out there
Just today, or maybe yesterday, I came across Home Fires, a series of New York Times features which are written by veterans. There are definitely some interesting perspectives among the few pieces I've read so far. Reading them also reminded me that I was going to write something on the subject of Veterans Day, so I figure it's better late than never.
As everyone knows, we've been at war for 10+ years. To be clear, I'm not disregarding the service and sacrifice of all those who fought in previous conflicts--in terms of casualties, many of them dwarf OEF and OIF, and in more subjective terms, the populace as a whole has almost certainly been affected more by WWII, Vietnam, etc. But I didn't serve in or live through those wars, so I'll speak to what I know.
Last Friday I idly started thinking about where I'd been and what I'd been doing on Veterans Day in previous years. After a minute I realized that in both 2009 and 2010, I'd been deployed. Looking ahead, there's a very good chance on the same occasion next year, I'll be downrange again. Now this is not meant as some woe-is-me story, anything but. I knew what I was signing up for, I'm glad to have had the opportunity to go and make a difference by doing my job well in combat when lives are at stake, and I know many servicemembers have faced and still do face greater danger out there every day than I did. Those men and women at the true tip of the spear are the ones we (the aircrew and other members of my unit) go and support, day in and day out.
Outside of the small minority of our population who is or has been engaged in the current conflicts, plus their dependents and to some extent other family and friends, I don't believe most American lives have been greatly affected. For me, when I'm not deployed or otherwise actively doing my job, the biggest difference is how much more money and inconvenience are involved in traveling anywhere by airplane. And it does suck that, in addition to the first-order effect of 3000 lives lost in the attacks which I am in no way de-emphasizing, Osama Bin Laden and those who did his bidding managed to thereby reduce the quality of life, most likely permanently, for all Americans and to some extent others.
That said, I'm glad the effects of the ongoing War on Terror, or whatever we call it now, have been muted for many. I'm happy that everyone has been able to go on about their lives. We (military members) go out there and do our duty so that they can do so--and, when in garrison, so can we. For several months out of the year, subject to some additional restrictions, I can go places and do things. I can spend time with family and friends. I can experience new adventures. All the while, many of my friends and colleagues, and a multitude of others, are in unfriendly lands giving everything up to and including their lives. It's not hard for me to remember and appreciate that on Veterans Day and every day, since it's what I spend a sizable percentage of my time doing as well. I hope that those farther removed from the front lines still don't lose sight of what the 1%* are doing.
* Approximate percentage of the U.S. population serving in the military. Not to be confused with anything OWS-related.
As everyone knows, we've been at war for 10+ years. To be clear, I'm not disregarding the service and sacrifice of all those who fought in previous conflicts--in terms of casualties, many of them dwarf OEF and OIF, and in more subjective terms, the populace as a whole has almost certainly been affected more by WWII, Vietnam, etc. But I didn't serve in or live through those wars, so I'll speak to what I know.
Last Friday I idly started thinking about where I'd been and what I'd been doing on Veterans Day in previous years. After a minute I realized that in both 2009 and 2010, I'd been deployed. Looking ahead, there's a very good chance on the same occasion next year, I'll be downrange again. Now this is not meant as some woe-is-me story, anything but. I knew what I was signing up for, I'm glad to have had the opportunity to go and make a difference by doing my job well in combat when lives are at stake, and I know many servicemembers have faced and still do face greater danger out there every day than I did. Those men and women at the true tip of the spear are the ones we (the aircrew and other members of my unit) go and support, day in and day out.
Outside of the small minority of our population who is or has been engaged in the current conflicts, plus their dependents and to some extent other family and friends, I don't believe most American lives have been greatly affected. For me, when I'm not deployed or otherwise actively doing my job, the biggest difference is how much more money and inconvenience are involved in traveling anywhere by airplane. And it does suck that, in addition to the first-order effect of 3000 lives lost in the attacks which I am in no way de-emphasizing, Osama Bin Laden and those who did his bidding managed to thereby reduce the quality of life, most likely permanently, for all Americans and to some extent others.
That said, I'm glad the effects of the ongoing War on Terror, or whatever we call it now, have been muted for many. I'm happy that everyone has been able to go on about their lives. We (military members) go out there and do our duty so that they can do so--and, when in garrison, so can we. For several months out of the year, subject to some additional restrictions, I can go places and do things. I can spend time with family and friends. I can experience new adventures. All the while, many of my friends and colleagues, and a multitude of others, are in unfriendly lands giving everything up to and including their lives. It's not hard for me to remember and appreciate that on Veterans Day and every day, since it's what I spend a sizable percentage of my time doing as well. I hope that those farther removed from the front lines still don't lose sight of what the 1%* are doing.
* Approximate percentage of the U.S. population serving in the military. Not to be confused with anything OWS-related.