Today’s War on Terror has cost the U.S. government an estimated three trillion dollars. People ask, “Where does all this money come from?” This answer is simple, tax dollars. Today’s economy is so far advanced that we can collect money from the people, and contribute most of it towards the war. However, the majority of people don’t pay much support to the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, this concept of people not caring for the war has affected the U.S. military’s morale. According to a member of the US Marine Corps “America is not at war; The Marine Corps is at war; America is at the mall.” This quote has become infamous among the military and is supported by many U.S. citizens. Possible reasons for this quote may be due to the ignorant attitude possessed by many Americans. They might buy a bumper sticker saying “support our troops” but that’s about it. Instead, they’re too busy going to the mall, acting as if there was no war going on. During WWII, people were rationing everything, first from tires, to automobiles, to food, all the way to clothing. It has come to my attention that Americans do not contribute support to the War on Terror because they are not required to sacrifice anything. College degrees are becoming more recommended and required in order to apply for high paying jobs. Despite the losses and victories of wars the U.S. has overcome, people are confused about the purpose of war. What new era of warfare has the U.S. come upon?
The American population becomes less and less supportive with each war they face. I believe that many do not care about the war, because they do not have to sacrifice anything. During WWII, people were buying war bonds, which were established ever since the Civil War, which were used for contributing money as support towards the war. Teenage boys at the age of seventeen and eighteen, just out of high school, were forced to be drafted into the U.S. army during WWII. Before they knew it, there were 16.3 million men and women serving for the nation’s military. Today, there is an estimated 2.5 million men and women working for the nation’s military. It’s easy to say that modern day nations are able to provide more than they were able to six decades ago. That’s how easy life has become for Americans today, they simply have too much money.
In addition to a substantial amount of money America has, high paying jobs in the U.S. are scarce. They used to say that you could get a job without a college degree. However, in today’s society, people need a college degree in order to get a good job to pay for their basic needs. Sure the business of fast food and cheap industry are becoming more popular where one does not a college degree, but the jobs provided by these businesses do not accommodate the basic need of a family. Before WWI and WWII, many people were unemployed, having no money to support themselves. However, with the beginning of WWI and WWII, factories required many workers, bringing thousands, even millions of jobs for people. During this time period, many jobs were filled, bringing upraise of morale to the people of the U.S. What about now? In the year of 2010, factories don’t need many workers; they don’t require thousands of people to complete their tasks. Instead, they require a dozen machines that can work nonstop without breaks and don’t require pay. Technology has become so advanced, that machines are taking the place of human labor in the workforce.
In addition to all these facts, I lastly believe that people are simply confused. Before the Korean War, Americans knew what we were fighting for. They wanted to defend their country and defeat the Axis Powers. They wanted to help out and support by volunteering as nurses or at the Red Cross. Men enlisted in the army to serve their country. After WWII however, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War and the War of Terror took place. During this time of warfare, interest in U.S military service seemed to have subsided. It is common nature for people to lose interest in something they are unfamiliar or confused about. In fact, I believe that during this time period, most American soldiers were ridiculed more than appreciated. War is a confusing thing, people are never too sure of the purpose. Soldiers just do what they are told, but does that make them responsible for all the problems and hatred towards America? Congress and high ranking officials should be blamed instead. They have not experienced a single day of warfare.
Overall, I believe new beginnings mean different things to different people. To some, it means moving to a new high school. To others, it means starting a new job. For soldiers, it means starting their whole life over. After soldiers return from war, their whole life is different. Maybe they can’t get a job, or can’t forget what they have been through. Perhaps they can’t forget the fact that they are forgotten patriots. What has happened to America? Why have we become something that we are not? I believe that Americans do not contribute support to the War on Terror because they are not required to sacrifice anything, jobs are not affected by warfare, and people are confused about the purpose of the war. Until the time comes that Americans directly suffer the consequences of such previous wars, the United States’ Armed Forces will not receive the support they deserve.
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