Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion on local and regional news you won't find anywhere else

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Biography: Aaron Hanania
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Ray Hanania on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Hanania on Tiktok
  • News Wire
  • Archive 2004-2013
  • Toggle search form
  • Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio Show small
    The Politicization of the Nobel Peace Prize — and Trump’s Fury Over Losing Again Blogger
  • Father and two daughters Jeffery M Leving
    Father’s Fight to Protect his Abused and Badly Beaten Daughters Dads' Rights
  • Illinois Senator Michael Hastings addressing the Orland Township Democratic Organization Wednesday Oct. 12, 2022
    Hastings announces $75,000 grant for Olympia Fields Bicentennial Park renovations Illinois Legislature
  • Alleged Member of Chicago Street Gang Charged With Soliciting the Murder of Senior Law Enforcement Official Involved in “Operation Midway Blitz” Crime
  • IIEC Logo
    The Energy Omnibus Bill will increase rates over the rest of this decade as Illinois families and businesses toil under higher utility costs Business
  • Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Polish hero of the American Revolution. After arriving in America in 1776, Kosciuszko joined the Continental Army. As a skilled engineer, he made significant contributions to the war by designing fortifications for several strategic places such as Philadelphia, West Point, and Saratoga. Kosciuszko later returned to Poland to lead his native military in a 1794 uprising. In Detroit, Courtesy of WIkipedia
    Cook County Treasurer Pappas showcases Polish photographer’s first-ever American exhibit and honors Polish American Heritage Month in Chicago Cook County
  • On Saturday, October 4th, Cook County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar hosted the Fifth Annual 16th District Dia de los Muertos Resource Fair at his district office. Partnering with Commissioner Aguilar were the Village of Lyons, Lyons School District 103, Teamsters Local 777, and Rincon Family Services.
    Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar Hosts Fifth Annual Dia de los Muertos Family Resource Fair  Cook County
  • Jesse Jackson Jr July 2025
    Jesse Jackson Jr. Launches Candidacy for Congress Civil Rights
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas to Celebrate Diwali by Recognizing Indian Community Leaders Cook County
  • Andrew Boutros US Attorney Illinois
    Statement of US Attorney Andrew S. Boutros and Federal Law Enforcement Leadership in Chicago on Ongoing Criminal Immigration Enforcement Operations Chicago
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    The 5 Most Common Mistakes Homeowners Make with Property Taxes Cook County
  • Road construction cement truck. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Hastings: $123 million in IDOT projects will improve South Suburban roads through collaboration with local leaders construction
  • Source: Electric Power Monthly - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
    Ratepayers will lose in the rush to approve battery storage electricity legislation in Springfield Business
  • Joyful reunion photo courtesy of Jeffery M. Leving & Assc law firm
    Leving Team Prevented a Father’s Wrongful Separation from His Child Dads' Rights
  • CTF Illinois Orland Park, 18230 Orland Pkwy, Orland Park, IL 60467
    Hastings, Giannoulias announce opening of temporary driver services facility in Orland Park Baby Boomers
World War II Memorial along with Korean War and Vietnam War memorials along the Hawaiian coastline. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania

Treat the Police same way we treat veterans

Posted on July 4, 2017November 29, 2019 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Treat the Police same way we treat veterans
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Treat the Police same way we treat veterans

Veterans are saluted and cheered at every event and holiday in America, and yet most people don’t think twice about the Police Officer who also puts his (and her) life on the line everyday in some of the toughest and most violent places on earth, right here in America. Shouldn’t they get equal billing along with military veterans, not all of whom were on the front lines of violence? I’m a veteran. I can ask this question!

By Ray Hanania

Ray HananiaWhy do we treat military veterans and police differently?

Police put their lives on the line, like veterans, to defend this country in the face of violence.

Sometimes, the danger police face is greater than the danger that soldiers face.

In today’s world of Uber-Patriotism, we seem cheer for the wrong reasons those who defend us. We honor all veterans the same, no matter whether they did or didn’t directly face violence.

We honor all veterans as heroes at every holiday and every commemoration.

As a veteran, I think that’s great. I proudly defended this country during a very unpopular war in Vietnam. Although I did not go overseas – I wanted to and trained for it — the military decided who did or didn’t.

Not everyone enlisted in the military during the Vietnam War. Many did everything they could to avoid service, some justified but many not.

World War II Memorial along with Korean War and Vietnam War memorials along the Hawaiian coastline. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
World War II Memorial along with Korean War and Vietnam War memorials along the Hawaiian coastline. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania

 

I say that because I know super patriotic Americans – many of whom probably didn’t serve – might be upset with my suggestion that police and veterans should be treated and honored equally, regardless of whether they faced actual violent circumstances.

Is it possible the enthusiasm of many who never served in the military to honor veterans may have to do with guilt? That would be the wrong reason.

I think police face danger every day, on the streets of violence engulfed big cities like Chicago, in safer suburban communities like Orland Park where I live, and even in counties out in the countryside where population density is so low and crime is not as rampant.

So, why do we treat police differently from military veterans? They both do the same things. When they need to put their lives on the line in a violent circumstance to protect the innocent, they are there. They both don’t shirk their responsibilities.

Not every veteran has faced a life or death circumstance and not every police officer has faced a life or death circumstance. But, we don’t distinguish between the veterans who served, so why distinguish between police who serve and may or may not engage in confronting the bad guys?

In Orland Park, the village board last year approved a vehicle sticker that proudly showcases the American Flag and the words “We Support Our Police.”

In this day and age of Uber-patriotism, you would think the public would be enthusiastic about our police. But they’re not. Many fear that if they display Orland’s new vehicle sticker on their car for the next two years (July 2017 to July 2019), people angry with the police over several terrible incidents, might vandalize their vehicles.

They can cheer at parades, but not on their cars.

In response, Orland Park printed a bar code sticker that they gave with the American Flag/Police Tribune stickers and let the vehicle owner chose which to display.

It’s a no brainer for me. I placed the American Flag/Police Tribute sticker on my car.

If someone has a problem with that, so be it. Just as there have been veterans who have committed atrocities and violated the law, so too have there been some police. And if someone vandalizes my car because of that sticker, they should be prosecuted as criminals, not just vandals.

Should we punish all police for the acts of a few? No. Doing so would be an act of a different kind of racism, which in my book is no longer just about skin color.

The new racism today is discrimination and hate based on skin color, religion, culture, ethnicity, and any other reason that people use to negatively stereotype whole groups because of the actions of a few.

I’m proud to say I support the police this 4th of July weekend. Let’s salute the veterans and let’s salute the equally brave police officer. They deserve it, too.

(Ray Hanania is a columnist, author and former Chicago City Hall reporter. Email him at [email protected].)

newswire info
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.  

His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at [email protected].

Follow RayHanania at Twitter
Ray Hanania
Latest posts by Ray Hanania (see all)
  • Father’s Fight to Protect his Abused and Badly Beaten Daughters - October 9, 2025
  • Hastings announces $75,000 grant for Olympia Fields Bicentennial Park renovations - October 8, 2025
  • Alleged Member of Chicago Street Gang Charged With Soliciting the Murder of Senior Law Enforcement Official Involved in “Operation Midway Blitz” - October 8, 2025
NPV: 25
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
Opinion, rayhanania, Veterans Tags:commemoration, cops, Holidays, honors, Military, Police, Police officers, soldiers, veterans

Post navigation

Previous Post: Chicagoland among top 10 to be bugged by bugs
Next Post: Bridgeview driver charged in motorcyclist’s death

Related Posts

  • 2nd Class Nathan Swartz, a native of Elmhurst, Ill. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kelsey L. Adams
    Schaumburg resident embodies Veterans Day values as member of U.S. Navy Reserve Features
  • Podcast: Overcoming the challenges facing Arab Americans Blogger
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas has hosted a display of Christmas Trees from around the world each year since 2003. Photo courtesy of Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas
    Have we lost our family focus this holiday season? Baby Boomers
  • Lipinski Hanania podcast Oct 2 2024 on the Vice Presidential Debates between J.D. Vance and Tim Walz.
    Lipinski and Hanania analyze Vance-Walz VP Debate in video podcast Bill Lipinski
  • Flying while senior. Airlines know how to deal with COVID Pandemic but not with the needs of seniors or how to deal with obnoxious passengers. Originally published in the Southwest News Newspaper Group May 12, 2021
    Airlines deal with COVID but not the everyday travel problems Baby Boomers
  • Roseanne Barr at the Hard Rock Cafe in Maui in 2010. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
    Roseanne Barr should spin-off her own new series Blogger

More Related Articles

Image from the March 16, 2020 Village of Orland Park board meeting. COVID-19 cases in Orland Park jump nearly 20 percent in two weeks breaking news
David Orr and Making Voting Just So ‘Easy’ elections
Time to clean the Water Reclamation District’s political filter General Topics
Ray Hanania newspaper column on Mike Madigan 07-25-24 in the Southwest News Newspaper Group, Chicago The Mike Madigan I know did much for the Southwest region Blogger
Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge Pekau Allies Removed from Electoral Board by Cook County Judge Civil Rights
Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau continues to lie and slander people Blogger

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION
  • Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio Show small
    The Politicization of the Nobel Peace Prize — and Trump’s Fury Over Losing Again
    October 11, 2025
  • 06-04-25 Two Guys on Politics Background Zoom LOGO with images
    Video Podcast: Trump Kimmel Kirk Great American Divide Illegal Aliens polling and Illegal Aliens and ICE
    September 20, 2025
  • Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch speaking at a West Side affordable housing dedication
    Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, one of the best candidates to become Illinois Governor
    September 7, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    What You’re Missing on Your Property Tax Bill
    September 5, 2025
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Children of divorce caught in the middle during the holidays
    August 27, 2025
Subscribe to Ray Hanania's column graphic

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png

Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio

  • NEWS
  • Father and two daughters Jeffery M Leving
    Father’s Fight to Protect his Abused and Badly Beaten Daughters
    October 9, 2025
  • Illinois Senator Michael Hastings addressing the Orland Township Democratic Organization Wednesday Oct. 12, 2022
    Hastings announces $75,000 grant for Olympia Fields Bicentennial Park renovations
    October 8, 2025
  • Alleged Member of Chicago Street Gang Charged With Soliciting the Murder of Senior Law Enforcement Official Involved in “Operation Midway Blitz”
    October 8, 2025
  • IIEC Logo
    The Energy Omnibus Bill will increase rates over the rest of this decade as Illinois families and businesses toil under higher utility costs
    October 8, 2025
  • Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Polish hero of the American Revolution. After arriving in America in 1776, Kosciuszko joined the Continental Army. As a skilled engineer, he made significant contributions to the war by designing fortifications for several strategic places such as Philadelphia, West Point, and Saratoga. Kosciuszko later returned to Poland to lead his native military in a 1794 uprising. In Detroit, Courtesy of WIkipedia
    Cook County Treasurer Pappas showcases Polish photographer’s first-ever American exhibit and honors Polish American Heritage Month in Chicago
    October 8, 2025
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO RAY HANANIA'S YOUTUBE VIDEOS


Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Categories

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme