team slogans and painting
their faces in team colors.
Young men and women don their
uniforms and prepare to face
their opponents in what is
clearly the biggest event
in their short lives while
the commentators brush up
on the statistics. And every
night millions of Americans
settle into their couches
with a Budweiser to catch
it all live on television.
Sure
there’s that NCAA tournament
too, but this bigger, better,
more action packed - this
is war broadcast live.
 Maybe
it’s just me, but it
seems like the television
networks and quite a few U.S.
citizens can’t distinguish
between a basketball game
and a war. For the network’s
part, ominous music and catchy
slogans turn an armed conflict
into just another infotainment
reality series while many
Americans, their faces painted
and screaming “let’s
kick some ass,” act
more like tailgaters than
citizens concerned about the
fate of their soldiers.
A
quick review: in a basketball
game college students dreaming
of their lucrative NBA contract
wrestle over a ball for an
hour. In a war, college-aged
Americans get paid something
slightly higher than minimum
wage to risk their lives and
many people – US soldiers,
the bad guys and innocent
civilians alike – end
up dead.
I
understand the importance
of supporting our troops:
regardless of whether you
agree or disagree with this
administration’s foreign
policy, everyone wants the
men and women in the military
to make it home safe. These
young people need to know
that even as we debate the
reasons for the war, American
is united in wanting them
safe.
 But
in contrast to the stoic support
shown for the troops during
World War II, support these
days reflects the bombastic
nature of our “Jerry
Springer” society. Rather
than holding prayer vigils
or quiet rallies mindful of
the horrific gravity of war,
many in this country resort
to fist-pumping and a “let’s
get ‘em – our
team versus their team”
mentality.
Do
the rank and file soldiers
have this attitude? Of course
they do - it’s a necessary
part of being able to emotionally
put yourself in a place where
you are willing to risk your
life to achieve an objective.
But
those of us here at home aren’t
getting shot at. And while
you’re certainly free
to do whatever you want, I’m
only suggesting that we show
our support for our troops
in a way that makes it obvious
that we can distinguish between
missing a three pointer and
risking one’s life.
Let them know that while we
may paint our faces and pump
our fists for our favorites
in the NCAA tournament, our
hearts are overseas. Let us
reflect the solemn nature
of their commitment by exhibiting
our support in a manner that
portray us not as drunken
fans at a kegger, but as the
proud, concerned citizens
we are.
Peace.
This
Essay © 2003 Lee Totten
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