And that's because you were right to do do as you were told : your grandfathers (undercover) went to Iran to topple a democratically elected government: they were right, America first (and great again). And they financially and politically supported a fascist regime, and trained the political police. Then...
Your uncles (undercover) went to Chile to topple a democratically elected government: they were probably right, America first (and great again?...). But business first: what the fuck if thousands were jailed because of their opinions, tortured and murdered as long as it served the interests of the US economy (and the US citizens who got a few crums from that bloody cake?...). And the local churches were accomplices in the "
Operation Condor", at least the hierarchy, for many priests and nuns paid with their life for standing for justice. They're not vets, they're victims of a fascist conspiracy.
In the late seventies, the US funded Usama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden in Afghanistan. I remember Ahmad Shah Massoud's fighters at a friend's place. They were democrats, but the US supported Bin Laden. "Usama Ben Golem": the US gov. created a monster they couln't control.
In the early 20th century, the US mafia went to Cuba: the hypocrits of the times of prohibition made Cuba the brothel of the USA. And now, the people there are still punished because of US greed and dishonesty.
But the vets are proud.
One of the founder of our bonsai club is a former army officer. He even has a photo of Muhammad Khaddafi standing by his side on the steps of the French ambassy in Tripoli. He also told me about his days in Indochina, when at the officer's mess a Polish légionnaire would proudly display the jar in which he kept the "Viets"' ears.
He's now in his early 80s, has just undergone artery surgery and has now a pacemaker too.
He's made it, he's out of this, and he's out of that nationalist crap too. He loves his country, and so do I. He did his job, but that doesn't mean he can't have a critical view on what he did for his government.
I don't have any contact with another colonel, Reza, who was my sister's companion for over ten years. He was one of the officers who hijacked boats that were made for Iran at the beginning of the "Revolution". After two weeks, they had heard from relatives there, surrendered and applied for political asylum in France.
Vets?
Yes, my friend Nina, Ninoska, is a "veteran" in her own way: her parents managed to escape from Chile after 9/11 (11 September 1974) when she was a young child. it was hard at firt: we don't have lemons that you pick up for breakfast in the garden here!
In French, "Vétéran" means someone who still practises an activity at an old age. We use the term "Ancien Combattant" for former soldiers who "under the flag" when France was (officially) at war. Here, they not only get a decent pension (remember, we're kind of a "socialist" state so far), but they're given a job (see above).
And what I do hope is that my people will make the choice of staying in a social democracy.
That's one of the reasons why I don't have a Twitter account.
