There is an upcoming event, perhaps fittingly located at the "hallowed" Lambeau Field, which is billed as "Wisconsin's official Thank You event ... honoring our Vietnam veterans for their service and sacrifice."
At first thought, it is hard to argue with such an event. These are people who may have experienced great personal hardship at the demand of their national government, who may have had continuing hardship as a direct result, who may have suffered blame as victims so often are.
Some form of public recognition would not be out of place. Especially appropriate is another aspect of this program and its several ancillaries: providing forums for veterans to express their own stories, whatever those stories actually are.
But that phrase, "official Thank You", stuck in my mind. What is it, I wondered, that we are to be thanking these veterans for?
Are we thanking them for their direct actions in Viet Nam, including killing men, women, and children in their fields and villages? For destroying houses and livelihoods and for poisoning whole landscapes? For using illegal drugs? Are we thanking them for their involuntary service under the compulsion of heavy sanctions -- and is such a statement even meaningful?
Or do we thank these veterans for the indirect effects to which their actions contributed, such as destroying our national reputation, damaging our national economy, and creating civil unrest across our country and around the world?
The public statement which is called for amidst the telling of the veterans' stories is not thanks but an apology. More correctly, since no defense is possible, we should offer an act of public contrition.