PHONEY SOLDIERS

WHO ARE THE PHONEY SOLDIERS? THOSE WHO GEAR UP FOR BATTLE WITH ARTIFICIAL MEANNESS AND KILLER INSTINCTS AS TOUCHY-FEELY PARENTS AND A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORTERS RALLY BEHIND THEIR CAUSE? OR ARE THEY THOSE WHO PLANTED VICTORY GARDENS DURING WORLD WAR II, PRACTICED DAILY SACRIFICES AND MASKED WORRY AND PAIN BEHIND THEIR BRAVE FACADES?

TODAY'S INARTICULATE HIGH FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK WHO CONFRONT EACH OTHER ON THE GRIDIRON, CONTRAST WITH THE GRUNTING AND PROFANE SOLDIERS WHO FOUGHT AT THOUSANDS OF FRONTS DURING WORLD WAR II.

WHAT'S MY POINT? THOSE WHO HAVE CHOSEN OR FAILED THROUGH IGNORANCE OR LAZINESS NOT TO WATCH THE MARATHON TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY BY KEN BURNS ON WORLD WAR II, NEITHER VISIT HISTORY NOR APPRECIATE THE PASSING OF A GENERATION OF TRUE SOLDIERS.

"THINGS HAVE A TERRIBLE PERMANENCE WHEN PEOPLE DIE." MRS. JOYCE KILMER SAID. SHE NEVER KNEW THE TERRORS THAT ENHANCED THE TRUTH OF HER WORDS, BECAUSE SHE DIED IN 1941 WHEN WORLD WAR II JUST GOT ROLLING. HER SOLDIER HUSBAND DIED; PHONEY SOLDIERS INHABIT OUR HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS’ PROGRAMS.