A Reluctant Veteran

Yet another Marine Corps birthday has arrived, 235 this year, and another Veterans' Day too.  When I look back at the last ten years, split between reserve and active time, it’s difficult for me to fathom the legacy that I am now a part of.  Volunteers have been filling the ranks for more years than this nation has been in existence.  Men and women have put their lives on the line time and again for each other, their families, and their country … regardless of how self-absorbed, oblivious and opinionated its citizens may be.

I heard an officer recently discussing the status of the nation and its armed conflicts abroad.  He was discussing the attitudes of the modern America citizen and he declared: “The nation may not be at war, but the Marines are.”  The more I ponder that statement the more I agree with him.  Very few people in this country are humble and selfless enough to comprehend the fact that sometimes action must be taken.  Disagreement is welcomed in this free land, but when your obstinacy and ego become divisive to the very fabric of the nation … then you need to shut the hell up or join the ranks and make a change.

Long passed are the days when a President could challenge this country: “Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country”.  The citizenry of this nation are so caught up in what they ‘deserve’, what infinitesimal ‘civil right’ has been violated and who they can sue for compensation, and how they can better their situation without working for it that it seems no one is willing to make a sacrifice for the greater good.

What’s even harder to deal with is that President Kennedy went on to challenge the other nations of this world: “Ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”  Between the squabbling and inaction, it seems no nation will do what needs to be done.  This is a time when America needs to be the decisive leader amongst her peers, but America’s leadership is petty, career-minded, and continually embarrassing her own military personnel – the ones responsible to do the hard deeds that need be done.  America has been crippled by those who were supposed to strengthen her.  She can no longer stand as she needs to, as this world needs her to.

So, it’s with a heavy heart that I celebrate this Veterans’ Day, a day to honor the men and women who have come before.  I feel as though the majority of leadership in this country, and the majority of the citizenry, is not worthy to share a nation with those who act as military member and civil servants (Police, EMS, Fire … not counsel members and other such haughty folk, actual heroes) .  There are those who love and support us, no matter what, and we the servants of Lady Liberty cannot thank them enough.  As for the rest of this nation … Your existence has become disgusting and pathetic, so get your act together, volunteer, participate, relocate, or shut up. 

Semper Fi, VANSO, & SAFA.

~ Ryan