The general and increasing lack of civility in public discourse, by those elected to represent us, broadcast personalities (many masquerading as journalists or entertainers), academics, and organized labor leaders should distress everyone. Regrettably, this negative phenomenon is aided and abetted by social media, as well as much of the supposed regular media.
Inflammatory, derogatory, and plain nasty comments made in yesteryear were limited by relatively small audiences they could reach. The world today revels in the negativity being sent literally around the world, which emboldens the commentators. So civility retreats further and further.
It is not a matter of free speech, either. Do not be swayed by those flying the false flag of free speech as justifying their disrespectful, hateful, incendiary language. Our free speech laws permit such language, but they do not justify it.
Respectfully, intelligently disagreeing with someone or some idea is the essence of our tenets of free speech. However, the histrionics employed by all too many woefully fail to comport with those tenets. Alas, there is nothing I can do to dissuade those who abusively and disrespectfully yammer and hammer at others. There is nothing I can do to persuade them to act civilly and with respect, even when disagreeing.
I can, most assuredly, choose to associate with those who treat one another with respect. Even when disagreeing about important issues, these with whom I choose to associate would never treat one another without respect. Respect born of shared beliefs, sacrifices, service, and experiences.
These with whom I choose to associate are American military veterans. At Patriot Guard Rider missions, for example, topical issues are discussed, at times with divergent views expressed. Again, even when strongly held opposing views are shared, it is done so with absolute respect.
Once more, our military veterans stand as exemplars for the general population. They embody RESPECT.
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Ignorance and distance
Recently a staffer for a purportedly major publication ignorantly asserted that the tattoo on the arm of a Marine Corps wounded warrior depicted a Nazi emblem. Said staffer was excoriated by many, so I'll not pile on. The episode does, however, highlight the general ignorance of and distance from our military.
Discounting for the moment the anti-military mindset of many on the left, there can be no argument that with less than one-half of one percent of our citizens serving in the military, ignorance of matters military abounds. It abounds because most families have no real experience with the military. Some have even written of this status that military service is becoming more and more a family business, with the sons and daughters of active duty and veterans forming the largest segment of new enlistments.
Whether or not that is accurate, the overwhelming simple ignorance of military service, indeed service to the country of any kind, is growing more and more foreign to generation after generation of Americans. Apart from the cultural ramifications, it is offered that there is a real national security concern.
It is all too easy for those ignorant of military service, either because they did not serve or their children do not serve, to advocate sending our military into harm's way. Such advocates do not, as the saying goes, have any skin in the game. They will gladly, even blithely speak of sending the sons and daughters of others overseas to take on our foes. And so the cycle perpetuates itself.
Fewer and fewer Americans serving in a military more and more often sent into harm's way by those more ignorant of and more distanced from the armed forces.
This is not a good situation for our nation.
Discounting for the moment the anti-military mindset of many on the left, there can be no argument that with less than one-half of one percent of our citizens serving in the military, ignorance of matters military abounds. It abounds because most families have no real experience with the military. Some have even written of this status that military service is becoming more and more a family business, with the sons and daughters of active duty and veterans forming the largest segment of new enlistments.
Whether or not that is accurate, the overwhelming simple ignorance of military service, indeed service to the country of any kind, is growing more and more foreign to generation after generation of Americans. Apart from the cultural ramifications, it is offered that there is a real national security concern.
It is all too easy for those ignorant of military service, either because they did not serve or their children do not serve, to advocate sending our military into harm's way. Such advocates do not, as the saying goes, have any skin in the game. They will gladly, even blithely speak of sending the sons and daughters of others overseas to take on our foes. And so the cycle perpetuates itself.
Fewer and fewer Americans serving in a military more and more often sent into harm's way by those more ignorant of and more distanced from the armed forces.
This is not a good situation for our nation.
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