Americans are at war, but America doesn't seem to care. Let me be clear: I don't mean that other Americans don't care about our current wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the troops serving there; I mean that America as a society would rather talk about reality TV or what President Obama likes on his hamburger.
Major media outlets focus on these trivial happenings, partly because they're entertaining and partly because they aren't downers. War and death are not entertaining. But it's a downer when we get reports of Americans dying. When we hear or read that Americans continue to die overseas, it's difficult to digest, so it's only mentioned briefly, by stating the soldier's name, rank, and where he or she was from. We should know more and we should want to know more. We should realize the awful realities of war, and understand and honor the sacrifices soldiers and their families make every day.
We should know more about them personally. We should want to know why and how they died, not because we're grotesque or sadistic, but because we're engaged and concerned and contemplative and supportive.
Americans serving in the Armed Forces deserve our respect and admiration. Part of showing respect is staying engaged in the critical issues surrounding the war(s) and how service members and their families and communities at home are affected by them. This is where America, myself included, can and must improve.
Why did I write this without really making a point? An article in today's Washington Post online gives us an honest snapshot of the affects of war. It's the type of article I should read more often.
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