inflammatory bravado . A valuable lesson that civilian politicians often forget is that for a soldier , his / her national and constitutional values come before partisan loyalties . A quintessential “ soldier ’ s moment ” came in late Veteran-Senator John McCain ’ s campaign ( Republican ) when one woman in the audience said that she didn ’ t trust Obama because “ he ’ s an Arab ”, was immediately corrected by John McCain ’ s immortal words , “ No ma ’ am . He ’ s a decent family man , a citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues !” The Veteran-Senator never hesitated to call a spade a spade , even if it happened to his own party man like Donald Trump , whom he slammed , “ The appearance of
Two back-toback presidential events pertaining to the Military reflected the nownormalised optics of decorum , grace and dignity that typifies the institution .
toughness or a reality show facsimile of toughness seems to matter more than any of our values .” At McCain ’ s funeral , his rival from the Democratic Party , Barack Obama , reciprocated the dignity that can perhaps accrue only to combatants : “ When John spoke of virtues like service and valour , they weren ’ t just words to him , it was a truth that he had lived and for which he was prepared to die .” Obama movingly spoke about a soldier ’ s constitutionality , “ he did understand that some principle transcend politics .
More recently in France , the Army Chief of Staff had to intervene and publicly dissuade soldiers from signing an extreme Right-wing letter on “ religious extremism ”’, as personal convictions on political-societal passions could trigger divisive talks , within the “ barracks ”. The Chief urged his soldiers to demonstrate , “ unsurpassable virtues , cohesion and esprit-de-corps ”, in an unmistakable ode to remain apolitical , despite political provocations from far-right politicians like Marie Le Pen , who have electoral agendas .
As the Biden Administration settles down and faces tough decisions on Military matters like pulling back troops from Afghanistan or checkmating China — irrespective of their sanguinity , judiciousness or efficacy , at least the misplaced attempts to politicise and appropriate the imagery of the soldier , is gone .
Two back-to-back presidential events pertaining to the Military reflected the now-normalised optics of decorum , grace and dignity that typifies the institution .
Later , at the Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington to honour the fallen soldiers , Biden sagely reiterated , “ Democracy . That ’ s the soul of America . And I believe it ’ s a soul worth fighting for . And so do you , a soul worth dying for ”— Biden added a personal touch to the poignant ceremony when he remembered his son Beau , an Iraq War Veteran who passed away in 2015 , “ To those who mourn a loved one today , Jill and I have some idea how you are feeling ”. Perhaps the best unwitting reaction to unnecessary theatrics and bombast came from Col Ralph Puckett who asked innocently , “ Why all the fuss ”, when asked to go to the White House — that perhaps captures the essence of honesty , simplicity and nobility that makes the apolitical soldier , a very special citizen and patriot .
( The writer , a military veteran , is a former Lt Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Puducherry . The views expressed are personal .)
www . legacyindia . in June 2021 | Legacy India 19