It's Veterans Day in America, a day in which we honor all who served to protect this country. Some think it's only those who fought. It's not. First, the number who fought as compared to the number who supported them is miniscule. Roughly 10% of the military sees combat. That's 90% serving as support. Second, without the support, the combat would be impossible. The task is massive, and without it combat troops would be without the necessities to do their job. So, we celebrate Veterans Day once a year for all veterans, combat or not, and thank them for their service to the nation.
Or ... we have. One begins to wonder. America is moving. Americans are changing. The military is shrinking. Funds are being diverted. Even fighting precepts are changing. We might want to hurt 'em, but don't kill 'em. From all of history where lots of civilians died in the process, we've arrived at societal outrage if one "noncombatant" dies ... without even being able to define or ascertain "noncombatant." (In Gaza, for instance, we're constantly hearing about civilians being killed, without regard for the fact that most of these "innocent civilians" gladly give their lives in the cause of destroying Israel.) Gallup reported that American confidence in the military is at the lowest in over two decades. Recruitment is down. The military has increasingly switched its focus to politics rather than national defense. And the impact of "diversity, equality, and inclusion" in a military setting has severely diminshed our readiness.
In the past, the military stood for an honorable occupation in which men and women sacrificed their own welfare and their own lives in order to defend the nation in which they believed. I served for 10 years in that capacity myself. These people deserved our thanks. They still do. As we begin letting go of this truth, we begin to show ourselves as less than grateful. If this nation is not worth defending, then perhaps it's time to stop. God raises nations and takes them down. Today we're taking this nation apart piece by piece with false versions of "racism" and "sexism" and all sorts of "isms" that were a problem but are now contradictory. Armies have changed, as evidenced in the Middle East where we're facing civilian terrorists. Warfare has changed. Values have changed. Perhaps it's time to decide whether the new version is better than the old, because it doesn't seem like we're deeply invested in protecting this new one and we're very happy to denigrate the old.
8 comments:
It seems that America has had a shifting relationship with the military for almost 100 years. WW2 veterans were heroes. Vietnam vets were monsters. Desert Storm vets were heroes. Now veterans are the villains again. The military may not be perfect, but it's what helps maintain peace in our chaotic world, for now.
Well stated, Stan. And here’s a cyber-salute (or sorts) to you for your ten years!
The shifting of the military into a political too for every LEFTIST ideology began with Obama and then really piled on with Biden. Our military is shrinking because real Americans don't want to be a part of a political tool supporting the whole LGBTQ+++ mentality (where the military is even paying for trans surgeries!! for people who then are no longer deployable) as well as those who don't enlist because they don't want to be a part of that crap. Then there is that issue of sticking our country's nose where it doesn't belong and real men don't want to be used as chess pieces.
Our military is the weakest it has been since before WWII and we keep send our military's EQUIPMENT over to the Ukraine -- the place we are supporting ONLY because the Biden's got lots of money from them pre-Russian invasion. Russia said they'd invade if Ukraine tried to join NATO because they saw it as a threat, so Ukraine tried to join NATO. All we had to do was refuse Ukraine's desire (which really hasn't been fulfilled yet) and Russia wouldn't have had a problem.
On another note, I spent 5 years in the Army and missed Vietnam by one class--the combat engineer class before mine went to Vietnam, but with my class graduating late November 1970 we were told no one was going to 'Nam because there were going to start bringing them back. BUT every time I flew military standby with airlines, and wearing my uniform to do so, I was spit on, called "baby killer" and other nasties. I got out in 1975 and stayed away from the whole idea of being a veteran because culture hated us, whether or not we went to "Nam. Desert Storm made being a veteran something to be proud of finally.
And here’s a cyber-salute (of sorts) to you, too, Glenn!
Thank you, Lorna!
Thank you, Lorna. I heard an interesting definition the other day. A veteran is someone who has written a blank check to their country for up to and including their life. Maybe over the top, but I like it.
While I was with my unit we didn't deploy anywhere but since I left they've been all over--Dominican Republic, Grenada, Desert storm, and everything since!
We did deploy once--to South Carolina! A barge crashed into the bridge connecting the mainland to Hilton Head Island and wouldn't be able to return to served for six weeks, trapping all those rich people on the Island. So we were deployed to build a pontoon bridge so the could go home! My unit was on the mainland side living in large tents with the USMC from Parris Island providing a field kitchen. Both Army and Marines used there large, twin-rotored helicopters (CH-46, CH-47) landing at the island's airport to bring in supplies and to take out those with urgent needs. The Navy brought in two landing ships with supplies, including a Shell gasoline truck. And the Coast Guard patrolled the channel. It was an interesting few days!
That statement is accurate, I would say, and very sobering. I truly commend anyone willing to make a commitment that would indeed include such a dire possibility (especially at the young age at which most military service personnel sign on).
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