A Memorial Day Perspective

I've often written that the reason press coverage of war and the military is so critical is that, the farther out we get from the draft, the fewer Americans have served or are close to someone who has.

Take a look at these numbers from an article in today's Times.

Nationally, the number of veterans has been declining every year since 1980. As the overall population rises, the share of veterans has shrunk even more starkly, from a 1970 peak of about 19 percent of Americans 17 and older to 12.7 percent of people 18 and older - the smallest proportion since before the United States entered World War II.

About one-third of the country's veterans served only during peacetime, including a majority of those who are now in their early 40's or their 60's. About 6 percent of all veterans are women.

The median age of all veterans is 57, with most who were in World War II past their mid-70's. (Nearly half of the World War II veterans describe themselves as disabled in some way.) The median age of Korean War veterans is 70; for Vietnam-era veterans it is 53.

Among veterans of World War II - the second-largest combat-era group, after Vietnam veterans - an average of 1,200 die each day.

Now, of course, you can draw the lesson you want from numbers like those, and one of the ways a reporter can push (gently or not so gently) a piece in a particular direction, is through the sources or experts he or she chooses to call and chooses to quote.

In this piece, one source is quoted about the demographics of New York City veterans, totally vanilla. As to the implications of a smaller percentage of the population having served, the reporter calls on only one source.

You can make your own judgement about what that does to the piece:

"With the passing of every veteran," said Andrew Carroll, whose latest anthology of soldiers' letters is titled "Behind the Lines," "we lose one more voice to remind us of the harsh realities of warfare and the sacrifices demanded of those who serve, as well as of their loved ones on the home front."

"Many expressed to me a fear that war - and not any specific conflict, but warfare itself - was increasingly being romanticized in the popular culture, particularly with video games, movies, television shows and fashion (dog tags, camouflage gear, etc., are still all the rage)," Mr. Carroll said in an e-mail message.

Once again I'm mystified as to why the print edition would be the longer one, given that cyber is infinite, but here's the quote that's missing:

"Glamorizing war is not only an inaccurate depiction of the reality of combat, it diminishes the sacrifices of those who serve. If war is fun and exciting, it isn't much of a sacrifice."

Maybe it's me, but I find statements like that somewhat patronizing.

Be that as it may, I think it says more about the reporter's point of view than about Mr. Carroll's.

Comments

[Aakash]

There is a great deal of frustration from our veteran community about the way things have been going in recent years, like with regard to our government's foreign policies; this is an important aspect of these issues, which needs to be discussed more.

There was a poignant story, by Alfred A. Hambidge, Jr., that was published around the time of the start of "Operation Iraqi Freedom." It was posted several places on the web, including here... I think it is especially pertinent, now that the Colonel has sadly passed away.

[From:James& Elizabeth]

From:James& Elizabeth.
Refugee Camp,Yamussoukro,
Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire.
Email:jamesguei@walla.com

Dear Respectful ,

Permit me to inform you our desire of going into business relationship with you. I know you might be surprised on recieving this mail from us due to we have not met before.

By brief introduction , I am James and Elizabeth my younger sister. We are native of bouake district in republic of Cote d'Ivoire. We are the children of late Chief and Mrs. Kevin Guei, who was assasinated by the rebels in our home town during the recent political crises of 19th sept. 2003. Untill the death of our parents, they were very wealthy Cocoa/cafe farmers & exporter based in abidjan the capital city of coted'ivoire.

Before their death in a private specialist hospital, my father called me on his bed side and secretly confided to me the sum of US$12.5 million dollars which he deposited in one of the banks in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire for onwardly transfer abroad for investment on his proposed cocoa processing company through an assistance of a foreign partner.

My father also told me his intension to invest part of the money in collaboration with oil companies in countries like Libya, America or Europe, but unfortunately he died the way he did without accomplishing his objective as a result of the rebels attack.

Having know that he will not survive from the injuries he sustained as a result of the wounds and pains inflinched on him by the rebels, then advised me to quickly and hurriedly go into his personal underground safe in our family villa and take the documents covering the deposit in
the bank and look for a true and trustworthy foreigner assist us as partner to front to the bank as our late parents partner abroad for immediate transfer of the money for investment in any lucrative business of our chioce for our future welfare.

Upon the instruction and advice by my father before he finally died, I therefore request your assistance to help us for onward transfer of the money to your country for investment partnership with you in any lucrative business in your country.

We have agreed to give you 20% of the total sum immediately the transfer is made, while 2.5% also will be set aside to cover all the expenses you might incure on the process.

Upon your acceptance to our proposal, kindly get back to me through the above email address so that we can discuss further process on the ways to achieve this golden success together.

Note, we are still in the refugee camp Yamussoukro, Cote d'Ivoire, We need your urgent attention to this mail because we want to leave here for a better future with you abroad, as the rebels had killed our parent and also have taken over my home town as their operational territory, we look forward to you to help us with most urgency and honesty.

Expecting your reply soon.
Best Regard and God Bless you.
James & sister
PLEASE reply us at Email:jamesguei@walla.com