Supporting the Troops, but not in the way YOU think.

In this episode of "A Prairie Home Campanion", in the "News from Lake Wobegon" segment, Garrison Keillor offers an interesting tribute to our service personnel. He talks of a Memorial Day Service that takes place in the fictional town of Lake Wobegon, Minnesota. Listen especially to the monologue at around 9:38. Link to mp3 download from the show's webpage.

"[These] ... young men put on the uniform of anonymity in loyalty to us. And who went out there although they had grave doubts and misgivings. Grave doubts about this cause. They were full of doubt. And also feelings of terror. They went off in defense of the South, they went off to fight the Kaiser, they went off in defense of democracy in Korea and Vietnam and in Iraq they went off with grave misgivings, but nonetheless they were loyal to us, even at our worst, full of political foolishness and cruelty, they nonetheless they were loyal to us, knowing that we had better angels than these. And so they did what they needed to do."

And then Garrison led the crowd in singing the National Anthem. Moving.

Too often, today's prophets of political foolishness and cruelty use the words "Support our Troops" to hush any reflection on the grave doubts we've all had, about whether it's time to bring them home.