Prior to and during President Bush’s recent war on Iraq, there were multitudes of old American men (i.e., men more than 40 years old) who eagerly supported sending American troops into battle. Those American men who lacked the courage to “support the troops” in this way were denounced by some as cowards who lacked patriotism.
More than 100 U.S. servicemen were sacrificed in the war so that the Iraqi people could be “free,” including such young soldiers as Jamaal Addison, 22, of Atlanta; Howard Johnson, 20, of Mobile, Alabama; Tamario Burkett, 21, of Buffalo, N.Y.; and Donald Cline, 21, of Sparks, Nevada. Most of the GIs were killed in combat but at least a few were killed by enemy suicide bombers, which caused U.S. troops to make major adjustments in their battlefield strategy.
Which raises my idea for Washington’s next foreign war to liberate people who are suffering under tyranny, whether against Syria, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, or China.
I suggest that we form the Old Patriots Suicide Brigade for all American men who are more than 40 years old, who support the war and the troops, who want to serve their country by freeing foreigners, and who are patriotic. Their mission would be to blow themselves up on enemy targets to save the lives of young American servicemen and help win the war.
The O.P.S.B. would enable old American men to support the troops in a much more meaningful way than simply sitting on their couch at home, sipping a cool one, watching television, and cheering them on. The brigade would also give the oldsters the opportunity to give their lives for “freedom, democracy, and country.”
If old American men support the idea of waging wars thousands of miles away to free foreigners from tyranny, what would be wrong with the oldsters voluntarily sacrificing themselves in those faraway lands so that more young American men and women can live out their lives here at home, as the elderly have been able to do?
After all, haven’t old American men already had the chance to enjoy a long life? Haven’t many of them outlived their usefulness anyway? If we’re going to sacrifice Americans so that foreigners can be “free,” wouldn’t we be better off as a nation sacrificing the old and weak among us and saving the young and strong?