What Does It Mean to Serve Your Country?
JoeUser Forums
One of the things I enjoy about this site is that there are a lot of military personnel and their families who blog here. Being part of the JU community has given me an "inside look" at some of the aspects of this war that the mainstream media will almost certainly never, ever cover.
But one of the consequences of that has been certain ill advised, negative posts that quantify someone's service. Specifically, soldiers who like to frag military brass anonymously with their posts because somehow if you don't drive a Humvee or stand at the giving end of an assault rifle, you just don't measure up. Putting aside the fact that any asshat who has the time to troll the forums to take on brass they would never have the cajones to confront in real life has it a darn sight better than most generations of military before them, I have strong issues with this mentality.
Those issues are enhanced everytime a prominent journalist or politician suggests the reinstatement of a military draft, based on the premise that I and others have not done our duty if we didn't serve. It's insulting, it's condescending, and it's downright wrong.
Let me be absolutely blunt: I did not serve in the military. If for some reason I was forced to do so or compelled to do so, I would almost certainly attempt to serve in a noncombat role. I have moral objections to the taking of a human life, and no military draft will erase those feelings. But I have served, I will continue to serve, and I will contest anyone who says I did not.
There are as many ways to serve your country as there are people. Sure, we see the military out there fighting for our country. But for every face we see, there are millions who do not. Those military personnel need equipment. What of the people who manufacture parts, weapons, clothing, and food (yes, we apologize for that. But come on, the standard of MRE's has improved SOMEWHAT over the years, has it not?)? Those people serve their country in as real and as meaningful a way as the soldiers overseas. What of the politicians who work (arguably) to preserve the Constitution of this country? Do they not serve their country as well? And what of all of the individuals who work to preserve the standard of living? We certainly serve. As tech support personnel for an ISP, I know that I keep a line of communication open between soldiers serving overseas and their families that wasn't possible in years past...a line of communication that certainly helps morale.
World War II was won by sheer strength of will. Ordinary citizens were encouraged to do their part to help the war effort. Everyone from the factory worker to the schoolchild was enlisted to help. Families planted Victory Gardens to help reduce the demand on the market for food products. And nobody's accomplishments were deemed more worthy than another's.
Over my life, I have actively participated in over a dozen campaigns, one as a candidate. I have worked as a firefighter, a political lobbyist and a miner, among many other occupations. I have paid my taxes, volunteered my time, and given to various charities. All of those contributions have served my country in one way or another. And all of them are as important to my country and my community as the efforts of a soldier who serves overseas.
I will never disrespect our soldiers for their sacrifices, even if I disagree with many policies of this administration. But in return, I ask that those soldiers not disrespect me for my service as a civilian. Yes, your families never know when you will return home. But even the life of a civilian is not without risk. I assure you my wife was filled with just as much anxiety when a miner was pulled from the stope of a mine following a rockfall in the mine I was working and airlifted to UMC in Las Vegas, because HIPPA laws prevented the mine from revealing the name of the accident victim, and we were not allowed to call out until procedures had been followed. I can also assure you that my wife was filled with anxiety in the March 13th wildfire when word got back to the evacuated families (yes, our community was evacuated) that one of our trucks had rolled and that three of our firefighters were being treated at the local hospital. And there will be many other times, I assure you, when my wife will have cause to worry.
Don't get me wrong, I am proud of your service. I am grateful for your service, and I'm anxious for ALL of you to come home. But don't EVER assume that I, or anyone else, for that matter, has served less. Because you simply do not KNOW.
