Make America Grateful Again

With the Memorial Day holiday just past, honoring our veterans, it is appalling to hear how quickly the Afghan people’s brave assistance to the United States 20-year military mission in Afghanistan is disrespected and forgotten. U.S. military heroes were bolstered by the support of thousands of Afghans who, when the mission collapsed, were promised safe evacuation from the Taliban for their protection, and in honor of their assistance, to the U.S. military members stationed there.

Though the Trump Administration assesses that there’s been “notable improvements” in Afghanistan under the Taliban’s rule (really?), and Rep. Brian Mast casually states “I’ll have to think about how I feel about that” when informed that returnees may face reprisals that could include imprisonment and possibly execution, on Memorial Day, as we honor our veterans, let’s expand our focus and gratitude to also honor those who risked their lives to assist our military, in whatever capacity.

It’s an abomination to punish and disregard the Afghans who took great risk to support us by dumping them into territory where they won’t likely be well received, to put it mildly. Being grateful and showing appreciation should be key components of “Making America Great Again,” but at least in this instance, they’re not.

Richard Bascomb

Schaumburg