A way to thank those who risked their lives for us
Published July 3, 2005
There will be much discussion about what we've lost, and who we had been and what we're in danger of becoming. All of this will be bound up in the upcoming "battle" over Supreme Court nominees.
"It will be a vicious battle," said a reporter on TV, and I watched the politicians--liberal and conservative senators--circling over the news that Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor had resigned.
Just then a note came in from a reader with a great idea. I'll call him Tony. But I can't give out his last name.
Tony wanted to kick around a 4th of July idea with the rest of you about other folks who've fought in other battles--the kind that don't involve political consultants and senatorial hair.
This one involves how Americans can treat other Americans--particularly those who've joined the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.
It's the Tony Principle, but you don't have to join an organization to participate, or sign your name or promise to write checks or become a member of some committee. No one has to know who you are. Just read the letter.
But first, I've got to tell you one more thing about Tony. He did not want me to put his name in the paper. His letter:
I don't want your Sox tickets, not that I don't enjoy the occasional game.
Anyhow, I'd like to propose that you do a column encouraging people to take care of our soldiers whenever we run into them in our daily lives.
A few months ago we were in a large Italian restaurant in Chicago. A young sailor and his girlfriend are sitting by us. Very quietly I ask the waiter to give me their bill and just took care of it.
You should have seen the look on their faces when the waiter went over to tell them the bill had been taken care of. Even better, as they scanned the room trying to figure out who might have picked it up, I'm sure we were the last people they would suspect as we were out with neighbors and had 4 kids under the age of 10.
As I'm sure you know, in those situations dinner revolves around getting everyone fed, keeping the table upright, not losing a kid and getting the bill paid before disaster strikes.
All I'm suggesting is if any of us sees a soldier or sailor out--for instance buying tickets at a movie theater--then pick them up for them.
Or if you're at the Taste of Chicago, pass along a few tickets.
If you see them gassing up at the gas station, cover it for them.
Let's face it, they're paid a pittance for literally risking their lives.
And this is an easy way to say `we support you' regardless of your support (or not) for the actual war and George W.'s policies.
I do not have a personal agenda; I do not know anyone in the military. My kids are way too young to join.
Again, please make no reference to me if you use this as a column. I do not want to be identified by name or where I work or what I do.
Thanks.
Tony? Thank you for writing, especially today, with so many of us in our various political camps, preaching how reasonable we are while others are possessed of substandard intellects when they disagree with us.
And then comes your letter, full of one thing we can forget too easily. Kindness.
I'm sure there are other ways to help out. There are many fine volunteer organizations that assist the troops and their families. One is the USO, another is the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, run by retired special ops soldiers, which pays for college tuition for the children of their fallen comrades.
There are other organizations just as legitimate and ready to accept your donations and pass them along in goods and services. And that's fine.
But there's something beautiful about the Tony Principle.
Just be discreet, nothing flashy, so that no one would be dishonored by misinterpreting it as some putdown or a payoff or a tip, but instead as a simple expression of gratitude from one American to another.
We're a big country with many people, and things have to be organized to get resources where they're needed, which is why these organizations exist. They gather the donations and send the goods overseas, to Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere, and others try to help the families of the troops.
If directing your kindness through organizations makes you feel better, then do so.
But there's something nice about some direct action, about buying dinner for a soldier and his girlfriend, or giving $20 to a cabdriver picking up a load of sailors, or movie tickets for the Marine in line with you at the Cineplex.
It can't replace a lost limb or a buddy's life, it can't erase disillusionment or anger or months of fear and terrible memories.
But it can be done, quietly, discreetly and most important, humbly, the way you feel when you say "thank you" and mean it.
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jskass@tribune.com
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-0507030267jul03,1,4188491.column?page=1&coll=chi-news-col
