The Huffington Post published an op-ed mulling over whether serving in the American military makes soldiers racists.
The author notes that veterans of the Iraq-Afghan war were among the white nationalists who rioted in Charlottesville, Virginia, leaving one counter-protester dead. One Iraq-Afghan veteran was one of the rally leaders.
"To learn that these brave men and women over there return with a new-found hatred for those different from them, especially after their mission is one of liberation from those who kill and persecute anyone of different faiths/beliefs, is quite disturbing to say the least."
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Veterans groups roundly condemned the white nationalists' actions.
We “represent the diversity of America and have stood together against our enemies overseas. And we will stand together now against intolerance, hatred and violence here now at home,” said Paul Rieckhoff, founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
“If there are any VVA members who harbor any of these bigoted ideologies, they are encouraged to turn in their membership cards,” said John Rowan, national president of Vietnam Veterans of America.
The Huffington Post piece condemned the "utter failure by our so-called Commander-in-Chief to condemn these hate groups."
Because the armed forces encounter such horrific threats from foreigners they are "returning from duty harboring feelings of such intense anger and disgust toward anyone who isn’t white," the author writes.
The author seems to blame PTSD in part for causing the "U. vs. Them" mentality, and says the veterans need more help than they are getting.
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