Thank you to all Americans who expressed encouragement and support to veterans this past Veterans Day. I thank you for your support. I ask for an additional act of support at the end of my article.

While the vast majority of Americans honor our veterans and our current servicemen and women, Professor Michael Avery at Suffolk University Law School declared that it is "shameful" to support our troops.

Michael Avery, a professor at Suffolk University Law School, sent a five-paragraph email to colleagues in response to a school-wide appeal for care packages for deployed soldiers, Fox affiliate WFXT-TV reports.

 

"I think it is shameful that it is perceived as legitimate to solicit in an academic institution for support for men and women who have gone overseas to kill other human beings," Avery wrote.

 

The professor, who specializes in constitutional law, wrote the email last week in response to a university drive to collect items for U.S. troops, like sunblock and sanitary products. He also wrote that sympathy for American troops in harm's way is "not particularly rational in today's world."

I'm sure that students are receiving top-notch lessons in constitutional law from this guy! Don't you?

So here we have that bizarre paradox where we have Americans sacrificially serving this great nation, and veterans who have sacrificially served this great nation, in order to defend and protect our liberties while one of those protected Americans espouses hatred toward his benefactors. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you! Maybe he should have spent less time at the University of Moscow, U.S.S.R. in 1968-1969.

While it is true that he is free from government coercion to express his concerns about government, there is nothing that suggests that ordinary citizens, including his own students, cannot express their disagreement with his insane comments. I know that it is easy to make suggestions that do not impact me, but it would be a great show of support if Suffolk University students refused to sit under his instruction. It would be even greater if prospective students shunned Suffolk University entirely as long as Professor Avery remained on staff. Such a response falls well within our rights as American citizens. (Here is a good little editorial about Professor Avery's poor judgment, if interested. And, if interested, the professor's e-mail is mavery@suffolk.edu.)

Now here is the additional act of support I request: Unfortunately, Dr. Avery is not the only American maligning our honorable military retirees and veterans. Some politicians and policy officials are busily working to undermine benefits of retired military and other veterans. Some in Congress are urging the Super Committee to consider recommendations from the Congressional Budget Office to increase retired military health care fees by more than 100 percent while at the same time reducing services. Policy makers also propose reductions to Veterans Administration funding which impacts a wide array of services, especially medical, available to eligible veterans. Retirees and veterans eligible for these benefits served this nation sacrificially and honorably. Our nation should honor all veterans by fulfilling the promises made to them.

Therefore, I ask that you contact your Senators, Representative, and the White House to express your opposition to proposed reductions to military retiree and veteran's benefits. You can use the Association of the United States Navy legislative alert center and select the "Oppose CBO TRICARE Changes" link near the middle of the page. Let our elected officials know that American veterans deserve to receive in full the benefits promised them by a grateful nation. Thank you.