Put War Deaths into Perspective

I can't believe this editorial. Please. Someone write into this paper.



Column - Sampsell - Put war deaths into perspective
Column - Sampsell - Put war deaths into perspective
Culpeper Star-Exponent
Wednesday, December 7, 2005


Put war deaths into perspective
While any fatality is tragic, that’s the price a free society pays

On Dec. 7, 1941, over 2,300 U.S. service members lost their lives in the early morning raid at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. For nearly two hours the Japanese relentlessly pummeled the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

The following day President Franklin D. Roosevelt described Dec. 7 as “a day that will live in infamy.”

On Dec. 8, 1941, the U.S. officially entered World War II by declaring war on Japan, effectively ending the isolationist stance the U.S. had previously adopted.

Sixty years later more than 3,000 Americans were killed in the worst terrorist act in U.S. history. These attacks share many commonalities like the element of surprise, the number of lives lost and the ensuing combat operations.

However, one clear difference is the way the American public handles conflict. What we categorize as “patriotic” today is considerably different from what it was in the 1940s.

...

In the 21st century, patriotism seems to have been replaced by the simple question “What’s in it for me?” After all, why should I go fight for freedom when I’m sure someone else will step up and answer the call?

I’ve also noticed that everyone was real quick to hold prayer vigils and throw the “God Bless America” bumper stickers on their cars after 9/11.

The nation truly appeared to be returning to faith. Or were we just scared to death? Either way, within a year it seemed as though the American flags and bumper stickers were no more than a passing fad, and Americans were off pursuing the next great trend.

Nowadays it’s all about getting the most out of everything with the least amount of effort. Iraq and Afghanistan are great examples. After the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, everyone was fired up and ready for war.

“Let’s go get the bad guys!”
Our president heard the cries of the people and took action. Then the fear of commitment set in. We keep hearing about how we’ve been there too long and how soldiers are dying.

It’s war! People die in wars. We knew that when we committed to combat operations.

So let’s see if I understand correctly: Our government had warnings about terrorist intentions in this country and did nothing about it, so our government was wrong.

We had warnings and intelligence about things taking place in other countries, the government takes action by pursing the enemy on their turf, and they’re wrong for doing so.

We had warnings and intelligence about more possible acts in this country, the government informed the people and put the nation at a higher terrorism threat level.

,,,

Let’s not forget that in about an hour’s time we lost over 3,000 civilians right here in our back yard. Between our operations in Afghanistan and Iraq over the past three years, we are just over 2,200 service members lost; still not as many as were lost in a two-hour period at Pearl Harbor.

Not that any loss of life is less significant than another, but if we’re going to lose Americans, I think we should be more willing to accept the losses of those who are paid defenders of freedom as opposed to the general civilian population.

The U.S. does not draft people into the military. Our military is a 100 percent volunteer service. When individuals enlist in the armed services, they sign a contract that clearly states they may be placed in harm’s way.

They don’t call it the “armed” services for nothing. Sometimes you have to carry a gun. Sometimes people will shoot at you and, unfortunately, sometimes people die.

Culpeper resident Jeff Sampsell is an independent columnist and former noncommissioned officer with the U.S. Army. His column appears each Wednesday.

This story can be found at: http://www.starexponent.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CSE%2FMGArticle%2FCSE_MGArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128768575880&path=!editorials

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not being taken care of adequately, my niece cant leave her residence as of the time he left for Iraq or she loses her medical benefits.. and the house has black mold. she wanted to stay with her family in another state, she doesn't have a car and lives in the country.. it is a real mess

No mention of oil? Our military should not be used to invade countries who have oil. Notice no mention of how many Iraqi's of Afghani's we have slaughtered, nor the damage done to the country's infrastructure, culture, and way of life, in our quest for control of the purse. Anyone who tries in anyway to justify this war is either ignorant or complicit.

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unhappycamper
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