[If you're reading this post in a feed reader or via email, you might need to click through to watch it.]
It’s Veteran’s Day, so I wanted to do something a little different. In today’s video post, I talk a bit about Veteran’s Day and what I did overseas. And I botched the ending again – this is what happens when you get out of your video blogging groove. :p
Charlie, thanks for this. Like JoVE in Canada, in the UK we call November 11th "Remembrance Day", and we also have Remembrance services on the nearest Sunday -- so it was interesting to get an idea of the cross-atlantic equivalent. Our Remembrance day has a strong association with the two World Wars, but it's also an occasion to remember those currently or recently serving.
For me, it's particularly a chance to remember my late grandad, who was in the Navy during WWII, and who died six years ago.
I wanted to add though, because I'm not sure I've ever told you this: you've done a lot to change my idea of what an officer looks like. I'm not sure I'd go as far as calling myself a pacifist, but in the past, I've tended to have a bit of a knee-jerk reaction against the military. Knowing you has done a lot to make me realise that philosophers can be soldiers, and that we've got decent, courageous and big-hearted people to thank for doing what needs to be done in the world.
I'm twenty-four, and I can't imagine taking on the responsibilites you talk about here. Thank you for doing it, and thank you for being willing to speak about it.
.-= Ali Hale´s last blog ..It’s Okay to Accept a Little Help From Your Friends =-.
I wanted to add though, because I’m not sure I’ve ever told you this: you’ve done a lot to change my idea of what an officer looks like. I’m not sure I’d go as far as calling myself a pacifist, but in the past, I’ve tended to have a bit of a knee-jerk reaction against the military. Knowing you has done a lot to make me realise that philosophers can be soldiers, and that we’ve got decent, courageous and big-hearted people to thank for doing what needs to be done in the world.
This means a lot to me, Ali - thank you.
I'd also like to bring up that I'm not an anomaly; to be an officer, you have to have a college education. Many higher-ranking officers have graduate degrees and have done a lot of studies in military ethics, leadership, and world politics. In short, some of the brightest minds and biggest hearts of every generation become the very people leading our militaries.
If only people realized that the very people whose intelligence and characters they criticize have more education, training, and experience than they'll ever have.....(/soapbox)
I too had thought of a veteran as an old person, so thank you for educating me that that's not how it is. I also admire how you've brought the reality of being a veteran right up to date by posting this in the blogosphere!
Thanks! I happen to have a communication platform, so I feel it's important to talk about it since many veterans and soldiers don't. If we never see them and we never talk about them, how can we remember them?
I too grew up thinking of veterans as "the old guys in those hats." Now, even though I'm well aware of the inaccuracy of that characterization, it still blows my mind a bit when I run into my younger brothers' friends, home after serving overseas, and realize that they are veterans. Somehow, "veteran" was never a word I comprehended as being someone my age--let alone younger--though I'm consciously acutely aware of just how many veterans in that age bracket there are actually are.
Good video once again, Charlie. Good reminder about seeing the veterans there are, and not just the ones we might initially think of.
.-= Marissa´s last blog ..Monday Mashup #5: Three Choices I Make Each Day =-.
It gets me, too, when I see kids who are nineteen years old talk about their service. And I get pissed that they can't drink - they can defend our nation, but can't legally buy beer? WTF?
What's even worse is when you lose a "kid" that age, and all too often they're the ones you lose given their role in the organization. You can't afford to lose a leader with 19 years of experience, but it's hard to lose a kid that has fewer years alive than some have in the service.
good point about not thinking of veterans as younger people. Though in Canada, the focus of Remembrance Day is very much on WWI and WWII (the date is the day the armistice was signed at the end of WWI), which I think brings that focus back to those older veterans.
This year, I noticed more discussion of those currently serving in Afghanistan, though.
.-= JoVE´s last blog ..Is teaching pushing everything else out? =-.
Our holiday has the same background, so we all look at the old guys, too. What's also at play is the new nature of military service - with an "all volunteer army," I think many people that military service is less praiseworthy. After all, theyt chose to serve, whereas the old guys didn't.
At the same time, when most of us think about it, we think it's more courage to do things you didn't have to do.
Of course, our thoughts about warfare and warriors are really complex and confusing, so the fact that we hold what seems to be inconsistent beliefs about it is not at all surprising. And when I say "we," I mean me, too.
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