CivicActions

I just returned from visiting my sister in North Carolina. She's an 18 year veteran of the Marines, worked her way through the enlisted ranks and is now an officer. Coming from a family long in distinguished military service, not to mention the ongoing challenges of being a female Marine, I'm very proud of her.

I'm also grateful for all the men and women who wear the uniform with the intention of protecting us from tyranny and oppression. I got to break bread this weekend with a handful of men and women in the Marines and even got to sing my "(I Know Why You're) Semper Fi" song to all of them. It was awesome, and I got to renew my appreciation of the good hearts that most of these people have.

And, what is happening to them and through them by their own commander in chief is repugnant. It was an odd juxtaposition to be standing in the "Devil Dog Mall" (the shopping mall near Camp LeJeune packed with off-duty Marines on a Friday night) and feeling both proud and grateful and also so adamant in my opposition to the war these people are prosecuting - as trained and as ordered.

But I know that so many of them are doing it for the noblest of reasons - love of real, actual freedom, protection of their families and communities and a genuine sense of giving. The benefits don't suck, either, if you can make it to retirement. At the end of the day, I believe that most of the men and women in uniform are truly honorable, good people.

The bottom line is that we should support the warriors and not the war. And we should hold the people who promoted (and continue to promote) the war accountable. It's too expensive in every way and wrong for all kinds of reasons.