About those 'dog and pony' shows on Thanksgiving...

I found these two letters at Stars and Stripes. Perhaps more politicians should be tuning in...


http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=50383

No dog-and-pony show, please

On behalf of all the soldiers who are about to spend another holiday season deployed, I would like to ask a favor of our senior leadership: Please skip the holiday dog-and-pony shows at the chow halls this year.

I realize the generals, politicians and high-ranking officials who like to sit and eat with the troops during Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner have only the best intentions at heart, but what about how “Joe” feels? Frankly, for most lower enlisted, having “distinguished visitors” is more of a hassle than an honor. Having all that brass around just adds stress to what may already be a tough day for folks who wish they were back home with their families.

I know plenty of guys who will skip chow on Thanksgiving rather than go and sit in a tense, uncomfortable atmosphere with senior noncommissioned officers watching them like hawks to make sure they don’t say or do the wrong thing while some bigwig is on the premises.

So, my advice to commanders everywhere is this: If you want to ensure that your soldiers have a fun, memorable Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner while they are deployed, all you have to do is give them plenty of good food and then stay far, far away.

Sgt. Mike Pryor
Balad, Iraq

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http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=50426

VIP visits ‘a royal pain’

I’ve got to say “No dog-and-pony show, please” (letter, Nov. 20) is the greatest letter to the editor I’ve ever read.

Dog-and-pony shows require more from the troops than just eating with the brass. They require extra details to spit-shine the base, extra on-duty time for security personnel and generally are a royal pain for the entire installation. And, like the letter writer said, unfortunately some of the “brass” don’t have the best intentions at heart. A lot of them are just looking for photo ops to use in their next campaign to show how much they “support the troops.”

Congressmen/women, senators, Cabinet members and all politicians in general should stay in Washington and find a way to end the need for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners in deployed areas. That would make my holiday meals much more appetizing and give us all a reason to give thanks.

Senior Master Sgt. Burl Stubblefield
Ramstein Air Base, Germany

We, who had no desire to watch him and his cronies cavort, could refuse to attend. But, we were confined to the barracks so we couldn't go to town and pursue moral building entertainment more to our liking.

So, we had to settle for the usual poker games and smuggled in booze.

to who these soldiers have to put up with. :mad:

A VIP visit under the best of conditions is a freakin' pain and waste of time. In a combat zone it has to be a nightmare. The Thanksgiving and Christmas Day meal is one of the few moments of near normal those folks can hope for. They shouldn't be treated like animated wallpaper on those days of all days. :grr: