[SkyPilot]

Our communities are full of everyday heroes. These are the nurses, schoolteachers, addiction counsellors, community organizers, social workers, coaches, probation officers, and other civilians who struggle to keep Americans from slipping toward despair, sickness, or violence. They guide people away from hopelessness and toward productive lives. Society collapses without these people. Yet we rarely give them the chance to acknowledge the gratitude of cheering multitudes. That honor is reserved for those whose individual merit may be limited to their choice — perhaps motivated by a variety of factors — to put on a uniform.

As one of the comments to this hit piece asks: "Where the heck does the Globe find these people????

The author of this garbage is Stephen Kinzer. Stephen Kinzer is a visiting fellow at the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University. Follow him on Twitter @stephenkinzer.

His basic argument is that veterans are nothing but unemployable metal cases addicted to drugs and are a scourge to this nation. However, he wants Billions more for social spending to looters and takers, and the military gets in the way of that, so he wants take military and their families down even more pegs. It is cold comfort to him (apparently) that Obama has decimated our military.

See the top story on Drudge right now, linked to Military Times. Our military morale is beyond broken.

Here is the offense cartoon the Boston Globe ran at the top of this piece:

And there is liberal hatred and arrogance in a nutshell.

Apparently, we need more "Community Organizers", not military heroes.

[Ghost of SVR4]

‘One reason Americans have come to view soldiers as our only protectors is that we have accepted the idea that our country is under permanent threat from fanatics who want to kill us and destroy our way of life’

This idiot seems to believe nations, countries and borders never change. He has a very short sighted view of history and subscribing to his wisdom (or lack thereof), we have nothing to fear. The only problem is there are a multitude of nations that would love nothing more than to wipe America out; they only play nice because we can currently wipe them off the face of the map with hardly batting an eye if our "will" is there.

It was barely over a decade ago that two very large buildings came tumbling down, the Pentagon attacked and a soon to be attack was thwarted all perpetrated by "fanatics", our enemy; those out to destroy us.

[Paradox]

I sort of agree. John Kerry is no hero

[HotHunt]

Well, one this is for sure. This Kinzer guy is no hero. Trying to make himself relevant in the irrelevant world of ivory towers and liberal newspapers.

[DJ Taylor]

The author intentionally put his "Thesis Paragraph" at the very end:

"It is far easier to spend a few seconds applauding a smiling soldier than to contemplate a troubled veteran left behind by an uncaring country. The soldier acknowledging cheers at a ball game is a fantasy figure we can easily admire. Veterans in need are more disturbing, so we keep them invisible. If we truly considered our uniformed fighters heroic, we would show them real gratitude rather than the phony kind that gives us a shiver of momentary pride but does them little good.

[central_va]

Kinzer:

[SECURE AMERICA]

(Who is a hero? In today’s America, it is someone who chooses a military career, puts on a uniform, and prepares for war.)

OUR SOLDIERS prepare to defend this Nation and freedom and liberty.

[SECURE AMERICA]

( Placing soldiers and veterans on this kind of pedestal is a relatively new phenomenon. Past generations of Americans saw soldiers as ordinary human beings.)

Real Americans have always understood the soldier to be a hero. The defender of all that is right and good................

[SECURE AMERICA]

A quick check of this guys bio’s show him to be very anti- US Military.............

[Lazamataz]

One reason Americans have come to view soldiers as our only protectors is that we have accepted the idea that our country is under permanent threat from fanatics who want to kill us and destroy our way of life.

We ARE under permanent threat from fanatics who want to kill us and destroy our way of life.

But enough about liberals.

[a fool in paradise]

we have accepted the idea that our country is under permanent threat from fanatics who want to kill us and destroy our way of life. Yet we also felt this way at the height of the Cold War,

Smells like a red diaper doper baby talking there.

[a fool in paradise]

Many were killed during the Vietnam War, though, and that did not move us to worship everyone who put on a uniform.

Many were drafted against their wishes and didn't gobble a ton of drugs before their inspection or claim to be gay or run away to Canada to get out of it.

That is not to insult those who died in service, those gave the ultimate sacrifice.

The flip of this coin is the pro-North Vietnamese support stateside from Commie sympathizers who spit on our returning troops (they called this a lie) and called them baby killers (the media won't let you call abortionists baby killers).

[a fool in paradise]

At sports stadiums, many games now include a ceremony at which a uniformed “honor guard” marches in formation bearing ceremonial weapons. Then, during a break in the action, a soldier appears on the field or court, waving to the adoring crowd as an announcer recounts service in Iraq, Afghanistan, or the “war on terror.

This was an all voluntary service.

[a fool in paradise]

“Teachers are heroes.” When they aren’t molesting their students.

Where is the sacrifice? Where is the martyrdom?

Taking a lower pay grade (because they only work 75% of the year)?

[trisham]

It’s the Boston Globe. Need I say more?

[a fool in paradise]

As one of the comments to this hit piece asks: "Where the heck does the Globe find these people????

http://www.apbspeakers.com/contact-us-speakers#Stephen Kinzer

[blueunicorn6]

Name one heroic journalist from Ancient Greece.
Now, who doesn’t know about Leonidas and the 300 Spartans?
Jesus taught us that there is no greater love than that one man lay down his life for another. That is exactly what a Soldier is expected to do.
Show me any great thought about how wonderful sniveling little writers are when they rend their clothing on paper because they realize that what they do is utterly meaningless.

[Old Sarge]

Now that I am no longer constrained to keep quiet, I can honestly say:

I despise these Leftist ingrates and will laugh as they die.

[Pollster1]

One reason Americans have come to view soldiers as our only protectors is that we have accepted the idea that our country is under permanent threat from fanatics who want to kill us and destroy our way of life.

After the Boston Marathon bombing by fanatics who want to kill us and destroy our way of life, this man hasn't figured out that there are hundreds of thousands of evil fanatics who really do want to kill or enslave us, our wives, and our children? He's a slow learner - a liberal.

[dfwgator]

Well there is John Kerry......Just sayin’

[Jet Jaguar]

Active Duty/Retiree ping.