Veterans Day, 2007

I watched a report on CBS about blacks in the military. Since they were first allowed to join, they have been a mainstay of the armed forces of America. They have often gone far above and beyond the call of duty, partly because they felt they had something to prove. Recently, however, there has been a fall off of enlistments from the African-American community. In the news item I heard comments like "It's not our fight" and "They're not following in the footsteps of their fathers and uncles because they now have other options."

In the 1940's America faced the second World War. There was no avoiding it. Europe needed our help again, but Japan brought it to us. So America geared up and went to war on two fronts -- Europe and the Pacific. This was no small war. It was not cheap in terms of dollars or in terms of lives. It wasn't merely expensive to the government; it cost each individual. Men joined the military in droves and were ashamed if they couldn't get in. Women threw themselves into the job market to help provide the necessary goods for life and war. Families sacrificed basics like rubber, sugar, and gasoline so that this war could be won. Companies like Singer who made sewing machines shifted their entire line to help provide machine guns. There were even Japanese-Americans who were desperate to take part, fighting valiantly in Europe. And there were no complaints. You didn't hear protests about the cost. You didn't hear that we needed to withdraw because too many lives were being lost. You didn't hear that it was costing the nation too much money. You never heard, "It's not our fight" or "I'm joining because I have no other options."

We owe a debt of gratitude to those folks. They, as a nation, chose to willingly sacrifice for a common cause. So strongly did they feel the need for freedom and security that they were willing to risk it all to have it. It was a different time and place.

Today this country is largely an embarrassment to the spirit that was then. We are not willing to sacrifice. We are not willing to serve. We are not willing to see things through. Politicians and leaders around the country have suggested without a thought that the only reason young people join the military is to get out of it what they want. They have suggested that the only reason to join is to avoid problems, to get a leg up on their community, to try to get ahead in life. Nothing about service, community, patriotism.

Having served ten years myself, I am shocked and dismayed. I know of no more patriotic Americans than those who have served in the military. There may be personal gain from joining up, but that shouldn't diminish the cost, the patriotism, the heart, and the service of our active duty military folks. It's just too bad that they don't have the support of a nation like the one that valued community above self back in the '40's.