Or maybe the better questions is “What Is Right?
Yesterday I finished a reread of Erich Maria Remarque’s powerful All Quiet on the Western Front, a story recounting what life was like for young recruits in WWI. As with other war novels I have found the most moving, the portrayal of war through the eyes of the soldiers who have to fight the wars (as opposed to those who send them to war and the professionals who direct them) once again reminded me of the human costs of war, of those who are its true victims, whether because they are killed or wounded or psychologically maimed.
Remarque’s book set me to thinking about an experience I had a few weeks ago while attending a Washington Nationals’ baseball game. The Nats “have made military outreach a top priority, so much so that USO Metropolitan Washington honored the team with the Legacy of Hope Award during their 2012 Awards Gala.” (See Military Initiatives for a full description of all the Nationals are doing in this regard).
Just one of the initiatives is the honoring of soldiers, and often their families too, at the end of third inning during every home game. The fans always give these honorees a standing ovation.
Usually I stand too and applaud as I have come to understand that no matter the right or wrong of a particular war, those who have been sent into battle deserve to be honored.
But sometimes I find myself in a quandry, not because of any doubt that appreciation is valid but because I feel that every game I am being required to follow what the Nationals’ are dictating.
A few weeks ago, at the end of the third inning, I was talking with a friend and clapping, but I did not stand up. A few rows in front of me, a man gestured to me to stand. When I didn’t, he gave me a disgusted look, and later in the game, he walked by me and said, “You ought to be ashamed.”
I wanted to respond that he had no right to tell me what to do nor if what I was doing was wrong. But he passed too quickly.
Nevertheless, this incident and my general discomfort each game when I feel I have to follow the crowd, when I’d really like to express my disgust at those who lead us into wars through lies and deceptions and who do not have to pay any personal price for their actions, continues to be on my mind.
I would be interested in your thoughts, respectfully stated, either in the Comments section of this post or in an email to me: Samesty84@gmail.com.
Lydia said:
Oof. Tough situation. As with any “ritual,” the action begins to lose meaning if one is forced into it — prayer, pledge of allegiance, etc. So the question is are you staying seated because you feel the action has no meaning for you anymore (the joy and curse of attending SO MANY baseball games!) or because you don’t like the fact that the members of the military are being sent into war? If it’s the first, then go ahead and stay seated and glare right back while sipping your beer. If it’s the second, then make sure that you are directing your statement at the right people. You’ve done a sound analysis above, but which one is going through your head at the end of the third inning?
Nancy Cedar Wilson said:
I understand your reluctance to have to follow the dictates of the organization–one could say that they have tried to create a tradition much like the 7th inning stretch and song–except that a person is not considered a reprobate if he/she decides not to stand up & sing one night–I think it is a nice gesture, and probably well-deserved, but I don’t think you should be made to feel ashamed if you didn’t happen to stand at that time
I will send you under separate cover an invitation to hear a true supporter of Conscientious Objection in October at the UU Congregation I belong in Bethesda–
James Cooke said:
I’m with you on this one, Richard.
In a related topic, James Marsh writes why he sits out God Bless America at Nationals Park. “Dissent is patriotic.”
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-05-31/opinions/39650220_1_blessings-national-anthem-common-bonds
janet brownsister said:
I think Lydia said it the best.
You have mixed messages within yourself and may be not directing them properly.
p.s.
I really could have sworn our dad died!
(nice to see he lives on!)
Tim Malieckal said:
Despite having been against the War in Iraq, I do usually stand for the vets at Citi Field (The Wilponzis use Vet Appreciation to distract from their various criminal enterprises). After all, our soldiers (per Tennyson) don’t get to “wonder why… ours is but to do or die”. A little applause for their sacrifice is the least I can do, and these guys usually beam so much on camera that it’s hard not to throw a whistle in there, as well.
I imagine the scold at the game you attended has a yellow sticker on the back of his SUV and has uttered ‘you’re letting the terrorsist win’ more than a few times in the oughts. I’d not fret much about it, Richard. The biggest jerks always wrap themselves in flags in order to point in anger at their own countrymen.
What I find way more irritating is the new ‘God Bless America’ seventh inning stretch we suffer through in New York. At Citi, it’s not every game, but often. At Yankee Stadium, it’s every game. I believe in God and America both, but I find it pompous and weird to hear it during a ballgame at which 80% of the men are sloshed.
Carrie said:
I have respect for the men who serve our country. This is separate from the feelings I have about war.I would dislike it if people treat our soldiers as bad as many people did after the Vietnam Nam war.
jere said:
I recently had an e-mail exchange with a friend about this. Here’s what she wrote to me:
“And here’s something I can’t say in public: I am so f***ing done with respecting the US military. It’s a sick organization that fosters and promotes sexism, homophobia, and certainly not least of all, RAPE. Like, I just can’t “support the troops” now.”
And here was my reply:
“The way I say it in public is never standing for the nightly ‘here’s a random military dude/chick you automatically have to love’ thing at Fenway. Last game I went to though, they brought out that person, I sat while everyone else roared (it’s always the biggest cheer of the game and it’s a little scary if ya ask me), and then they were like, and here’s another special guest, and it was a marathon employee who had to become a medic that day, and I then stood and clapped for them (extra loud in the hopes people nearby would recognize that it wasn’t a coincidence that I waited till the second person was announced to stand/clap).
And yeah, maybe that nightly ‘troop’ is a really good person who got somehow talked into service, was used as a pawn, etc., but it’s usually some commander or something and overall I feel like I’d be supporting the entire military if I clapped so I just don’t.”
Jackie said:
Before I tell you why I always stand for the military, I need to tell you I will protest any war, any time. There has to be something that will work better, but we as a country/government spend so much time at war that no energy is left for finding what works without the violence. Now, on to why I stand for military personnel.
My father was an airplane mechanic who was transferred off the Saratoga 13 days before it sank and the Arizona 7 days before it sank. He was so traumatized by the war that my brother and I were to stand at the bedroom door and talk loudly, even yell if we had to, but touching him when asleep could get us a black eye before he knew what he was doing. He was also sent to Easter Island to repair and maintain airplanes used in testing A bombs. He had to have medicated gauze implanted in his arms after he came back, and stay totally covered any time he was in the sun for the rest of his life after that. Gardening was his favorite activity, so he sucked up wearing long sleeves, long pants and huge hats all summer. Then he was sent into the mountains in Hawaii for survival training that ended with him having stomach surgery that eventually led to his death from stomach cancer according to the doctors who treated the cancer.
Understanding that our government ultimately has the power to force anyone/me to go to war, I will always stand for those who did.
OutsideTheLaw said:
Thanks for opening this discussion, Richard.
I don’t stand either at the top of the Third or during God Bless America.
As to the latter, the linked Washington Post piece by James Marsh shares many of my ideas, but not all. Remember where this started. This is not a long-standing tradition — it started in Sept-Oct 2001 at Yankess Stadium, in New York right after 9/11. I don’t know whether other teams picked this up independently or whether MLB (also headquartered in NYC) dictated it, but it spread quickly. At Nats Park, it’s every Sunday. First, it’s not the National Anthem, so you don’t have to stand, and you certainly don’t have to put your hand over your heart as many do for the Pledge or for the Star Spangled Banner. Second, who chose this song? Reminds me of the old Flyers tradition with Kate Smith. Why does it have to be this song? Why can’t it be “Oh Beautiful” or, even better, “This Land is Your Land.”? Or why can’t it rotate? The fact that it is this song and only this song reinforces, to me, that it is a *political* song, attempting to bind together that which the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment keeps apart. And haven’t we learned anything from those countries or peoples or groups who claim God as their own? Look at the Shia and the Sunni, for goodness sake. And since when can we be sure that God Is On Our Side. Didn’t Bob Dylan answer this question 50 years ago [http://www.bobdylan.com/us/songs/god-our-side]? As Dylan said, “If God’s on our side, He’ll stop the next war.”
Which gets me to the Third Inning. Yes, they fought, and yes many of them sacrificed. But they are *volunteers*, paid soldiers. To use a more crass term, they are our mercenaries. They have PX and pension benefits well beyond the usual person and can retire at age 38 with a pension and lifetime medical care. But that’s not the real point. If you oppose these wars how can you cheer for the instruments that fight them without appearing to support the war? It’s not like you’re given the option to cheer for them but then register opposition to the George W policy that killed so many in Iraq. (“OK, now that we’ve honored our troops, how many opposed Bush’s war?”) When General Dempsey throws out the first pitch, which he’s done, or sings the Anthem, which I understand he will do on July 4, do I have to clap for him too? It’s this *focus* on the Military which I am trying to oppose. Why are there no Third Innings for the doctors and nurses? Or the social workers? Or the Vista and Peace Corps volunteers? If we honored the troops as *among* our nation’s heroes instead of the *only* heroes I’d join in. But I can’t let baseball, or the Nats, equate patriotism with the troops or the war or the military, and I certainly don’t equate the military and baseball itself.
Jeff N said:
So this fool had six innings to feel like a great patriot over having performed a meaningless and largely effortless act of standing, then could go home warm and smug at having attempted to get you to stand also? Home team win? Perfect game..
carol board said:
I don’t know how “right or wrong” really is the issue. In my old age I have begun not really care what other people think, especially about me, as long as my decision feels right for me. So I would suggest you live your life as you choose. You have done pretty well so far.