Comments on: Skin in the Game II, Never Forget

By: Alissa

Alissa — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:41:00 +0000

speaking of “free riders,” apparently, after some youtube exposure, delta finally changed its policy onf charging military personnel $200 for each additional piece of luggage…

“According to a video shot on the plane by Staff Sergeants Fred Hilliker and Robert O’Hair and later posted on YouTube, the soldiers were authorized to check as many as four bags, free of charge. But on their flight from Baltimore to Atlanta, they were hit with a $200 fee per soldier for a fourth bag, with the group paying a total of $2,800.”

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2011/06/09/delta_changes_baggage_rules_for_military/

and i thought being charged $25/bag as a civilian was an outrage.

By: Michaelpcorey

Michaelpcorey — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 16:06:00 +0000

For me, the most interesting sociological issue is that a military class has emerged which is relatively small compared to our total population, and is disproportionately bearing the burdens and risks involved with serving the United States in the military. The impacts are especially impactful on them, their families, friends and local communities; and the secondary impacts on our society are much larger than most people imagine. I think that the ramifications of this will go on for decades. There have been very few times in U. S. history when periods of armed conflict have lasted as long as the current period; and when the same small group of people have been repeatedly sent back into harms way. The physical, emotional, social and economic strains are tremendous. One of the things that attracted my attention in the Marine memorial tattoos were the concerns about being forgotten, and I believe unappreciated. Most peoples lives go on in a normal fashion without ever considering the sacrifices these people are making. What’s more, while these Marines have their skins in the game figuratively and materially; questions can be raised about whether or not policy makers have their skins in the game; and whether or not the public at large has their skins in the game. Many of us are free riders when it comes to national defense issues. I don’t think that this is likely to change in the near term; and we as a society will have to live with the ongoing impacts caused by this decade of war. Are there ways to mitigate the issues? Perhaps. The first step is to recognize that issues exist.

By: Alissa

Alissa — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 23:05:00 +0000

It seems to me as though we only honor our military on national holidays, after victory, & from the grave; it’s easier not to think about those who serve. as a liberal, I hate the notion of war–the closest I’ve ever been to a gun was while getting a speeding ticket. During the Bush era, once my contemporaries began to serve, I felt uneasy around both vets and anyone in uniform. And it’s very hard to admit that; and it comes from my own ignorance. Our soldiers aren’t perpetrators; they follow orders, and their duty is to “stand on the wall” (to quote ‘A Few Good Men). On the front-lines, there are no politics. But after spending time in Kosovo (of all places) and witnessing the dynamics of a post-conflict society, my uneasiness around soldiers no longer exists. While many argue that they are two sides of the same-coin, so to speak (and I don’t disagree), I truly believe that “humanitarian intervention” is not always code for “imperialism” or democratic imposition.” But Iraq was different than Kosovo. And Libya, though more similar to Kosovo, is still different. Time and place matter. And perhaps the Srebrenica-guilt will plague this generation of policy makers for quite some time. I still don’t like to think about war, and I am guilty of “preferring to ignore the sacrifice.” But no matter what; for both “villains, victors and [victims]/survivors” (pace Atina Grossmann)–we must remember to remember. We must never forget the mere recognition of both our selves the the other.