The Military Factor...
Things are getting downright scary. The present occupant of the White House seems like Jimmy Carter on steroids. Conservatives are hoping for a turnaround starting this November, while the party in power continues with it's "ends justify the means" mindset. So who really knows how it will turn out this November and two years later? IMO it's up for grabs.
But one group never gets mentioned, the military. Those guys fighting a war while we fight the line at the mall.
I read that all troops will be out of Afghanistan in 2014, Iraq even sooner. Who knew you could schedule victory in any conflict?
Okay, enough sarcasm.
What must it be like to risk your life on a daily basis, knowing what you're involved in has become a political game? That question applies to both parties, because with the exception of Sarah Palin I haven't heard ANY Republican speak of our troops and the work they're doing. That line at the mall really demands a lot of attention.
What must it be like to be ignored in that fashion? Viet Nam was different in that the troops were openly castigated & despised by too many of their fellow Americans. But even that is different than almost total disregard and inattention.
Negative strokes are better than no strokes.
So when they're all home and see just how the lay of the land really is, then what? That never gets factored into anyone's predictions.
FWIW, I believe they'll get a good dose of apathetic attitude and will really get pissed. Getting shot at, having members of your unit die violently or become crippled can really lower the tolerance for the " not my problem" frame of mind.
There probably won't be any armed insurrection. This isn't Venezuela or any other South American banana republic. But they'll work together with peers, get really active to change things to their liking. Look for a lot of support from their fathers/grandfathers who either fought in or were on active duty during Viet Nam. That last group will be bitter because they'll see a variation of the crap endured by themselves in their youth. One of the constant themes amongst those who AREN'T disregarding today's wars has been, "What happened to me won't happen to my kin." Seeing the apathy will be galling.
The result? Hell if I know, but I'd take with a grain of salt any predictions not factoring in this large group of (so far) silent Americans.
I may be as wrong as a football bat, but doubt it.
5 comments:
"FWIW, I believe they'll get a good dose of apathetic attitude and will really get pissed. Getting shot at, having members of your unit die violently or become crippled can really lower the tolerance for the " not my problem" frame of mind."
If correct, SUBVET, consider the inevitable effect on military recruitment. Absent a formal declaration of war (when was the last time we had one of those?) the draft is practically unavailable to the U.S. military (male only draft would be tied up in courts; male and female draft would be immensly impractical).
Some of the lawyers now in power wish to set us on a road leading to dismantling the world's finest military. They despise the U.S. military and feel threatened by it as now constituted, despite a few hollow words to the contrary.
Well, I personally think that the troops are on the minds of a lot more people than you think and they are definitely well respected. There's not a day that goes by when, in the airports, a single or group of soldiers are walking through and people will stop and shake their hands and say thank you. They will also, simultaneously, stop and applaud as they walk by.
At U.S. Cellular Field, every single baseball game starts with the recognition of "Hero of the Day"--a soldier in our military forces, and during the 7th inning stretch everyone sings "God Bless America" and AGAIN honors and stands up to applaud the military soldier who is seen on camera. There is a great reception at each game.
And you're right...this war is being used as a political football, just like Viet Nam was. History is always doomed to repeat itself, sad to say. But I think the soldiers returning will be treated with more respect than you think. That's my positive uptake, at least, fwiw.
Good Read Mate! Lived some of that "castigation".
Vigilis, good points. My focus was on the blowback at the ballot box, you highlight some other unintended consequences.
The dismantling of our military would DEFINETLY please some of these "leaders".
Mary Ellen, you may be right. Because I play "Mr. Mom" and don't rely on the MSM for news, my perspective might be slanted.
Cookie, it also slopped over onto those of us who didn't go to Nam. I doubt my feelings are unique amongst that group.
The present occupant of the White House seems like Jimmy Carter on steroids...and worse!
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