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December 16, 2005
Another old-timer joins the military
Today's Wall St Journal opinion page has a column by an ex-staffer who left to become a Marine officer. He graduates tomorrow and in his column writes about many of the same things that I felt before joining the Army.
When you live abroad long enough, you come to understand that governments that behave this way are not the exception, but the rule. They feel alien to us, but from the viewpoint of the world's population, we are the aliens, not them. That makes you think about protecting your country no matter who you are or what you're doing. What impresses you most, when you don't have them day to day, are the institutions that distinguish the U.S.: the separation of powers, a free press, the right to vote, and a culture that values civic duty and service, to name but a few.
I'm not an uncritical, rah-rah American. Living abroad has sharpened my view of what's wrong with my country, too. It's obvious that we need to reinvent ourselves in various ways, but we should also be allowed to do it from within, not according to someone else's dictates.
Read the whole thing if you have time.
Posted by TJ at December 16, 2005 05:07 PM
Comments
That's a great article ~ and a journalist too!
We're so very grateful that there are people who feel as you do and then follow through.
Posted by: yankeemom![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.basictrainingblog.com/weblog/nav-commenters.gif)
at December 16, 2005 05:46 PM
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