While being inundated by 9/11 retrospectives, something that Tom Brokaw said keeps echoing -"Less than 1% of the population of the United States has born the burden of 10 years of 2 wars"
Less than 1%. What is that? And what does it say about us? About the 'less than 1% and about the rest of the country?
What does it mean for the future?
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said, “Warfare has become something for other people to do,” and, “With each passing decade fewer and fewer Americans know someone with military experience in their family or social circle.”
"Something for other people to do"
There will be no next "Greatest Generation", that's something for Other people to do. There is no "for the good of the country", that's something for Other people to do.
Those who have died doing their duty and following their orders, that's something for Other people to do.
The families that stayed glued to the news, afraid of seeing friends or loved ones when these 2 wars are covered, that's something for Other people to do.
The Moms and Dads who can only see their children by Skype and try to protect them from these wars, while holding on to that connection just a little longer, that's for Other people to do.
Those who come back, shattered in body or soul, to try and reclaim their lives and the lives of their families, that's for Other people to do.
Less than 1%
Easy to forget- when the photo-ops are over.
Easy to forget- when budgets are tight.
Easy to forget- when what the 99% asked of them makes that 99% uncomfortable.
Less than1%
It's hard for less than 1% to make their voices heard. It's hard to make your country remember.
Maybe it's time to make the less than 1% harder to forget.