As an American I am honored to have protection from the nation's most advanced military.
As a valuer of critical thought I worry about my protection- our military- becoming a force of imperialistic ambitions.
As a student of history I am glaringly aware of the sordid misuse of our armed forces.
As a descendent of a worldly family I recognize the military as my family's ticket from third world poverty into American prosperity.
As an activist I realize the disproportionate amount of racial minorities and working class individuals in our armed forces.
As a queer I understand the need for queer individuals to be able to openly serve in our armed forces.
The Left's relationship with our armed forces is both deep and estranged at the same time. Many of the left's proudest moments: the Civil Rights Movement, the Anti-Vietnam War movement and the Chicana/o movement- in large part were made possible by returning veterans settling back into their communities and realizing that the social order could not remain as it was before they left to fight overseas.
At the same time, the Left is often derided as anti-thetical to the structure and ideas which the military currently represents. I would be so bold to say that it is not the military that the Left is opposed to, but it is how the military has been warped by conservative policies- created by both Republicans and Democrats- that we as a political ideology oppose. We as a movement oppose recruitment policies with an overemphasis on recruiting racial minorities and the working class, groups that disproportionately sacrifice and suffer the most from American wars, of which the primarily white, upper class benefit from.
We oppose a culture of needless military aggression that has relegated diplomacy and international cooperation as quaint methods only to be attempted when they are sure to completely align with a narrow idea of what some elites think "America's Interest" is. We are opposed to the growth of a billion dollar "Defence" Industry that should be called as the spade that it is, the manifestation of the military-industrial complex,which saps money from needed programs like Social Security, universal healthcare and equal opportunity schooling, and lines the pockets of the already wealthy.
These feelings and issues always come up when I think of one issue in particular popular among queer activist circles: Don't Ask Don't Tell, the ban on openly serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) armed servicemembers. I don't consider it anti-thetical to my beliefs to have larger problems with the militarization of our society while at the same time seeking a more inclusive military. If a person in the military is queerbashed, raped or the victim of a racial/ethnic slur, how is that not an issue for me, regardless of the institution in which is takes place? It's still a segment of my society, I can't ignore it and stay within my progressive enclave.
Don't Ask Don't Tell is a prime example of how conservative policies, such as DADT implemented by President Bill Clinton (D), have created tensions between progressives and the institution of our armed forces. We engage in battles such as fighting DADT to try our damndest to disassociate our military with misguided right wing policies. We are the movers and shakers of this movement to reform the military for the better, not Congress or senior military officials, two groups often resistant to change. From Just Steve:
Congressmen on the fence about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell have pointed to the military senior leadership as the reason the policy is still in place. "Military matters should be decided by the military," they say.
See, Congress doesn’t want to look bad by forcing a "major social change" on the military, and the Generals don’t want to request one. They actually believe in not rocking the boat, even if it’s the right thing to do. Perhaps that’s why so many retired Generals and Admirals have now expressed their displeasure with the ban.
These pitched battles that conservatives say is evidence of the Left "wanting to dismantle the military" is partially true. The military has become a tool in the toolbox of the neo-conservative agenda. Our pitched battles seek to once again have military policy reflect those of most Americans. In these battles we go up against both Democrats and Republicans. Let's remember that conservatives can yell all they want about liberals wanting to make a mockery out of our military, but the truth is we couldn't possibly do any worse of a job than they have.
With policies of inclusion to increase unit cohesion, an ideology of restraint to seek solutions instead of seeking conflict and a belief of shared sacrifice and responsibilty in support of the Armed services, our policies are the policies which can reform the military for the better.
Let's never give up the banner of patriotism or support of our armed forces. Let's redefine the concept and take back what should be an American institution, not a conservative machine.