This is a guest posting from my good friend Bryan Cranston. You know Bryan as Hal, the father on the sit-com Malcolm in the Middle. He is currently starring in the AMC series Breaking Bad, which is fabulous, dark, and quirky. More than just an actor, Bryan is a thinker with strong ideas about what is happening in the world — in this case the Iraq War. 

 

The following was sent to me in a mass e-mail

 

If the Red shirt thing is new to you, read below…

 

 

Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together.

 

After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who’d been invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was heading home.

 

No, he responded.

 

Heading out I asked?

 

No. I’m escorting a soldier home.

 

Going to pick him up?

 

No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq, I’m taking him home to his family.

 

The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn’t know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier’s family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days

 

I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, Thank you. Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do.

 

Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following announcement over the intercom.

 

”Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join us on this flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign.”

 

Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that I am proud to be an American.

 

So here’s a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what you do so we can live the way we do.

 

Red Fridays.

 

Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the “silent majority.” We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing.

 

Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday — and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that .. every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar, will wear something red.

 

By word of mouth, press, TV — let’s make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a home coming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworker s, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once “silent”  majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on.

 

The first thing a soldier says when asked “What can we do to make things better for you?” is.  ”We need your support and your prayers.” Let’s get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something red every Friday.

 

IF YOU AGREE — THEN SEND THIS ON.

IF YOU COULDN’T CARE LESS — THEN HIT THE DELETE

 

This is my response:

 

I too will wear red.

 

The story of the Marine escorting the body of a fallen soldier should touch the soul of everyone, as it did with me. Perhaps the selection of the color red was a coincidence.

Perhaps it was chosen as the boldest color representing our nation’s flag. I, personally, cannot disassociate it with the color of blood.

 

In the absolute highest form of expression in support of our troops. I want them home. I want them out of harms way.

 

To those who fail to see the link between patriotism and peace, I can only say I’m sorry you’re not able to fully realize that supporting our troops and bringing an end to this unjust war, are not mutually exclusive.

 

We went into this war under the pretense that the regime had weapons of mass destruction and were imminently prepared to use them against us. Both turned out to be false. And, please, no more weak attempts to suggest that Iraq had anything at all to do with the attacks of 9-11. Even the Bush administration admitted that there was no correlation between the two, and they had every reason to hope that there was. The fear mongerers would have you believe that regardless of the reasons to start a war, the end justifies the means. Don’t believe it. War is a harsh reality of the human condition, and, at times, a necessary measure to bring about justice. But a country should not, and must not ever pursue war before exhausting EVERY other possible diplomatic solution. Unfortunately this was not the case in Iraq, and the image of America has not only been severely damaged in the eyes of the world, but more importantly, in the hearts of many Americans.

 

The most egregious fear mongerer now seems to be Vice President Cheney, spewing bile-like sound bites to news hungry citizens such as during the 2004 election. Mr. Cheney had the audacity to say that if you were to vote for a Democratic President, there will be another attack on American soil. Not “may be”, or even “probably be”, but will be. The fact that the statement cannot be even remotely substantiated didn’t seem to bother the messenger. His goal was to scare the American people into thinking that it was a choice between re-electing George Bush or face airplanes going into other US landmarks.

 

Unfortunately, it worked. Creating and maintaining power is what men like him seek above all else. Justice and honesty often take a backseat, or don’t even figure into the equation. Shame on you Mr. Cheney.

 

It is also a real shame to now have this war as part of our country’s legacy. As we now accept the infamous legacy of slavery. Wrong is wrong, and no amount of flag waving will make it right. As it is true with people dealing with our own human frailties, the sign of maturity in a country is to admit to wrongdoing when it happens and make an earnest attempt to make amends. Now, stuck in this quagmire, the question must be asked. Is there a chance of success in Iraq? An opportunity to right the ship and bring some kind of stability to this country in distress? I truly hope so. But history will more likely remember it like Viet Nam, where the fear mongerers of that era spewed their venom to scare the populace into absolutely believing that if Viet Nam fell to communism, all of South East Asia would crumble to the same influence. Well, here we are some 35 years after leaving that war-torn country and the doom and gloom prognosticators where wrong.

 

We left Viet Nam only after what Richard Nixon described as, “Peace with Honor”. Of course everyone knew that this was a verbal smoke screen. An attempt to have America try not to lose face to the world, and admit to a lost cause. But, I will say this, at least President Nixon saw that his country was involved in an untenable war and had the courage to get us out of it. This last statement illustrates that the current condition we find ourselves in goes beyond party affiliation. America’s involvement in Viet Nam was started by President Johnson, a Democrat, and ended by a Republican, President Nixon. In Iraq, it looks as though the reverse order is going to be necessary to end this war.

 

Perhaps it’s this country’s preoccupation with the notion that we must always be seen as tough and victorious. America is firmly invested in the battle cry “Were Number One”. A mentality that is arrogant. A position that is immeasurable. As if all of our country’s efforts can be reduced to a win or a loss of an athletic competition. Who is to say what country is better than another, and more importantly, why would you even ask it? You’re just exposing yourself to ridicule and contempt.

 

The best way for America to regain the respect of the world is to lead by example. A nation that lives by a set of principals and follows those principals, even when it may be easier or financially better to do otherwise. That is the America I continue to hope for. Pride in a country should be no different than pride in oneself. I hope by now that I have learned to do the best I can, and when I make a mistake, to accept responsibility and make amends. I want my country to do the same. I love my country. I have confidence in the greatness of what we can accomplish.

 

We are now faced with an election that illustrates how wonderful our political structure is. The peaceful transition of government power. America can be proud of this system. Soon we will have a new President. Whether it’s a former prisoner of war hero, or an African American energizer, we are on the cusp of something, not just unprecedented, but truly great. Let the world watch as we select our new leader from these two diverse, and talented legislators. This is America at its best.

 

In my opinion, this war has and continues to take America down the wrong path. It’s not who we are. It’s an abboration of our principals. It is not leading by example, and thousands and thousands of innocent people and brave service personal are paying the price with their blood. So, I too will wear red on Fridays, in support of our troops, and wishing them home.

 

May peace prevail on earth.

 

Sincerely,

 

Bryan Cranston

 

 

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