What does it mean to be a patriotic American? What does it mean to support the troops? These are two thought-provoking questions discussed both in large-scale politics from the White House and in everyday civilian life.

Vice President Dick Cheney still persists in portraying any American who opposes the administration’s stance on the war in Iraq as disloyal citizens, even after Cheney’s remarks in 2005 that the Iraqi insurgency was in its “last throes.” With more than 3,200 Americans killed and more than 30,000 wounded in Iraq, America is still fighting today. Why can’t being patriotic mean more than simply supporting the war?

A recent special report by “Newsweek” magazine titled “Forgotten Heroes” took a good look at how the nation’s health care system is treating the wounded Iraqi war veterans who return from action. The article, written by Dan Ephron and Sarah Childress, discusses how many veterans come back with psychological problems that left untreated becausde of the vast numbers of veterans returning home. The deplorable conditions of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center Building 18 located in Washington, D.C. is another example of how this country lacks the services and facilities to aid our praiseworthy veterans when they return home.

Another study by Harvard’s Linda Blimes approximates the costs of the Iraq war veterans will be four times what the budget office projects in the next six years. This study puts forth an inevitable notion that an abundance of Iraqi veterans will return to America. The question is, will Americans care for these admirable men and women or will Americans turn their back on them in an act of disregard?

There are other ways to be patriotic in America today than to support this administration laced with corruption and deceit. These ways include caring for and supporting the veterans along with speaking out against wrongdoings of authority.

Instead of following the lyrics of John Mayer by “Waiting for the World to Change,” we must follow the words of Gandhi and “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” We owe it to the troops and to America.

Columnist: Jonathan Fiedler - 04/05/07