Cure the Military-Civilian Divide?

JBLM: Just down the road, but light years away

“With less than one percent of Americans wearing the uniform, this trend is only accelerating. To reverse it, more non-military families must encourage their children to serve.”

Looks like most people aren’t interested in involving themselves in undeclared/unwon wars that never end.

From Facebook comments:

This “disconnect ” is the result of doing away with the draft. A majority of Americans have no connection to the military. With a draft, or required national service, everyone would have to serve somewhere. “service is the rent we pay for living “

The country also did away with a formal congressional declaration of war.

This would be the time to hear from elected leaders on all the issues that have doomed the Department of Defense track record since DOD was established in 1949.

During this process, top generals would testify before congress and lay down realistic expectations and requirements for success.

Also did away with Armistice Day.

Also got public school teachers to host annual Veterans Day assemblies where students are told that The Troops are in distant lands defending American rights and freedoms- as if the US Armed forces function as some sort of giant civil rights organization.

More here:

Veterans Protect Rights?

Veterans Earn Rights?

Jet Noise Made Them Free?

People in uniform give rights?

A Land of Make Believe

Recommendations for ending the divide:

Stop glorifying military service.

As the decades of undeclared/unwon wars stack up (The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.) the greater the cultural urge to glorify people who do, or did time in uniform.

Stop telling us that undeclared/unwon wars overseas are somehow linked to American rights & freedoms.

In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our physical security. That’s as good as it gets.

In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.

Many veterans claim to have served to protect American rights & freedoms.

How does this work?

Do the US Armed Forces function as some sort of giant civil rights organization?

Black people were still riding at the back of the bus after the big WWII victory.

Women were not allowed full voting rights at the end of WWI.

Were US troops sent to Vietnam so that Americans could be free to send letters to the editor?

Is there any case in which the US Armed Forces have been sent to distant lands on a mission to protect freedom of speech?

Is protecting freedom of speech even part of training scenarios?

Phase out failed wars that never end.

Get away from the ongoing militarization of American culture.

Some businesses are now setting aside parking for veterans. The designated spots we are talking about here are for all veterans- no requirement Re: earning the Medal of Honor, Purple Heart, having any physical disability, etc.