Pull at the Oars, my Countrymen!
If it be destiny that this weather-beaten ship of thy country shall be saved from drowning, it is destiny withal that she be aided and defended. If thou wilt attain to the haven thou must ply the oars, and hoist they sails and not idly expect wind at will from heaven. — Justus Lipsius, On Constancy
Recently, I was asked how the military service of recent combat veterans could be seen as positive. In the realm of global politics, the Long War was a costly failure. It was a war that cost the lives of over 11,000 U.S. Service Members. The rapid collapse of Afghanistan made many veterans question the meaning of their experiences and sacrifices. In the public eye, the military has lost the faith of the American people. Recent surveys have reported less than half of the Nation has trust in the U.S. Armed Forces. On an individual level, combat veterans carried home physical and mental wounds from the battlefield. Upon returning home, through lack of appropriate support, many veterans witnessed their families crumble in divorce. The painful experience of separation from children became all too common. For many, addiction followed their service. Veterans tried to numb themselves through drugs or alcohol. Thousands of Long War Veterans are homeless. Reports of veteran suicide seem never ending. In this wreckage, it may be hard to see any positives for the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.
The answer to this question is not likely found in externals. While the end may have resulted in greater harm and suffering, this does not mean the efforts of those involve were in vain. The difference between a veteran and the average citizen, is the veteran accepted the full duty of their citizenship. Their rights, while “God given,” were earned on the battlefield and not bestowed through the efforts of others. Regardless of the reason these individuals came to military service, these men and women accepted the hardships of maintaining the defense of their nation.
Many may say that the Republic is dying as it seems every year we are less free and less united. That now the patriot has difficulty being accepted within his own country. With all the criticism towards our nation, at least I can say I manned the oars. Just as I accept that we are not governed by angels, I know my Nation has acted often in error. But these errors are not enough to abandon the spirit of our Nation. Many may criticize me for my belief in America. And in many ways, I know the Nation that I volunteered to defend died a century before my birth. But the spirit of America is worth defending. For all those that chose not to serve, I ask, “what did you do with the freedoms that were bought by the sacrifices of others?” How easy it is to point at a veteran of an unpopular war and name him a failure while those pointing fingers did little to fulfill their duties as citizens.
Less than 3/4s of citizens eligible to vote are even registered; Less than 70% of those will participate in Presidential elections. Less than 50% cast ballots in the 2022 elections. In local elections, the participation rate often drops below 25%. While the veteran may have difficulty finding meaning in their service, at least they can say they fulfilled their duty to the Nation. Why should a veteran ever hang their head, when the majority of citizens won’t even go through the minuscule difficulty of participating in their local government?
I have no control over the opinions of others. I cannot say if my sons will view my service with pride in the coming years or resent me for being an absent father. However, I can say I find no shame or sorrow in my service to this Nation.
I have great faith in the United States. Its greatness is found through voluntary service to one’s community and not through force. I will not seek to force others to serve in the military or even participate in government. However, if my service encourages even a single individual to accept the duties of citizenship, I will recount my sacrifices as a great success.
I am not a utopian. Even in my greatest dreams I would never imagine a Republic that lived in perfect harmony. There will always be men and women that choose to live a life without virtue. And even those that seek to live honorably often fail to live up to the task. With great freedom come abundant conflicts of ideas. But I hope one day we might reclaim the American spirit that drove men and women to live a life of virtue and service to their communities. One day we might come to see the differences of opinion that drive us to argue are themselves a thing of beauty if the benefit of the community remains the end goal.
It would not take much to improve our country and this world. It would only take a few more to man the oars. So, while many may say our country is drowning, I will continue to row. Come join me and strain the back to bring our Nation into safe haven. It may not be a destination we can reach within our lifetime, and we may see our Nation sink further as we go. But let our actions set the example for others to follow. Let us at least give our children and grandchildren a chance to enjoy the freedoms earned by American patriots.
For all the veterans that struggle to find meaning in their service, I beg you to recognize the service that you have rendered to your nation. Regardless of the end result, we few, we happy few, bore the full duties of citizenship and carried the weight of our nation. It is true that many of us have fallen from grace since our service. We may have witnessed the destructions of our families. And even if you have fallen, it is never too late to stand again on your feet. It is the sad fate of humanity that sometime men only learn what it means to be good by being bad. No matter how far you have fallen, you have a choice to redeem yourself. You have the option to reclaim the honor that was lost if you have the will.
Today, I challenge my countrymen, one and all, to pull hard upon the oars. No one is coming to save us; we must save ourselves. Be known for your works of virtue. Be involved in your communities. Use the freedom that was so dearly purchased. Do for others without being asked. I doubt we would ever see the entire nation pulling or even the majority. But a better world, nation, and community only requires a few more hands upon the oars. Let us inspire each other to continue to row. And together we can pull our Republic into a safe haven.
The views presented are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Department of Defense or its components.
