This is why I support a military draft for men and women. I suspect if we had one today, we'd also have a vigorous peace movement calling for us to abandon the failed wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the failed policy of backing local corruption. In our idealism, we so often believe the highly unlikely will happen just because we're the good guys. We learn no lessons from history, despite our rhetoric.
But these failed wars barely exist in the consciousness of our citizens today. No one has to pay any price for them -- except, of course, military families, who always pay the higher cost and suffer the most. It's not right. If we're going to fight these damn wars, let everybody pay the cost. Get the civilians back into the mix. Renew the draft.
Interest in photographing return of war dead to U.S. wanes - CNN.com:
"'The nation has been at war for a long time, and these troops are paying the ultimate price, and much of the nation does not see that we are still at war,' she said.
That point is not lost on John Ellsworth who lost his son, Justin, in November 2004 in Iraq, and is president of Military Families United. He says the national coverage is gone and it's left to local coverage.
'During the Vietnam War, the media showed the flag-draped coffins every night and listed the names of those killed. You don't see that happening today,' Ellsworth said."
That point is not lost on John Ellsworth who lost his son, Justin, in November 2004 in Iraq, and is president of Military Families United. He says the national coverage is gone and it's left to local coverage.
'During the Vietnam War, the media showed the flag-draped coffins every night and listed the names of those killed. You don't see that happening today,' Ellsworth said."
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