It’s only natural to think in terms of us v them. Right now, in the public discourse, it seems to be all about the wealthiest one percent and the rest of us – the 99 percent.
However, after covering the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq for the last ten years – including numerous trips to the war zones and to military communities here at home — I’ve learned there’s another one percent, who I call the real one percent. They are the men and women who fight our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (not to mention Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and Libya) and their families. The rest of us are the 99 percent.
We lend our moral support to the one percent. We cheer the veterans when their names are announced at ball games. Maybe we even have ribbons of various colors on our car. We say the obligatory ‘thank you for your service,’ and I believe we mean it. But we don’t really understand what that service really means for these members of the military.
We don’t understand that the cost of war doesn’t end when the troops come home, but is instead often paid out over the years.
This is our real great divide in this country. It is in part the consequence of an all-volunteer military. It is also in part the consequence of fighting wars without involving the rest of us. We weren’t asked to sacrifice after 9/11 or pay for the wars that followed. Imagine the reaction if we had a war tax. Or if there had been a draft. Instead, we’ve got the few fighting for the many and they do it at great cost to themselves and their families.
WaPo:
The Occupy Wall Street movement slogan “We are the 99 percent” is ironic to many of those who are serving, or have served, in Afghanistan or Iraq. Our servicemen and women are not the 1 percent of Americans whom OWS condemns. Rather, this 1 percent goes ignored by the self-proclaimed 99 percent in Zuccotti Park, as well as by those looking down on the protesters from their offices at Goldman Sachs or Citibank. And it is not lost on those fighting in Afghanistan that it was bank accounts, not an interest in or concern for those patrolling Kandahar, that motivated the protesters to take to the streets in cities across America.
The 1 percent who volunteered to serve in the armed forces, and their families, are about the only Americans left who closely follow events in places such as Helmand and Kabul. Most thoughtful Americans could instantly tell you who is pushing for a “9-9-9” tax plan, but ask them to name the commanding general of more than 100,000 troops in Afghanistan and they would not have a clue. (The answer is Gen. John Allen.) Many well-meaning people who debate tax rates and mortgage foreclosures are unaware of a young Army Ranger sergeant named Kristoffer Domeij, who left behind a wife and two children when he was killed last month on his 14th deployment to combat.
The public apathy that has long characterized our involvement in this war is obviously, in large part, the result of an all-volunteer military force that has left the 99 percent blissfully unaware of the daily triumphs and tragedies that mark the lives of many of their fellow citizens a world away.
~~~ Back in 2005, not even halfway into our decade of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, my grandfather, a World War II veteran, sometimes used to scan the headlines of his newspaper, toss it aside in disgust, and complain loudly, “Don’t they know there’s a war on?” Sadly, the answer now is the same as it was then. Some Americans will, in fact, pause this Veterans Day to reflect on the sacrifices made by the United States’ latest generation of veterans. And that is a good thing. But, come Monday, as the opening bell ushers in a new day on Wall Street, U.S. soldiers heading out on patrol will once again be the furthest thing from many minds.
Happy Veterans Day to all those who currently serve and to those who have served, from one of the 99%ers: Thank you for your service. You men and women will always Occupy Honor and Respect.
This is a video I put together last year with permission from James Hooker, the songwriter. I think it’s still valid for 2011:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU49w-VQ34I[/youtube]
A former fetus, the “wordsmith from nantucket” was born in Phoenix, Arizona in 1968. Adopted at birth, wordsmith grew up a military brat. He achieved his B.A. in English from the University of California, Los Angeles (graduating in the top 97% of his class), where he also competed rings for the UCLA mens gymnastics team. The events of 9/11 woke him from his political slumber and malaise. Currently a personal trainer and gymnastics coach.
The wordsmith has never been to Nantucket.
Very nice.
I found this at the Gay Patriot the other day.
It points out that 70% of America’s youths are disqualified from serving in the military.
Of the rest 97% choose not to serve.
Thus 99% of Americans never serve.
Therefore those who serve are the true 1%.
A tight group in the V ring, Outstanding.
I’m proud to point out that my dad was an NCO with the PPCLI who was transferred to the Regina Rifles for the assault of Juno Beach. They had learnt the technique of mouse holing in Ortona, Italy. Mouse holing is when you knock a hole in a building, toss in a grenade, and hose the place down with automatic fire. Watch the Carentan assault in” The Band of Brothers” for ideas. He was with B Company, the second wave of infantry who poured into Courseilles Sur Mer. They were extremely lucky to have not taken the casualties that A company took on the initial assault. Remember this. The Royal Reginas were the first and only regiment that took and held their objectives of all the assault forces on D Day. Hat tip to my uncle Leonard for this information.
We definitely need to be supporting those that are continuously being sent off to war, regardless of whether or not we support the actual wars. Great post.
No, it’s because people are able to see the obvious: there is no US interest in Afghanistan that is worth fighting and dying for. What are people supposed to be cheering for? You want (I guess) for the mission to be ennobled by the sacrifice itself, but by that logic every terrible war is glorious, every battle was worth fighting (indeed, the more dead, the better), and any cause can be put beyond question if only we shed enough blood.
– we propped up Karzai for another day, hurrah!
– we killed a few more Taliban, or forced them out of another village. And at current rates will kill them all by, well… never, because they reflect a culture endemic to the region, and we aren’t willing to commit genocide.
– we’re still punishing the Afghans for harboring Osama! Yeah! Of course he’s dead now, was mostly hiding in Pakistan, and anyway one would think six months of war would be enough to send a message, if that was the idea.
– we built some schools / infrastructure in Afghanistan to win hearts and minds. That’s nice for the Afghan people, but I look at our trillion dollar deficit and our infrastructure shortfalls and can only say: that money should have been spent here (or not at all); let the Afghans build a country, if they can.
You are right of course that a draft would make more people sit up and take notice. But it’s not because they would start noticing the triumphs, in this case: it’s because they would take note of the tragedies (now that they could happen to anyone draftable, and not just volunteers), and start objecting. It’s not a coincidence that the Vietnam War, fought with draftees, was ended by public opposition, while the current wars are popular to the extent that people think about them.
bbartlog
hi, yes ,instead of having the GOVERNMENT MEDIA reporting smears and lies to protect the DEMOCRAT STANDING, and inciting all the dividing of color and races and rich or poor and whinning
unjustly against the other partys elected by the PEOPLE,
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CALL ON THEIR MEDIA to emphasize the braves work of the military,
not only on VETERANS DAY BUT ROUTINELY. as to teach the new generation about their duty which might be required in the future and what is AMERICA stand for,
as we see now the young are bored and are not being educated on their duty of being AMERICAN TO THE CORE, NOT ON THE SURFACE WHICH DEMAND NOTHING OF THEM EXCEPT THEIR LEANING TOWARD WRONG PARTY, BE IT SOCIALIST, MARXIST, COMMUNIST WITH A MIX OF ALL THE 3 MORE OR LESS
DANGEROUS IDEOLOGY, WHICH IS NOT AND NEVER WILL BE THE TRUE AMERICA.
YOU JUST HAVE TO WATCH THE OWL’S RALLYS OF DESTRUCTIVE POWER OUT TO BREAK THE PEACE OF OTHER LAW ABIDING CITIZENS,
THE VETERANS COMING BACK WOULD REALY FIX THEIR PROBLEM AND WOULD BE THE REAL PROTECTORS OF THIS PEACE ABIDING NATION,
SO OBAMA THE WORDS ARE CHEAP UNLESS YOU PUT THE VETERANS TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO IN THE PAST YESTERDAYS;
ACTION IS WHAT IS NEEDED NOT THOSE NICE WORDS OF ONE ONLY DAY, WHICH PASS,
AND FORGOTTEN TOMORROW
Wordsmith,
Excellent post.
I have a Family filled with Veterans.
I would like to THANK each and EVERY VETERAN, and their FAMILIES….for your BRAVERY, your COMPASSION, your PATRIOTISM, your DEDICATION, your HONOR… for PROTECTING US at HOME….AND for the SACRIFICES you have made for ME…. AND
….for the FREEDOMS that I ENJOY…EVERY DAY…. ALL BECAUSE OF YOU…
I most humbly thank you, from the bottom of my heart….
GOD BLESS AMERICA – MAY GOD BLESS AND PROTECT OUR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES…
WORDSMITH
beautiful choice as usual, you succeeded at getting our tears on the keyboard,
thank you for the POST
Great article and I completely agree that the American public, on average, has no idea of the lengths that our all volunteer military goes to ensure not only our freedoms, but also the freedoms of folks in other countries.
5 Reasons Veterans are part of the 99%
1.) Veterans Deserve Economic Justice: Thousands of veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are finding a grim job market. Veterans who served since 9/11 experience a 12.1% unemployment rate, which is higher than the national average, while one in three male veterans are jobless. Recent reports have showed that the number of homeless veterans is surging, while there are insufficient job placement programs.
2.) Veterans Embrace Occupy Wall Street Out Of Love For Country: A growing number of veterans groups are enthusiastically embracing the movement. Although some are demonstrating against a terrible economic conditions, many are doing so out of simple patriotism. Thousands have marched near Zuccotti Park and at other occupy encampments with a message about taking their country back from the grip of lobbyists and predatory financial institutions. One iconic sign, held by a veteran at Occupy Wall Street, summed up the sentiment: “Second time I’ve fought for my country. First time I’ve known my enemy.”
3.) The Banks Are Preying On Veterans: Big banks have found ways to rip off and ruin the men and women who placed their lives on the line for this country. According to a recent whistleblower lawsuit, some of the nation’s biggest banks, including Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and J.P. Morgan Chase, “defrauded veterans and taxpayers out of hundreds of millions of dollars by disguising illegal fees in veterans’ home refinancing loans.” Fly-by-night scam for-profit universities, many of which are owned by Wall Street investment banks, heavily target veterans with fraudulent educational programs. While military families struggle to get by all over the country, defense contractor CEO’s earn as much as $19 million a year.
4.) K Street Domination Of Government Means Defense Money Goes To War Profiteering Corporations Over Veterans: America spends more on the military than most of our rival nations combined. Yet much of that money, because of the influence of defense contractors and other private military interests, is spent on expensive weapons we never use instead of on rank and file soldiers. Revolving door lobbyists, who go from the Pentagon to K Street firms, have secured over a trillion in wasteful spending to companies like Lockheed Martin.
5.) During The Economic Downturn, Veterans Programs Are Being Cut And Privatized As Well: As Republicans and their allies have succeeded so far in pushing an austerity agenda of massive government cuts, veterans have also been targeted. According to a recent analysis by Military.com of a CBO study outlining suggested cuts, Congress is debating proposals to cap military basic pay and limiting veterans health benefits. Notably, the Defense Business Board is also considering a move to privatize the military pension program, swapping it out with a 401k system. If there is another crisis on Wall Street, veterans could lose see their retirement benefits wiped out if such a system is put in place.
Great post.
liberalmann
don’t generalyse, not all veterans are in the owl rallies,
and those who are don’t agree with the different faction of communist, marxist, socialist
the VETERANS who would go there are a few but they want to expose the failures of the OBAMA GOVERNMENT, HE WANT TO
CUT THE MILITARY EXPANSES RADICALY
so don’t jump the gun too fast,
@ilovebeeswarzone: Pay no attention. It’s a shame Wordsmith’s great post paying tribute to Veterans was hijacked by the left to talk a bunch of partisan crap.
another vet
yes, and I could not let liberalmann get away with what he insinuated,
bye
thank you thank’s for the info
got news folks there are thousands of us out here , that either were drafted or as did I enlisted…and we still go by the values of America, not all of us are at the mall or camped out preaching anarchy and socialism. We are your gas station guy, postman,3rd grade teachers, the gal helping out at the local foodbank, the fellow at the USO desk, etc., etc. We stay strong, say scxxw it and push on thru issues. We with our country will still be here, when the OWS idiots realize there is a better way to fix our problrms its called stop being part of the problem dig in and become part of the solution. God Bless and HHOOORAH
Larry UIoth
yes, you have the right words to bring hope to those
who think they are fighting alone, because they are not in rally or in the shouting owl crowd
throwing bottles and rocks to the peaceful citizens
thank you
I volunteerd to join the Marine Corps while a freshman at Colgate U. in 1962. I believed it my duty.I still believe all should be required to serve a minimum of 2 years. The undocumented should receive citizenship for completed honorable service.The military is America’s melting pot and service is a great honor.
I salute all our veterans Semper Fi
Richard Wheeler
I sure agree, and look at what ow we see today, if they would have had
the discipline and knowledge from the military, they would think twice before demolishing any land any busyness, anybody around them,
they would have learn to honor and respect AMERICA.
best to you ,and all owe you thank’s for your service
bye
@RICHARD WHEELER: Careful with years Rich. You are showing your age! On a more serious note, once again it was rather disappointing when walking the dogs yesterday noticing that there were very few flags being flown.
another vet
what kind of dog?
@ilovebeeswarzone: One is a Black Lab/Greyhound mix. He is an awesome dog who aims to please. The other is a Beagle mix. She weighs around 40 and is a great dog as well. Adopted both of them from the same shelter.
another vet
yes they are good friends to have, I was asking, because I like dogs too,,
my last 2 dogs I had to let them euthanyse
it broke my hearth, you never really recover from it,
bye thank you
@ilovebeeswarzone: You are very right. They grow on you fast and are one of the family. I had to put my last two down as well. The last one was a Black Lab who had lymphoma. He went through chemo and everything. These two have pet insurance.
Do you have any right now?
another vet, he was loved more than money,
did you see at ALTHOUSE the video she has, of the cruel way of the OHIO SLAUTHER HOUSE? working to prepare the animals, beef pigs chickens ready for the food store,
I think people should inquire where the animal part they are ready to eat come from,
bye, no I move and the pet are not allowed, so that’s life,
but I had dogs all the time before.
John Evan Miller,
yes many return sick because they where sent to many times too, and they don’t realise that too many time in a war that is not fought but just maintain, is very hard for the soldier to grab it,
the ROE is dangerous and not taking the side of the military, It take the life of them but not finish the war,
and so many times in there end by turning theodds against them and kill them, or disable them,
they are not to be used as tools of war but as human warriors,