When Patriotism Fails Those Who Served

 

When Patriotism Fails Those Who Served

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Hindi Version: https://rakeshinsightfulgaze.blogspot.com/2026/02/blog-post_16.html

 

The United States is widely seen as one of the most powerful nations in the world. Its military reach, economic scale, and global influence are undeniable. But power alone does not define a nation’s moral standing. In the United States, it is not a lack of wealth that has led to thousands of veterans struggling with homelessness and financial insecurity. It is a policy failure.

 

Decades of decisions on healthcare access, veterans’ benefits, mental health support, and reintegration programs have directly shaped the lives of American soldiers after service. When veterans fall through the cracks, it is not an accident of fate. It is the result of government choices. A nation that can spend trillions on defense but struggles to fully fund post-service care reveals a gap between rhetoric and responsibility.

 

That contradiction is not uniquely American. It is a warning. A recent video circulating online shows an Indian Army soldier who lost his leg in service. His wife speaks with unmistakable pride about his sacrifice. She does not question his duty. She does not regret his service. But the strain in her voice is clear. Pride does not cancel hardship.

 

At the same time, policy changes have raised concerns about the taxation of certain categories of disability income for soldiers. For a man who has lost a limb in the line of duty, compensation is not a privilege. It is recognition of irreversible sacrifice. When such income becomes taxable while other sectors enjoy exemptions, it raises uncomfortable questions about priorities.

 

Corporate loan write-offs amounting to lakhs of crores have been justified as economic reform. Political contributions receive tax advantages. Temple incomes remain exempt. Yet when it comes to ensuring financial dignity for injured soldiers, the government appears cautious and restrained.

Supporters of the government argue that reforms like the Agniveer scheme are designed to modernize the armed forces and manage long-term fiscal burdens. Critics counter that the scheme reduces long-term commitment to soldiers and shifts risk onto individuals who serve. The debate is not about efficiency alone. It is about values.

 

Nationalism cannot be selective. It cannot celebrate soldiers in speeches while tightening financial protections in policy. It cannot wave the flag on national holidays and quietly recalibrate benefits in budget documents. Many serving and retired officers have publicly supported the current government, believing it represents strength and national resolve. But strength is not measured only in cross-border posture or military spending. It is measured in how the state treats those who carry its burdens.

 

The United States offers a cautionary example: when government policy neglects veterans, the damage lasts generations. India should not follow that path. The image of a soldier’s wife speaking with dignity about her husband’s sacrifice should not be reduced to a passing story. It should force a question: Does the nation’s policy match its praise? True patriotism does not end when the uniform comes off. It begins there.

 

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