Archive for April 19th, 2006

2006.04.19

A Source of Progressives

I never served in the military, but I grew up with it and its existence continues to affect my life. My Dad, my Grandfather, my Uncle and my brother all served or serve in the military. My brother-in-law once removed died in the November 2004 offensive in Fallujah. Many of my best friends served. Sometimes I wonder at the choices I made preventing me from joining. I’ve learned not to dwell on it, but there are many lessons I learned from growing up with the military.

I never experienced American racism until I went to college. Thankfully I had a black roommate who was patient enough to explain what was happening. I miss being able to walk into a hospital and not wonder what forms to fill out, how long I would have to wait before being seen, or how much it would cost. We lived on base most of the time; the places weren’t fancy but they we always made them our home. The DoD school system was great (despite being a kid who’s natural instinct is to hate school). We lived in many diverse places and I can’t help but think that promoted a sense of a larger world and an appreciation and respect for it.

I often tell people that the greatest socialist system in the world is the US military. This is kind of ironic when you think that America was going through a Cold War with the greatest (supposed) proponents of socialism while I was growing up. I tell people these stories and they can’t believe that I support the military, let alone endorse it. I’m a progressive who thinks the military is a great thing.

Until today, though, I’d never heard anyone else who had the same (similar?) thoughts as me on this topic, though.

There’s a reason most vets running for office this year are running as Democrats. The military is perhaps the ideal society — we worked hard but the Army took care of us in return. All our basic needs were met — housing, food, and medical care. It was as close to a color-blind society as I have ever seen. We looked out for one another. The Army invested in us. I took heavily subsidized college courses and learned to speak German on the Army’s dime. I served with people from every corner of the country. I got to party at the Berlin Wall after it fell and explored Prague in those heady post-communism days. I wasn’t just a tourist; I was a witness to history.

Yup, the military shouldn’t be equated with conservative values like making money, power, discipline (in the sense of keeping people in line), and religious manipulation for personal gain. Instead it should be equated with progressive values like service, investment in the individual for the benefit of the group, discipline (in the sense of instilling confidence and strength), diversity, protection of American values, etc.

I’m not saying the military is ideal. There are a lot of things that could be better and some intrinsic problems (depending on how you feel about fighting and killing or being killed for what you believe) but it is one hell of a lot better than the idealistic yet ignorant idiots we’ve got running our government right now.

I admire the military and I think it’s a shame when others (and it is a crying shame these are usually liberals) slam the military for the stupid policies of the Presidents that tell the military what to do.