Monday, Rochester, New York

Four years ago today the memorial to the men and women who served in World War II was dedicated in Washington DC. It is a profoundly moving space that enables visitors to feel the scale of that catastrophic global trauma.

Over 16 million Americans participated in the war, and over 400,000 lost their lives!

These numbers are incomprehensible, but it is important that we do remember and reflect on the sacrifice that was made by that generation. The numbers alone validate their identity as “The Greatest Generation.” The numbers of lost and wounded was so staggering it meant that virtually every American family was touched by tragedy.

In the age of the media, any time America gets involved in a war, there is naturally a great deal of attention paid to the casualties. We are kept up to date on the number of soldiers who die in battle, and, shamefully to a lesser extent, the great number of those wounded and disabled. In the current conflict in Iraq, for instance, most Americans are aware that we have surpassed the grim number of 4000 dead. The number of injured and disabled is many thousands more.

My father was a highly decorated veteran who served in the Army Air Corps. this crew was awarded nine of 11 possible metals available to flyers. They flew 48 dangerous missions in Europe. It took me many years into my adult life to appreciate the experience that my father had, and that my mother and the rest of the family endured while he was away in grave danger. And so I have great respect for their perspective on the politics of war. I can recall my father telling my brothers and I:“if the country’s going to war, everyone has to be behind it. Were either all in all we don’t go at all.”

My father died some years ago, but I think often about his words. Here we are, in the aftermath of an attack on our soil on September 11, 2001 by a foreign regime every bit as evil as the Nazis. And in response it is right that we aggressively defend ourselves. But it has bothered me that our approach to this worthy cause has placed the burden on a very small number of brave young men and women who signed up to do the heavy lifting on behalf of the rest of us.

Where is the sacrifice demanded of every American citizen?
What part have we been asked to play to defend our country?

I find the approach of the administration and other national leaders to be nothing less than disgraceful. They have essentially told us to live our normal life, to be comfortable, while a few hundred thousand of the entire population fight for our freedom.

Making matters worse, after five years, the Iraqis still do little to step up and take care of their own security. Meanwhile the Taliban gets stronger in Afghanistan, Al Qaeda has a resurgence throughout the world, and Osama bin Laden is still alive and making videos in his cave.

At my age I’m not sure what it is that I could be doing, but it seems like I should be asked to do something! My father’s words keep coming back to me. And based on the way this national cause has been executed, I’m with those who say it’s time to rethink the whole sorry enterprise, and pursue the war in places where it should be fought. I think at this point it’s the only way to engage the fight with honor, and to get the American people behind the endeavor.