The World's Most Famous Question
"To be or not to be - that is the question." - Hamlet
In the days that follow his father's funeral, Hamlet utters perhaps the most famous line in English literature. Bereft, confused, depressed, Hamlet seeks to order the chaos that has become his daily life. His question, posed here, leads to an inquiry into suicide, whether or not it can provide the panacea for all of Hamlet's trouble. The play becomes one man's journey to participate or withdraw from life.
One of the loyal readers of We Happy Few has asked me to discuss the idea of citizenship, its obligations and its benefits, in American society. Only a few days ago, the US government recalled several thousand Marines from their civilian lives to active duty, according to this article in the Washington Post. To clarify for all readers here, the Marines divide their reserve into two components: an "active reserve", that drills monthly and trains for two weeks in the summer, and an "inactive reserve", that does not require any drilling. Those on the inactive ready reserve or IRR remain there to fulfill their final obligation for voluntary service to the United States. Essentially, they lead civilian lives until a major manpower shortage renders their duty essential. Because they are Marines, they accept these recalls and report despite disruption to families, businesses, etc.
The US maintains a military presence on every continent, and at the current time, our strategic goals and manpower to implement those goals do not coincide. Two events will happen: either US foreign policy will change or more people will be added to the ranks of the military. Thus, the Marines on the IRR call-up exemplify this process. The government will get the troop numbers it needs before it changes its global strategy. Manpower, believe it or not, is easier to solve than US foreign policy.
But from where will these bodies come? Much has been made in public and private conversations about the relative lack of participation of the American elite in the ranks of the military. Much has been made of the paucity of public officials who neither served themselves nor have offspring who have joined the military. Much has been made about how the US entangled itself in this mess and how we can't seem to get out of it.
A few weeks ago, I engaged in a debate with some dinner partners who are exceptionally brilliant people. They, admitted detractors of the President and his policies, could not understand why we had engaged in this war and why we could not get the troops home. Additionally, they could not understand why more people had not risen up in the streets to protest this war that will kill our youth and bleed our treasury. I countered that the few people felt the pain of the war, and the sons and daughters of the rich and powerful are not dying in the impoverished streets of Baghdad. After all, the US Civil War ended because the pain of 600,000 American deaths brought both sides to the table with the South unequivocally surrendering.
But the problem is more severe than a military engagement in the Middle East. The problem originates with the perception that rights are granted for free, and that someone else will do the dirty work. The thinking that "because I pay my taxes, I am participating" eventually will financially and socially bankrupt our country. In Israel, where everyone in the country serves in the active military and reserve for most of his or her life, government officials do not take military decisions lightly. Because every one participates, every one bears the pain.
Thus, pose Hamlet's question to those around you, to those who this month begin their college careers, to those who three months ago finished theirs. Will they "be"; will they participate, will they actively do more than working towards personal goals? Or will they "not be"; will they prefer someone else to do the work that must be done? And then ask the question of yourself.
In the days that follow his father's funeral, Hamlet utters perhaps the most famous line in English literature. Bereft, confused, depressed, Hamlet seeks to order the chaos that has become his daily life. His question, posed here, leads to an inquiry into suicide, whether or not it can provide the panacea for all of Hamlet's trouble. The play becomes one man's journey to participate or withdraw from life.
One of the loyal readers of We Happy Few has asked me to discuss the idea of citizenship, its obligations and its benefits, in American society. Only a few days ago, the US government recalled several thousand Marines from their civilian lives to active duty, according to this article in the Washington Post. To clarify for all readers here, the Marines divide their reserve into two components: an "active reserve", that drills monthly and trains for two weeks in the summer, and an "inactive reserve", that does not require any drilling. Those on the inactive ready reserve or IRR remain there to fulfill their final obligation for voluntary service to the United States. Essentially, they lead civilian lives until a major manpower shortage renders their duty essential. Because they are Marines, they accept these recalls and report despite disruption to families, businesses, etc.
The US maintains a military presence on every continent, and at the current time, our strategic goals and manpower to implement those goals do not coincide. Two events will happen: either US foreign policy will change or more people will be added to the ranks of the military. Thus, the Marines on the IRR call-up exemplify this process. The government will get the troop numbers it needs before it changes its global strategy. Manpower, believe it or not, is easier to solve than US foreign policy.
But from where will these bodies come? Much has been made in public and private conversations about the relative lack of participation of the American elite in the ranks of the military. Much has been made of the paucity of public officials who neither served themselves nor have offspring who have joined the military. Much has been made about how the US entangled itself in this mess and how we can't seem to get out of it.
A few weeks ago, I engaged in a debate with some dinner partners who are exceptionally brilliant people. They, admitted detractors of the President and his policies, could not understand why we had engaged in this war and why we could not get the troops home. Additionally, they could not understand why more people had not risen up in the streets to protest this war that will kill our youth and bleed our treasury. I countered that the few people felt the pain of the war, and the sons and daughters of the rich and powerful are not dying in the impoverished streets of Baghdad. After all, the US Civil War ended because the pain of 600,000 American deaths brought both sides to the table with the South unequivocally surrendering.
But the problem is more severe than a military engagement in the Middle East. The problem originates with the perception that rights are granted for free, and that someone else will do the dirty work. The thinking that "because I pay my taxes, I am participating" eventually will financially and socially bankrupt our country. In Israel, where everyone in the country serves in the active military and reserve for most of his or her life, government officials do not take military decisions lightly. Because every one participates, every one bears the pain.
Thus, pose Hamlet's question to those around you, to those who this month begin their college careers, to those who three months ago finished theirs. Will they "be"; will they participate, will they actively do more than working towards personal goals? Or will they "not be"; will they prefer someone else to do the work that must be done? And then ask the question of yourself.
posted by Henry Plantagenet at 7:08 AM
1 Comments:
It is interesting conversation, the obligations of freedom. What does it mean to have access to the benefits of group freedom? Currently the free are “made and kept so by the exertions of” others. (John Stuart Mills) The question we need to ask ourselves as a society is where is the tipping point for this equation? At what point is the exertions of these "others" not enough?
Your article talks about everyman’s journey over the age old question whether to participate or withdrawal from our societal obligations. No doubt pages could be written about the obvious trend toward withdrawal and a trend toward an individualistic and selfish definition of freedom. However I can help but be a cock-eyed optimist and believe that when the time comes, with the right leader that we as a people will rise-up and participate.
The younger generations of Americans have enjoyed an age of relative peace. The very peace we all seek and have enjoyed has left us with a hole to fill. The natural animalistic instincts we have inside of us lay dormant. I believe that a great many live constantly trying to fill the hole---the need to exert, test, try themselves; The rise in marathons, Ironmans, and EcoChallenge competitions is an example of this desire to be tested beyond normal human limits.
I believe that with proper leadership our citizens would rise up and participate in a great hour of need. On 9-11 record numbers of people went to give blood, put up posters, help clean up the tower site and sign up for military service. Many people wanted to help but did not know what else they could do.
There are issues that your article brings up that worry me however. 1. What if the great hour of need never arrives? What if there is nothing so great as to call us to action and the hole in our people lies empty and grows deeper. Thus a slow erosion will occur of our ability for united collective power. 2. What if the type of leader needed for a unified front cannot rise to power in our current system? 3. Our propensity for endurance is worrisome. We are a fierce beast that strikes first and hard but the fights ahead to protect the liberty’s we enjoy today will be long. We live in a time where quarterly return is a must. Five years is percieved as a lifetime and the chase for immediate gratification and results rules the dollar allocation.
Henry P I leave you with the following leadership, literature and foreign policy questions: What 5-10 books should every well read scholar have on their shelve and in their brain? What are the tangible actions a current United States citizen should perform in order to justly received the benefits of this free society? And finally what are the tenants of a true leader in your eyes—and which of these are god given (if you will) and which of these are trainable virtues/ talents?
intellectually thirsty,
curiousdog
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