To Serve a Higher Cause
On the occasion of Memorial Day we are supposed to think about all of those brave young men and women who have fought and died for our country. We are supposed to honor their sacrifice, and pay homage both to the nation for which they died, and to the patriotic spirit which leads them into combat. It is the motivation of these brave individuals which I would like to examine. Not to question or diminish it, but to wonder why it is so narrowly channelled. Why, I wonder, is our nation so adept at harnessing the sort of altruism which leads some of our best and brightest young men and women to join the military, and so hostile to harnessing that same altruism later in life? This point was brought home to me a few weeks ago on the letter page of the Los Angeles Times. In response to an article about public high schools contemplating banning military recruiters from campus, someone wrote in to praise the fine spirit of the military volunteer. He waxed poetic about how admirable it is for people to think of something bigger than themselves, to learn to stand up for ideals, to protect those who cannot protect themselves. I was immediately struck by the fact that the arguments being made in favor of military service are, in fact, exactly the same arguments that lefties like myself make when we argue in favor of taxation and social programs.
How interesting indeed that the conservatives speak glowingly of the importance of national service and of the glory of serving something bigger than yourself. At least they do when it is someone else's kids who are making the sacrifice. Yet when it comes to taxation and government they preach the gospel of rugged individualism and personal responsibility. And it isn't only in terms of the poor and the infirm that they hold this line. They don't even think that their rugged individualistic supporters should have to pay taxes to protect the very people who are protecting us. This is especially true when those men and women become injured and can no longer fight. This is where the conservatives show their true colors. At the same time that they continue to push through tax cuts for the ultra-rich, and attend to favors for their corporate cronies, they are seeking to slash veteran's benefits. It is really hard to see how exactly it is that these conservatives are 'supporting our troops.' Seems to me that this is one more meaningless platitude mouthed in the same tone of voice which Donald Rumsfeld uses when he 'takes responsibility' for catastrophic failures in Iraq. That tone which says 'please just listen to my words and accept them as being meaningful.' A pleading, plaintive tone indeed, since the words are mere hypocrisy.
I propose that there is a far better way to both honor those who have fought for this country in the past, as well as those members of the military whom the Bush administration is intent on using as pawns in Iraq. As a country we should return to our earlier core value of co-dependence, not independence. We should enshrine the idea of placing the good of the country over personal gain. It is truly shameful that we think it is okay to ask people to give up their lives for the good of the country, but not their SUVs or third homes. It is absurd to honor both personal sacrifice and personal greed. We should re-learn the lesson of JFK's Camelot: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." This paradigm honors those who serve in the military, dishonors those who misuse the military. Honor those who work to make the country a better place for the many, dishonor those who work only to make the country good for themselves. Honor and reward those who can and do work hard to better themselves, but also take care of those who work hard and don't better themselves.
Without those changes we continue being a cynical country ruled by a wealth aristocracy, protected by the disadvantaged and the gullible. It is indeed hard to imagine that very many of the legions who have fought and died for America did so to ensure the ability of very rich people to become richer by laying off ordinary people and moving their jobs overseas. Nor is it credible that the average American would choose a wealthier aristocracy wielding massive political power over basic health care and decent jobs for them and their children. It is time for those who have benefited the most from the sacrifices of others to do the most to ensure the health of America. You want to support our troops? Make sure their kids and grandkids grow up in a fair and balanced economy.