hi everybody I arrived in southern Afghanistan in the
I arrived in southern Afghanistan in the
I arrived in southern Afghanistan in the fall of 2001 to a place called Camp
fall of 2001 to a place called Camp
fall of 2001 to a place called Camp Rhino a former hunting lodge used by
Rhino a former hunting lodge used by
Rhino a former hunting lodge used by Osama bin Laden was a big brown
Osama bin Laden was a big brown
Osama bin Laden was a big brown structure in the middle of the big brown
structure in the middle of the big brown
structure in the middle of the big brown Afghan desert and to me I felt like I
Afghan desert and to me I felt like I
Afghan desert and to me I felt like I was in the middle of nowhere and I
was in the middle of nowhere and I
was in the middle of nowhere and I really was we arrived with a number of
really was we arrived with a number of
really was we arrived with a number of other reporters on a military prop plane
other reporters on a military prop plane
other reporters on a military prop plane under cover of darkness to avoid the
under cover of darkness to avoid the
under cover of darkness to avoid the detection by al Qaeda or the Taliban I
detection by al Qaeda or the Taliban I
detection by al Qaeda or the Taliban I learned later this was taken as a
learned later this was taken as a
learned later this was taken as a precaution to minimize the chances that
precaution to minimize the chances that
precaution to minimize the chances that the plane might have been shot down when
the plane might have been shot down when
the plane might have been shot down when we landed we were herded off the plane
we landed we were herded off the plane
we landed we were herded off the plane into utter darkness the only light the
into utter darkness the only light the
into utter darkness the only light the ambient light from the moon and the
ambient light from the moon and the
ambient light from the moon and the stars of the big beautiful Afghan sky
stars of the big beautiful Afghan sky
stars of the big beautiful Afghan sky but the wash from the propellers and the
but the wash from the propellers and the
but the wash from the propellers and the sand and the dirt and the noise and the
sand and the dirt and the noise and the
sand and the dirt and the noise and the craziness created for me in a sense of
craziness created for me in a sense of
craziness created for me in a sense of total chaos and danger we were not in
total chaos and danger we were not in
total chaos and danger we were not in Kansas anymore this is my welcome to
Kansas anymore this is my welcome to
Kansas anymore this is my welcome to Afghanistan was in many ways my
Afghanistan was in many ways my
Afghanistan was in many ways my introduction to being a journalist
introduction to being a journalist
introduction to being a journalist covering the military my curiosity Oh as
covering the military my curiosity Oh as
covering the military my curiosity Oh as a journalist covering the military did
a journalist covering the military did
a journalist covering the military did not really start out that way I’m a
not really start out that way I’m a
not really start out that way I’m a Corning boy I did not grow up exposed to
Corning boy I did not grow up exposed to
Corning boy I did not grow up exposed to that many aspects of military culture
that many aspects of military culture
that many aspects of military culture pomp and circumstance deployments to war
pomp and circumstance deployments to war
pomp and circumstance deployments to war zones boots and short haircuts in fact
zones boots and short haircuts in fact
zones boots and short haircuts in fact the peculiarities of military culture
the peculiarities of military culture
the peculiarities of military culture were lost on me I would learn later that
were lost on me I would learn later that
were lost on me I would learn later that Marines avoid eating a certain kind of
Marines avoid eating a certain kind of
Marines avoid eating a certain kind of hard candy because they’re convinced it
hard candy because they’re convinced it
hard candy because they’re convinced it will bring them bad luck and they could
will bring them bad luck and they could
will bring them bad luck and they could literally be killed on a mission so they
literally be killed on a mission so they
literally be killed on a mission so they don’t do it when I was a kid I wanted to
don’t do it when I was a kid I wanted to
don’t do it when I was a kid I wanted to be a foreign correspondent I wanted to
be a foreign correspondent I wanted to
be a foreign correspondent I wanted to travel the world work for a big
travel the world work for a big
travel the world work for a big newspaper and tell stories about a
newspaper and tell stories about a
newspaper and tell stories about a foreign culture and explain that foreign
foreign culture and explain that foreign
foreign culture and explain that foreign culture to folks at home my life didn’t
culture to folks at home my life didn’t
culture to folks at home my life didn’t quite work out that way I found myself
quite work out that way I found myself
quite work out that way I found myself kind of mid career as a journalist
kind of mid career as a journalist
kind of mid career as a journalist working for a military newspaper nobody
working for a military newspaper nobody
working for a military newspaper nobody had ever heard of writing about
had ever heard of writing about
had ever heard of writing about something I really didn’t care about but
something I really didn’t care about but
something I really didn’t care about but 9/11 happened the world got scarier but
9/11 happened the world got scarier but
9/11 happened the world got scarier but for me it got a lot bigger I suddenly
for me it got a lot bigger I suddenly
for me it got a lot bigger I suddenly was going to places like Afghanistan and
was going to places like Afghanistan and
was going to places like Afghanistan and Iraq and North Africa to cover military
Iraq and North Africa to cover military
Iraq and North Africa to cover military operations and I started to have a
operations and I started to have a
operations and I started to have a better understanding for
better understanding for
better understanding for what the military was and what it was
what the military was and what it was
what the military was and what it was about and I realized that that foreign
about and I realized that that foreign
about and I realized that that foreign culture I was hoping to cover as a
culture I was hoping to cover as a
culture I was hoping to cover as a correspondent for far away was in many
correspondent for far away was in many
correspondent for far away was in many ways right here at home
ways right here at home
ways right here at home American military military culture is as
American military military culture is as
American military military culture is as foreign to most Americans as any other
now as a military journalist I’m not a
now as a military journalist I’m not a cheerleader for the military I’m not a
cheerleader for the military I’m not a
cheerleader for the military I’m not a defender of the military I do see myself
defender of the military I do see myself
defender of the military I do see myself sometimes as an explainer of the
sometimes as an explainer of the
sometimes as an explainer of the military in my job so I wanted to talk
military in my job so I wanted to talk
military in my job so I wanted to talk about today briefly was my experience as
about today briefly was my experience as
about today briefly was my experience as a journalist covering the military and
a journalist covering the military and
a journalist covering the military and about what I see is a bit of a divide
about what I see is a bit of a divide
about what I see is a bit of a divide between the nation and that military
between the nation and that military
between the nation and that military nation is war weary and less and less
nation is war weary and less and less
nation is war weary and less and less interested in foreign affairs and thus
interested in foreign affairs and thus
interested in foreign affairs and thus not as interested in what the military
not as interested in what the military
not as interested in what the military does is and represents military is
does is and represents military is
does is and represents military is increasingly drawn in from itself even
increasingly drawn in from itself even
increasingly drawn in from itself even after all these years of war also want
after all these years of war also want
after all these years of war also want to just kind of touch on this idea that
to just kind of touch on this idea that
to just kind of touch on this idea that we build walls around ourselves to kind
we build walls around ourselves to kind
we build walls around ourselves to kind of reinforce the ideas that we’re
of reinforce the ideas that we’re
of reinforce the ideas that we’re familiar with and kind of keep out those
familiar with and kind of keep out those
familiar with and kind of keep out those things that were not and my kind of
things that were not and my kind of
things that were not and my kind of chief metaphor for the day is like like
chief metaphor for the day is like like
chief metaphor for the day is like like a military base that has high walls and
a military base that has high walls and
a military base that has high walls and fences and gates kind of all Americans
fences and gates kind of all Americans
fences and gates kind of all Americans keep things in that we’re comfortable
keep things in that we’re comfortable
keep things in that we’re comfortable with and keep the scary things out so a
with and keep the scary things out so a
with and keep the scary things out so a couple of quick anecdotes about my
couple of quick anecdotes about my
couple of quick anecdotes about my experiences as a reporter as I tell you
experiences as a reporter as I tell you
experiences as a reporter as I tell you we got through Afghanistan we were later
we got through Afghanistan we were later
we got through Afghanistan we were later taken to a place in southern Afghanistan
taken to a place in southern Afghanistan
taken to a place in southern Afghanistan called Kandahar and was a civilian
called Kandahar and was a civilian
called Kandahar and was a civilian Airport kind of a bizarre place
Airport kind of a bizarre place
Airport kind of a bizarre place baby-blue civilian airport designed by
baby-blue civilian airport designed by
baby-blue civilian airport designed by the Russians looked like something out
the Russians looked like something out
the Russians looked like something out of the Jetsons these big
of the Jetsons these big
of the Jetsons these big floor-to-ceiling windows and there were
floor-to-ceiling windows and there were
floor-to-ceiling windows and there were it was essentially a base of operations
it was essentially a base of operations
it was essentially a base of operations for all US military operations there you
for all US military operations there you
for all US military operations there you know days after the 9/11 attacks there
know days after the 9/11 attacks there
know days after the 9/11 attacks there were some dangers that lurked on and
were some dangers that lurked on and
were some dangers that lurked on and around the base to include Russian mines
around the base to include Russian mines
around the base to include Russian mines they had been placed all around I
they had been placed all around I
they had been placed all around I remember one day walking along with a
remember one day walking along with a
remember one day walking along with a military officer who was schooling me
military officer who was schooling me
military officer who was schooling me and how to you know avoid these dangers
and how to you know avoid these dangers
and how to you know avoid these dangers and he was explaining to me about the
and he was explaining to me about the
and he was explaining to me about the mines and I said as we walked walked
mines and I said as we walked walked
mines and I said as we walked walked along the runway like how do we know
along the runway like how do we know
along the runway like how do we know that there’s not a bomb right here
that there’s not a bomb right here
that there’s not a bomb right here beneath our feet and he said we don’t I
beneath our feet and he said we don’t I
beneath our feet and he said we don’t I realized at a minute that we were facing
realized at a minute that we were facing
realized at a minute that we were facing just as fraction of the kinds of dangers
just as fraction of the kinds of dangers
just as fraction of the kinds of dangers that folks who we pay to put on the
that folks who we pay to put on the
that folks who we pay to put on the uniform and go confront those kinds of
uniform and go confront those kinds of
uniform and go confront those kinds of dangers every day few years later I was
dangers every day few years later I was
dangers every day few years later I was embedded in Iraq with Marines in 2004 at
embedded in Iraq with Marines in 2004 at
embedded in Iraq with Marines in 2004 at the time the strategy the military
the time the strategy the military
the time the strategy the military strategy was to win the hearts and minds
strategy was to win the hearts and minds
strategy was to win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people thus creating
of the Iraqi people thus creating
of the Iraqi people thus creating security and stability on the ground
security and stability on the ground
security and stability on the ground there and after a patrol I was on one
there and after a patrol I was on one
there and after a patrol I was on one day I wanted to go talk to a marine
day I wanted to go talk to a marine
day I wanted to go talk to a marine lance corporal about what he thought
lance corporal about what he thought
lance corporal about what he thought about this now a Marine Lance Corporal
about this now a Marine Lance Corporal
about this now a Marine Lance Corporal as you may know is a junior enlisted
as you may know is a junior enlisted
as you may know is a junior enlisted marine in my view one of the most
marine in my view one of the most
marine in my view one of the most colorful of the junior enlisted rank
colorful of the junior enlisted rank
colorful of the junior enlisted rank structure its upon their shoulders that
structure its upon their shoulders that
structure its upon their shoulders that almost anything the military does rests
almost anything the military does rests
almost anything the military does rests and they always have kind of an
and they always have kind of an
and they always have kind of an interesting perspective colorful
interesting perspective colorful
interesting perspective colorful perspective about the world in their
perspective about the world in their
perspective about the world in their role in it so I went up to this guy and
role in it so I went up to this guy and
role in it so I went up to this guy and I said well what do you think about
I said well what do you think about
I said well what do you think about winning the hearts and minds of the
winning the hearts and minds of the
winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people and he looked at me and he
Iraqi people and he looked at me and he
Iraqi people and he looked at me and he smiled he patted his rifle and he said
smiled he patted his rifle and he said
smiled he patted his rifle and he said sir – in the heart one in the mind and I
sir – in the heart one in the mind and I
sir – in the heart one in the mind and I get to go home I said buddy you just
get to go home I said buddy you just
get to go home I said buddy you just want to quote contest today and I jotted
want to quote contest today and I jotted
want to quote contest today and I jotted down what he said for my story when I
down what he said for my story when I
down what he said for my story when I tell that story to a military audience I
tell that story to a military audience I
tell that story to a military audience I often get kind of knowing laughs because
often get kind of knowing laughs because
often get kind of knowing laughs because they recognized the kind of unfiltered
they recognized the kind of unfiltered
they recognized the kind of unfiltered candor of a Marine Lance Corporal
candor of a Marine Lance Corporal
candor of a Marine Lance Corporal talking about his job when I talk when I
talking about his job when I talk when I
talking about his job when I talk when I tell that story to some civilian
tell that story to some civilian
tell that story to some civilian audiences I get gasps and groans because
audiences I get gasps and groans because
audiences I get gasps and groans because it reinforces to some what they think
it reinforces to some what they think
it reinforces to some what they think they know about the military is coming
they know about the military is coming
they know about the military is coming unthinking killing machine my view is
unthinking killing machine my view is
unthinking killing machine my view is that the truth is somewhere in the
that the truth is somewhere in the
that the truth is somewhere in the nuanced middle that that marine probably
nuanced middle that that marine probably
nuanced middle that that marine probably lost buddies on the battlefield he knows
lost buddies on the battlefield he knows
lost buddies on the battlefield he knows there’s bad guys out to try to kill him
there’s bad guys out to try to kill him
there’s bad guys out to try to kill him and his friends any everyday but he also
and his friends any everyday but he also
and his friends any everyday but he also knows how to exhibit the discipline he
knows how to exhibit the discipline he
knows how to exhibit the discipline he needs to pick up the rifle or not pick
needs to pick up the rifle or not pick
needs to pick up the rifle or not pick it up and not shoot it completely
it up and not shoot it completely
it up and not shoot it completely different anecdote a few years ago I
different anecdote a few years ago I
different anecdote a few years ago I wrote about a secret Pentagon plan to
wrote about a secret Pentagon plan to
wrote about a secret Pentagon plan to defend the nation against
defend the nation against
defend the nation against zombie apocalypse it was a legitimate
zombie apocalypse it was a legitimate
zombie apocalypse it was a legitimate plan assembled by military academics to
plan assembled by military academics to
plan assembled by military academics to just figure out how to manage a
just figure out how to manage a
just figure out how to manage a potential pandemic in the US and they
potential pandemic in the US and they
potential pandemic in the US and they use zombies it’s kind of a colorful way
use zombies it’s kind of a colorful way
use zombies it’s kind of a colorful way to illustrate the point
to illustrate the point
to illustrate the point well reporters dream my story went
well reporters dream my story went
well reporters dream my story went totally viral cable news networks and
totally viral cable news networks and
totally viral cable news networks and other magazines newspapers all picked it
other magazines newspapers all picked it
other magazines newspapers all picked it up here and around overseas what it
up here and around overseas what it
up here and around overseas what it pointed out to me was one is everybody
pointed out to me was one is everybody
pointed out to me was one is everybody loves a story about zombies but it also
loves a story about zombies but it also
loves a story about zombies but it also reinforced this notion that the military
reinforced this notion that the military
reinforced this notion that the military which in this case the nation pays to be
which in this case the nation pays to be
which in this case the nation pays to be the ultimate planning organization and
the ultimate planning organization and
the ultimate planning organization and figures out as to think about all these
figures out as to think about all these
figures out as to think about all these things all the time on one side but a
things all the time on one side but a
things all the time on one side but a public naive to this sometimes thinking
public naive to this sometimes thinking
public naive to this sometimes thinking and will they just completely whacked
and will they just completely whacked
and will they just completely whacked out that they’re sitting around thinking
out that they’re sitting around thinking
out that they’re sitting around thinking about how to defend the nation against a
about how to defend the nation against a
about how to defend the nation against a zombie attack few thoughts about
zombie attack few thoughts about
zombie attack few thoughts about perceptions of the military by the
perceptions of the military by the
perceptions of the military by the American public unlike journalists who
American public unlike journalists who
American public unlike journalists who literally do rank beneath used car
literally do rank beneath used car
literally do rank beneath used car salesmen in terms of integrity and
salesmen in terms of integrity and
salesmen in terms of integrity and honesty military generally enjoys pretty
honesty military generally enjoys pretty
honesty military generally enjoys pretty high approval ratings by the American
high approval ratings by the American
high approval ratings by the American public
public
public they are the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts
they are the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts
they are the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of our culture seen as ethical and
of our culture seen as ethical and
of our culture seen as ethical and patriotic certainly integrity can-do
patriotic certainly integrity can-do
patriotic certainly integrity can-do spirit their kind clean and reverent but
spirit their kind clean and reverent but
spirit their kind clean and reverent but what’s interesting about Americans
what’s interesting about Americans
what’s interesting about Americans support for the military is it sometimes
support for the military is it sometimes
support for the military is it sometimes viewed is not going very deep so a case
viewed is not going very deep so a case
viewed is not going very deep so a case in point would be a parent who’s
in point would be a parent who’s
in point would be a parent who’s confronted with the decision to support
confronted with the decision to support
confronted with the decision to support their son or daughter’s choice to enlist
their son or daughter’s choice to enlist
their son or daughter’s choice to enlist in the Navy the Army or Marines or
in the Navy the Army or Marines or
in the Navy the Army or Marines or whatever any military recruiter will
whatever any military recruiter will
whatever any military recruiter will tell you he or she’s had this
tell you he or she’s had this
tell you he or she’s had this conversation with these parents a
conversation with these parents a
conversation with these parents a hundred times parents are quick to say
hundred times parents are quick to say
hundred times parents are quick to say yes I support the military but sends
yes I support the military but sends
yes I support the military but sends somebody else’s kid into war there’s a
somebody else’s kid into war there’s a
somebody else’s kid into war there’s a fallacy in the notion that 9/11 brought
fallacy in the notion that 9/11 brought
fallacy in the notion that 9/11 brought the nation and
the nation and
the nation and the military closer together Americans
the military closer together Americans
the military closer together Americans were quick to slap you know yellow
were quick to slap you know yellow
were quick to slap you know yellow ribbons on the trunks of their cars
ribbons on the trunks of their cars
ribbons on the trunks of their cars support the troops folks were called out
support the troops folks were called out
support the troops folks were called out at ballgames when they came home to much
at ballgames when they came home to much
at ballgames when they came home to much fanfare Americans went up to soldiers
fanfare Americans went up to soldiers
fanfare Americans went up to soldiers and airports and and thanked them for
and airports and and thanked them for
and airports and and thanked them for their service but these were seen as
their service but these were seen as
their service but these were seen as relatively thin shows of gratitude by
relatively thin shows of gratitude by
relatively thin shows of gratitude by the military who perceive Americans to
the military who perceive Americans to
the military who perceive Americans to not really take the time to really
not really take the time to really
not really take the time to really understand their culture or their
understand their culture or their
understand their culture or their service or their sacrifice especially
service or their sacrifice especially
service or their sacrifice especially when many Americans are perceived to not
when many Americans are perceived to not
when many Americans are perceived to not have had much sacrifice themselves when
have had much sacrifice themselves when
have had much sacrifice themselves when it came to fighting these these wars on
it came to fighting these these wars on
it came to fighting these these wars on the other side though military in many
the other side though military in many
the other side though military in many ways you could argue is more insulated
ways you could argue is more insulated
ways you could argue is more insulated from the rest of the nation it defends
from the rest of the nation it defends
from the rest of the nation it defends it’s if you consider the folks who serve
it’s if you consider the folks who serve
it’s if you consider the folks who serve who consider in some cases their service
who consider in some cases their service
who consider in some cases their service in the Armed Forces as the family
in the Armed Forces as the family
in the Armed Forces as the family business because 80 percent of those who
business because 80 percent of those who
business because 80 percent of those who serve are already connected to the
serve are already connected to the
serve are already connected to the military in terms of having a brother or
military in terms of having a brother or
military in terms of having a brother or sister ma a mother or father honor uncle
sister ma a mother or father honor uncle
sister ma a mother or father honor uncle who’ve also served which is also great
who’ve also served which is also great
who’ve also served which is also great but what it suggests is a very
but what it suggests is a very
but what it suggests is a very interconnected island of people isolated
interconnected island of people isolated
interconnected island of people isolated from the rest of the nation these people
from the rest of the nation these people
from the rest of the nation these people also see themselves differently
also see themselves differently
also see themselves differently according to one poll that was taken
according to one poll that was taken
according to one poll that was taken last year 63% of those who serve in the
last year 63% of those who serve in the
last year 63% of those who serve in the military think of themselves as more
military think of themselves as more
military think of themselves as more patriotic than your average American
patriotic than your average American
patriotic than your average American completely stands to reason but what’s
completely stands to reason but what’s
completely stands to reason but what’s concerning I think about it is that
concerning I think about it is that
concerning I think about it is that people see that and they think folks who
people see that and they think folks who
people see that and they think folks who serve in the military not only think of
serve in the military not only think of
serve in the military not only think of themselves maybe as differently but
themselves maybe as differently but
themselves maybe as differently but potentially think of themselves as
potentially think of themselves as
potentially think of themselves as better or even privilege or entitled
the there’s a number of roots of this
the there’s a number of roots of this divide but one contributing factor is
divide but one contributing factor is
divide but one contributing factor is when we ended the draft as a nation in
when we ended the draft as a nation in
when we ended the draft as a nation in 1973 we ended what one congressman
1973 we ended what one congressman
1973 we ended what one congressman referred to as a national egg beater
referred to as a national egg beater
referred to as a national egg beater that funneled folks from all backgrounds
that funneled folks from all backgrounds
that funneled folks from all backgrounds into national military service
into national military service
into national military service we now have what’s called the
we now have what’s called the
we now have what’s called the all-volunteer force
all-volunteer force
all-volunteer force butwe’re which relies on a dwindling
butwe’re which relies on a dwindling
butwe’re which relies on a dwindling number of folks who serve in the
number of folks who serve in the
number of folks who serve in the military fewer now than 1% of Americans
military fewer now than 1% of Americans
military fewer now than 1% of Americans serve in the military that’s relatively
serve in the military that’s relatively
serve in the military that’s relatively if you compare to the height of World
if you compare to the height of World
if you compare to the height of World War 2 where it was like 8 or 9% totally
War 2 where it was like 8 or 9% totally
War 2 where it was like 8 or 9% totally different set of circumstances but
different set of circumstances but
different set of circumstances but nonetheless
nonetheless
nonetheless I would throw out there that there’s a
I would throw out there that there’s a
I would throw out there that there’s a couple concerns that you would you could
couple concerns that you would you could
couple concerns that you would you could consider when you have a nation that’s
consider when you have a nation that’s
consider when you have a nation that’s disconnected from its military and a
disconnected from its military and a
disconnected from its military and a military disconnected from its nation a
military disconnected from its nation a
military disconnected from its nation a couple things one is I think the that
couple things one is I think the that
couple things one is I think the that nation is more inclined to fork over
nation is more inclined to fork over
nation is more inclined to fork over resources to that military because it
resources to that military because it
resources to that military because it defers some of that power so when the
defers some of that power so when the
defers some of that power so when the military wants a 130 million dollar jet
military wants a 130 million dollar jet
military wants a 130 million dollar jet or 300 copies of that jet it gets it
or 300 copies of that jet it gets it
or 300 copies of that jet it gets it gets it when the Pentagon asks for
gets it when the Pentagon asks for
gets it when the Pentagon asks for billions of dollars in personnel
billions of dollars in personnel
billions of dollars in personnel benefits to fund and recruit and retain
benefits to fund and recruit and retain
benefits to fund and recruit and retain a force it gets it nobody wants to say
a force it gets it nobody wants to say
a force it gets it nobody wants to say no note that as recently as the 1970s
no note that as recently as the 1970s
no note that as recently as the 1970s three-quarters of those who served in
three-quarters of those who served in
three-quarters of those who served in Congress had a specific military
Congress had a specific military
Congress had a specific military background today that’s closer to 20%
background today that’s closer to 20%
background today that’s closer to 20% again nobody wants to say no and it’s
again nobody wants to say no and it’s
again nobody wants to say no and it’s easier to say yes when members of
easier to say yes when members of
easier to say yes when members of Congress or just the nation as a whole
Congress or just the nation as a whole
Congress or just the nation as a whole has less skin in the game and it’s the
has less skin in the game and it’s the
has less skin in the game and it’s the military that has more potentially at
military that has more potentially at
military that has more potentially at stake also we may be fork over kind of
stake also we may be fork over kind of
stake also we may be fork over kind of unwittingly more decision-making power
unwittingly more decision-making power
unwittingly more decision-making power to that military to to help us just make
to that military to to help us just make
to that military to to help us just make decisions because again we don’t have as
decisions because again we don’t have as
decisions because again we don’t have as much
much
much connection or knowledge to it there’s
connection or knowledge to it there’s
connection or knowledge to it there’s one more reason I would say that you
one more reason I would say that you
one more reason I would say that you need to think about caring the more
need to think about caring the more
need to think about caring the more disconnected we are I think from our
disconnected we are I think from our
disconnected we are I think from our military and vice versa the more
military and vice versa the more
military and vice versa the more inclined we are to send that
inclined we are to send that
inclined we are to send that professional warrior class into
professional warrior class into
professional warrior class into conflicts that we maybe even don’t
conflicts that we maybe even don’t
conflicts that we maybe even don’t support don’t understand and probably
support don’t understand and probably
support don’t understand and probably even worse feel like we have the luxury
even worse feel like we have the luxury
even worse feel like we have the luxury to forget quick anecdote I know a guy
to forget quick anecdote I know a guy
to forget quick anecdote I know a guy who’s a senior army officer who got
who’s a senior army officer who got
who’s a senior army officer who got orders to go to Afghanistan sometime
orders to go to Afghanistan sometime
orders to go to Afghanistan sometime last year he works that he lives in
last year he works that he lives in
last year he works that he lives in Washington DC in a reasonably informed
Washington DC in a reasonably informed
Washington DC in a reasonably informed neighborhood and he knows his neighbors
neighborhood and he knows his neighbors
neighborhood and he knows his neighbors and he’s lived there for a while but
and he’s lived there for a while but
and he’s lived there for a while but they all expressed concern or surprise
they all expressed concern or surprise
they all expressed concern or surprise that he was going to Afghanistan because
that he was going to Afghanistan because
that he was going to Afghanistan because I said they didn’t they didn’t know that
I said they didn’t they didn’t know that
I said they didn’t they didn’t know that we even had troops still there there for
we even had troops still there there for
we even had troops still there there for the record 10,000 troops there and just
the record 10,000 troops there and just
the record 10,000 troops there and just even as we stand here today is two of
even as we stand here today is two of
even as we stand here today is two of them were killed today and as many as 15
them were killed today and as many as 15
them were killed today and as many as 15 hurt in a blast I just leave you this
hurt in a blast I just leave you this
hurt in a blast I just leave you this one thought we are you know world full
one thought we are you know world full
one thought we are you know world full of divides right socio-economic racial
of divides right socio-economic racial
of divides right socio-economic racial divides political divides you can accept
divides political divides you can accept
divides political divides you can accept my premise or if you do that the nation
my premise or if you do that the nation
my premise or if you do that the nation is divided from its military and vice
is divided from its military and vice
is divided from its military and vice versa that’s great for me I learned that
versa that’s great for me I learned that
versa that’s great for me I learned that asking questions and kind of listening
asking questions and kind of listening
asking questions and kind of listening for the answer I was able to become a
for the answer I was able to become a
for the answer I was able to become a better journalist and maybe even a
better journalist and maybe even a
better journalist and maybe even a better citizen and I don’t want to sell
better citizen and I don’t want to sell
better citizen and I don’t want to sell him self-righteous about that at all by
him self-righteous about that at all by
him self-righteous about that at all by just that was how I experienced it I
think that whatever the divide that you
think that whatever the divide that you may confront whatever it is I would just
may confront whatever it is I would just
may confront whatever it is I would just urge you to ask questions and nurture
urge you to ask questions and nurture
urge you to ask questions and nurture the curiosity listen for the answer and
the curiosity listen for the answer and
the curiosity listen for the answer and maybe you will not tear down the wall
maybe you will not tear down the wall
maybe you will not tear down the wall but hopefully you can open the gate
but hopefully you can open the gate
but hopefully you can open the gate thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
Be First to Comment