Akkam’s Razor

And I had no comment.  This post, which I take as a better-than-thou partisan swipe (with no evidence to substantiate that), made me grit my teeth and think about why I have nothing to say about Veterans' Day…

I come from a history of service.  We are only American's by dint of two generations.  The brothers of my grandmother on my mothers side all served during World War II, in the Army or Marines.  My father served in the Army in Okinawa at the very beginning of Vietnam, and my father-in-law served in the Army in Germany at the twilight of Vietnam.  I have always followed military history, and especially military technology.  And I had (and have) no intention of serving unless there was a draft.

It's unfortunate that Veterans' Day is so close to Election Day.  I think that's my main reason for not romanticisng the sacrifices of those who serve.  I also have to make some for of philosophical distinction between the extreme sacrifices men (and women) make when they are drafted as opposed to those of a volunteer army.  It appears, on the surface, that one cannot "support the troops" and be "against the war" in this political climate, so I say nothing.

Politicising military service seems as dangerous and ill-advised as doing the same with religion - it cheapens both.  Also, military service certainly gets viewed through the partisan filter too, doesn't it?  Who does one view military service, if the candidates are John Kerry and John McCain?  Is McCain the better candidate for becomming a POW and surviving?  Or is Kerry the better candidate for opposing Vietnam after returning.  Although the right will fetishize McCains service, remember how they mocked Kerry's purple hearts with bandaids?

As far as I'm concerned, military service isn't a prerequisite for public service.  I have known some astounding leaders with and without military experience.  And that leadership comes from within, and not by virtue of wearing the uniform.  In these times, my logic for picking a veteran who served during wartime is that he or she will be best equipped to decide if the sacrifice of war is worth it, and best informed as to plan, deploy, and succeed.