Stop Using Soldiers As Political Pawns

GOUVEIA: Using the military

• 11 hrs ago
 

Let me say this as simply and as emphatically as I possibly can. And let there be no mistaking the emotion and sincerity of this simple and direct message:

Stop using our troops and fallen heroes to advance your political agendas. It is wrong, disrespectful, and disgusting. This applies to everyone, regardless of where your views may place you along the political spectrum.

Our armed forces are one of the crown jewels of this nation. The brave men and women who serve this country come from all races, religions, backgrounds and places. They signed up to protect us, and all they ask for in return is support, financial and otherwise. That doesn’t seem like a lot to ask, given the measure of devotion they contribute.

When we insert our fighting men and women into our political battles, we do not help them. We undermine the very real and important role they play in keeping this country free and safe. It is even less honest and more wrong than those who criticize soldiers and the military for their own purposes. At least they aren’t pretending.

Using our military men and women as political pawns has reached a sad peak in recent days. Starting with the national anthem controversy and concluding with the recent discussions over how Presidents notify the families of fallen soldiers. We are unfairly making military personnel the object of political bickering, rather than simply admiring and appreciating them for what they do.

When NFL players began kneeling during the anthem, it had nothing to do with soldiers or the military – absolutely nothing. The people doing it clearly said that. It is understandable that many did not see it the same way, but the undeniable truth is demonstrations like that were in no way aimed at our armed forces.

But President Trump and others found it convenient to make it appear they did. They made it about our military men and women. They lit a fire under the controversy and stuck those extraordinary people in the middle of a fight they did not deserve to be in. And most of them did it to earn a political advantage in totally unconnected battles.

Then came the issue of how Gold Star families are notified when their family members are killed. President Trump faced criticism when he took more than 12 days to personally communicate with the families of the four heroes who lost their lives in Niger. Then he faced even more criticism for what he allegedly said to one of the widows.

On top of that, President Trump felt it necessary to accuse previous presidents (from both parties) of not calling or reaching out to Gold Star families. That prompted an avalanche of political accusations, all while these poor families are still grieving.

This is just wrong – on all sides.

When our President is so egotistical as to have to use dead soldiers and their families in political issues, we have a serious problem. And when those so eager to discredit said President do exactly the same thing in reverse, they are just as bad.

These are emotional topics, and a lot of people are guilty of sometimes cashing in on one for reasons not directly connected. I know I have done it, and when I did – I was wrong. Maybe that’s a phrase both the President and some of his critics could try and learn: I was wrong.

The White House Chief of Staff got dragged into this, himself a Gold Star father. He wound up gratuitously insulting and inaccurately attacking a Congresswomen who had previously criticized the President for his remarks to a soldier’s family. Then the President kept the politics of the issue going via Twitter on the very day of Sgt. La David Johnson’s funeral.

The focus here should have been the tragic deaths of four American servicemen. Their names are Staff Sgt. Bryan Black, Sgt. La David Johnson, Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright and Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson. They and their families deserve better than what their country has given them thus far.

Whether the criticism over the handling of this is legitimate or not, these men and their families have been dishonored. And that is very wrong.

Bill Gouveia is a local columnist and longtime local official. He can be reached at billsinsidelook@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @Billinsidelook.

It's Been Ten Years Of Columns - Thanks!

GOUVEIA: Time flies when you're on deadline

• By BILL GOUVEIA / For The Sun Chronicle
 
• 15 hrs ago
 

As I was preparing to begin today’s column, it occurred to me I had been filling this space for quite some time now.

Actually, it was 10 years ago today my first opinion column appeared in The Sun Chronicle. Combine that with the fact today is Friday the 13th, and you can make a strong case you poor readers just can’t catch a break.

So on the auspicious occasion of completing one full decade of columns (important only to me), I thought I would pause for a moment and say thanks to all who have made it possible for me to have this regular conversation with folks all across our wide readership area.

When I started doing this, Mike Kirby was the editor. Thanks to him for bringing me onboard here. George W. Bush was president (boy, does that now seem so long ago). The Red Sox were about to win the World Series, the Patriots were beginning an undefeated regular season culminating in a crushing Super Bowl loss, and the Celtics were on their way to their 17th championship.

That first column a decade ago was about an upcoming recall election in Mansfield. Most that have followed have been about local government and politics because that is something I have great experience with and enjoy. Some columns have been positive, a lot have been critical, and more than a few simply sought to inspire discussion and shine a spotlight on local government.

Sometimes I veer off into national or statewide issues. This has led to people calling me a “leftist” columnist, something that always makes me chuckle. While I’ve certainly never hidden my political inclinations or opinions, I don’t consider myself to be a disciple of any particular ideology. I write about things that interest me, and I express my opinion on them.

I don’t do that to plug anything, or advance a certain side, or promote individuals or philosophies. I do it because it is what I am supposed to do. I write about what I think is important. And I don’t generally hold back. I’ve found that an un-opinionated opinion columnist just isn’t very interesting.

But perhaps my favorite columns are the ones I have written about people, friends and family. They are the columns I go back and read because they make me smile, sometimes make me cry, but always make me reflect.

My two sons and their families might have been mentioned a few times. I had no grandchildren when I started writing this column in 2007. I now have five. My oldest grandchild Will (have I mentioned his name is William? Yes, I said it again) is now 9. He is followed by Avery (5), Sammy (4), Addison (2) and Tommy (2). I talk about them here often, and my wife and I love them more than life itself.

Ah, my wife. She too has been the subject of a few columns, and has been a great sport about them. She is not only often my inspiration to write, but serves as my editor and sounding board. Almost every column is read to her before it is submitted, and her intelligence and ability to be honest with me has made me a better writer. Thank you, my love.

I’ve written about many special people over the years — my former teacher Al Nuttall, my late friend Fred Burchill, and a slew of other individuals including politicians, local officials, and just regular folks who have touched my life. I hope you enjoyed those too.

And of course, none one of this would be possible without you – the readers of the Sun Chronicle and this space.

I’ve gotten to speak and communicate with many of you over the last 10 years. I’ve gotten some touching handwritten notes, some very nice emails, and a lot of intelligent criticism – along with some not-so-nice stuff. But I wouldn’t trade the experience for the world.

So thanks for reading me for a complete decade. I treat the ability to reach out to you twice every week as a privilege, and hope our conversations continue for a long time. You‘ll always get from me the only thing I can offer – my honest opinion.

Bill Gouveia is a local columnist and longtime local official. He can be reached at billsinsidelook@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @Billinsidelook.

Yes - It Is Time To Talk About Gun Control

GOUVEIA: On guns, the fault is in ourselves

• By BILL GOUVEIA / For The Sun Chronicle
 
• 6 hrs ago
 

If you are against toughening gun control laws — you’re wrong. And you’re part of the problem. And people are dying in part because of you. But I’ve come to realize, they are also dying in part because of me.

That’s the sad, unvarnished, undeniable truth. It is way past time those who have been arguing for tighter gun control laws stop beating around the bush on this explosive political subject. You are either for tougher gun control, or you are tacitly enabling mass murders to gun down innocent people. There is no in-between position.

I know, here it comes. Some deranged idiot in Las Vegas goes crazy with a bunch of guns, innocent people die, and “liberals” go nuts blaming the guns. Same stuff people like me spouted after Newtown, or after Orlando, or after (fill in the blank with one of so many shootings that might have been stopped with tougher gun laws). Blah, blah, blah – spouting left-wing rhetoric, trying to come after our guns and eliminate the Second Amendment.

But it’s not the Second Amendment that needs to be eliminated. It’s the incorrect, blind, narrow-minded thinking of those who believe any restrictions on any guns is the first step towards a total ban. How many more have to needlessly and senselessly die to support that misguided viewpoint?

The argument that guns and gun owners are under attack by the government or anyone else is a myth put forth by the powerful NRA and other gun lobbying groups to instill fear in good Americans. It’s not true, but it’s tremendously effective. It makes them appear to be defending the American people instead of putting the profits of gun-related businesses and industries ahead of the safety of those same Americans.

While leaving the Second Amendment intact, gun control advocates and other Americans should be joining forces to declare an all-out war in favor of common-sense gun control laws. Those who stand in the way of that should be ashamed, and their political opposition overrun.

Spare me the insane argument that more gun control is useless and ineffective. No one should have the right to own weapons that shoot incredible amounts of bullets in a short amount of time. Also spare me your definitions — automatic weapons, semi-automatic weapons, assault weapons. You have hidden behind these rigged definitions for decades now, trying to complicate what is a relatively simple issue.

Keep your personal protection hand gun. Keep your hunting rifles. You have a perfect right to them. I don’t want them.

But it’s just too bad if you have to go through a tougher process to get guns licensed. If your inconvenience results in just one less funeral, one fewer family grieving due to gun violence, that’s a good thing.

Outside of the military and law enforcement, people in this country don’t need or have a right to own weapons that can kill hundreds in seconds. They should not be able to legally buy large ammo magazines. Your alleged right to do so does not trump (no pun intended) the right of all Americans to live safely.

Gun proponents have run a masterful political strategy over the years. They have successfully made a lot of people believe guns equal freedom. They don’t.

Guns are what we sometimes have to use to fight for our freedom. But weapons like those used in Las Vegas belong in the hands of our soldiers and police, not in our neighborhoods or homes.

However, I’m done blaming gun owners and the NRA for the lack of intelligent gun control laws. It’s not their fault. It’s our fault.

We, the people who say we want it, who give it lip service, but aren’t committed enough to make it happen.

Gun advocates have gotten the job done. They have successfully dominated the political landscape and influenced both the lawmakers and the laws. They have succeeded — and we have failed.

That has to change.

We who are so outraged have to become more effective.

We must not only speak the truth, but make it impossible to ignore.

No, I’m not exactly sure how we do that. But I’ll be damned if I wait for more dead bodies before trying.

Bill Gouveia is a local columnist and longtime local official. He can be reached at billsinsidelook@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @Billinsidelook.