Honoring draft dodgers?
What next? Just heard a news story about some Canadians (God bless 'em) who are honoring U.S. Vietnam draft dodgers with a monument and a festival. The statue depicts two scared American men being welcomed by a Canadian. Okay, weird, but fine with me.

What wasn't fine with me is the reason cited for erecting the monument: "Courage." Isn't courage what you do when you don't run away?

Okay, I was opinionated about the Vietnam War, too, but I would never have called the draft dodgers "courageous." I can understand why some chose to avoid going to war by registering as a Conscientious Objector, fleeing to Canada, Oxford, or even the Texas Air National Guard, but I don't "honor" them for their courage. Aren't war related honors usually reserved for those who gave a great sacrifice for others?

Admittedly I was raised by a couple of flag waiving "greats" from the Great Generation. (Is that rumbling I feel my Navy veteran father turning over in his grave?) This insensitive act is simply disrespectful to those who served honorably. At the end of the Vietnam war, I supported amnesty for draft dodgers, but I never thought of giving them a parade.

Hey, I've got a great idea. Let's erect a statue for people who skeddadled after witnessing an old lady being robbed!