The Throw Down
One of my friends issued a challenge on Facebook a couple
of weeks ago: “if you truly don’t want to see Donald Trump become President of
the United States say so.” I have been a rather timorous poster of opinions on
Facebook. My reason: why annoy someone I otherwise care about. I probably won’t
change anyone’s opinion, or decision at the polls, so why risk destroying a
valued relationship? Would my opinion matter anyway? But I was reminded of the old saying about the
pen being mightier than the sword. And then Donald Trump and one of his
admirers crossed, what for me, is an intolerable line in the sand, or perhaps
the elephant grass. So fair warning: if you don’t want to read my opinion stop
reading now.
During the Democratic National Convention Gold Star
father Khizr Khan spoke eloquently about the loss of his son, Captain Humayun
Khan, a Muslim America who was killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq in 2004. By all accounts CPT Khan acted bravely, saving many lives. He was
awarded the Bronze star and the Purple Heart posthumously. His actions, in my
opinion, deserve more than a Bronze Star. A Distinguished Service Cross, or
even a Congressional Medal of Honor seems more appropriate to me. Maybe that’s
because I have a Bronze Star and all I did to earn it was show up for work
every day for a year at an Army Hospital in Vietnam.
The
Khans spoke in defense of Americans of the Muslim faith who love this country
as much as Americans of other religious faiths, or no particular religious
beliefs at all. In an especially dramatic moment Mr. Khan held up his pocket
copy of the Constitution, and asked Trump if he had ever read it. For me it was
an especially emotional moment. In a few short statements Mr. Khan and his wife
stood as witness to part of what makes America great: freedom of speech and
freedom of religion.
Mr. Khan’s actions, as one might expect, angered Trump.
He wondered aloud if Mrs. Khan, who did not speak during the couple’s time on
stage, was even allowed to speak because of her faith. It was as if he had to have
something, anything to find fault
with this grieving couple.
Then just as this drama seemed to have worked its way
through the news cycle, an admirer gave Trump the Purple Heart he’d received.
Trump was in awe, saying “I always wanted to get one of these. This is much
better.” I was disgusted.
The Purple Heart is awarded to people in the military for
one reason and one reason only: that person was wounded—or killed—in defense of
the United States. It is not an award anyone wants to earn. Ever.
I am quite sure of this because I was an Army Nurse in
Vietnam; my husband, who I had yet to meet, was a medical evacuation helicopter
pilot. On March 18, 1971 he earned his Purple Heart when he was shot through
both legs on the last night he was scheduled to fly before going home. We can
joke that I have a bronze star, an award given to nurses and doctors for doing
our jobs in Vietnam. We can even joke about the Air Medals Jim received for
flying into harm’s way to rescue the wounded. But we never joke about his Purple
Heart. Ever.
If Donald Trump always wanted a Purple Heart,
why did he obtain five deferments then claim to have bone spurs to avoid the
draft? I get it. Avoiding the draft was a sign of the times. Vietnam was not a
fun place to be. But to accept the gift of a Purple Heart he didn't earn, no
matter the admirer’s intent? I just can’t stomach it. As the old saying goes,
“you must be present to win.” If Donald Trump really wanted a Purple Heart then
he should have taken his chances with the draft, like so many men of our
generation did. If he always wanted a Purple Heart, he should have had the guts it
took to get one.
