Next month we remember and commemorate Veterans Day and reflect on those who have worn the uniform of this nation in defense of liberty. Currently the nation is engaged in two conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and each has provided intense debate of the merit of each conflict. The real question of this posting is how many American truly understands what life is like for those who serve in uniform?
The “Greatest Generation” those that served during World War II are now fading into the annals of history and during that time everyone knew someone or had members of their family serving in uniform. Contrast that with today when less than 1% of the nation are serving in uniform and fewer Americans personally know anyone serving in harm’s way.
The debate rages on whether we should send more forces into the battlefield of Afghanistan, but how many Americans are truly effected by the decision of the president if he decides to send in more forces. Most Americans are more concerned if they will have a job or just not concerned, because they have never served or know anyone personally that has served.
Throughout the armed forces this discussion has direct implications as they will be tasked in caring this policy to its completion. Families will be changed; military reservists are contemplating how this affects their employment status, and places a direct hardship on their family as most of the community around them is ill affected by this.
Times have changed since America went off to war some sixty years ago. Everyone supports the troops but do they really? The partisan divide on issues affecting the military is greater than it has ever been, coupled with the fact that most members of congress have never served with only a few who have served.
The political parties have changed in their thought process on military service, one party looks with distain on military service, the other party supports military service, but as long as they or their son’s do not have to serve.
Ivy League colleges have rejected R.O.T.C. programs on their campus for the past forty years always coming up with some new reason that they refuse to have them on campus. Many high schools’s refuse to allow military recruiters on campus, but allow anti-military groups access. These same schools teach anti-military lessons to students and a very distinct version of military history that fails to appreciate the sacrifices of those that have served in harm’s way.
America better remember the sacrifices of those that serve in uniform or someday freedom will look very different than what we expected it to look like; we would have no one else to blame but ourselves!
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