I don't think there is a subject my co-editor Helen Bach and I disagree with more than the US Armed Forces. Bach is a pacifist who loathes all forms of jingoism with a passion similar to her love of all animals and refusal to eat them : She has "vegan" tattoed on her wrist.
Me? I have seen what the lack of an armed force can do to a country. If a country can not protect itself, it will be taken over by a stronger country, precisely as happened in Lebanon. First it descended into civil, then Israel swallowed it, figured it wasn't worth the bother and spit it out, and then Syria and Iran took over the Moslim sections and the Christians were left with a sliver to protect. That's what happens when you don't protect yourself.
Look at Tibet: their refusal to bear arms brings the entire region into danger and forces other countries to protect them against the Chinese.
So I support the armed forces just about completely, compounded by an ex-girlfriends father having two tour of duties in Iraq. He was with the Pheebies and planning how to rebuild Fallujah before the US had attacked it. I remember very well how distraught she was, I lived through it with her, and I find no percentage in cyncicsm.
Jistin Timberlake went to the Instructor Battalion Marine Corps Ball in Richmond, VA on Saturday, after promising to take combat instructor Kelsey de Santis's date. According to People Magazine this is what Timberlake wrote on his website.
"What I didn't know was how moved I would be by the whole experience She (Kelsety)seemed to me to be so humble and honest… Very cool. She also simultaneously seemed like she was nervous about the whole evening and if I was going to enjoy myself. 'Are you ok?' she asked 2 or 3 times. "I hope you are having fun. I know you will once my crew of friends get here to the table.'
"I have to tell you, it's not every day that I meet a 23 year old girl and she's more worried about if I'm having fun or if I'm comfortable! It hit me all of a sudden that these were the type of people that look after us and our freedom… Humble, concerned for others before themselves… This was the type of person our Marine Corps was building. I was really blown away."
"I felt so proud to be there. I felt like I was getting a chance to be among my heroes. It's funny too because a lot of them are SO younger than me."
Kudos to Justin.
It is sophistication to claim war never solved anything, war has solved everything always. The USA isn't perfect, but it is the best of a bad lot. In this world you choose sides or, as the German Jews discovered during World War Two, it will be chosen for you.
It is a sad truth that freedom is maintained through the threat and sometimes the execution of a powerful armed force.