Let's Hear it for Those in Uniform!

They laugh and talk. They're just regular guys,
These GIs at the airport gate. "Heroes,"
The marketing people call them. They're
Ushered onto the plane ahead of me, as I stew.
No one seems to know what they are: genial dupes,
Agents of commerce and fantasies of imperial
Glory. Butchers, monsters, the rapists of nations,
They keep in place a status quo which thrusts all
But those who they serve into misery. They
Shouldn't laugh. They've earned no one's respect.
Let them board last, if they must take this plane.
Better yet, drag them off to Guantanamo. That's
What they truly deserve.





Poetry by Lawrence Beck The PoetBay support member heart!
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Written on 2024-04-19 at 03:52

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Liam
An interesting piece written, as usual, in your candidly honest manner.
If I could offer this as a respectful alternative:
Harry Billinge landed on the Normandy beach on D-day(6/6/44). He spent his later years fund raising and contributed through his efforts £25000 to the Normandy Memorial fund. When interviewed by the BBC in 2019 he said -
"Don't thank me and don't say I'm a hero. I'm no hero, I was lucky, I'm here. All the heroes are dead and I'll never forget them as long as I live."

Mr Billinge was able to visit the British Normandy Memorial on its unveiling on 6th June 2021. He passed in 2022 aged 96.
2024-04-19


Griffonner The PoetBay support member heart!
Interesting. I have often thought, when hearing about cases of alleged misconduct by the armed forces, 'what do you expect if you train people to kill?' It is a fine line between being a killer of the enemy and being a killer full stop. I don't wish to demean them: They would defend me in ways that I myself would never do and so they must have my respect. But still the question persists. Blessings, Allen
2024-04-19


alarian The PoetBay support member heart!
if I had no money, maybe I would serve as a GI to get a payed education afterwards...
2024-04-19