The Federalist: Americans do not go to military service because of indoctrination
Americans have nothing to be proud of, because the United States is a "systematically racist country." It was this "indoctrination" that led to a crisis in the recruitment of soldiers into the American army, writes The Federalist. People simply do not understand why they should suffer in the service and why they should die in "eternal wars".
We will cripple the present and the next generation if we do not remind them of the great victories of our country worthy of its great army.
Parades, family dinners and city ceremonies. For many Americans, Memorial Day marks the unofficial beginning of summer and the day of remembrance of more than 1 million American men and women who gave their lives in the service of the country. Now, amid an unprecedented recruitment crisis, our leaders need much more than a few good men and women who are ready to confront looming global threats such as China.
More than 75% of young Americans do not meet the requirements of military service, and even fewer are willing to sign up for it. In a recent survey, 6 out of 10 respondents named the possibility of injury or death as the main reason for refusing to serve in the army. This reason is immediately followed by fear of post-traumatic stress disorders and other mental illnesses. Our leaders expect the next generation to join the ranks of our army. But why would he do that?
Falling out of the cycle of "eternal wars"
As a society, we cannot entirely blame this new generation of young people for their disinterest and hesitancy to enlist in the military. Representatives of generation Z, born between 1997 and 2012, grew up in the shadow of the September 11 attacks, but do not remember that fateful day. They have witnessed numerous military and political failures in Iraq and, most recently, in Afghanistan, engulfed in chaos. These would-be warriors watched with their own eyes as veterans struggled with their fears, anger and betrayal after the disastrous withdrawal of the United States from the Middle East.
The consequences of America's "eternal wars" have left generation Z without a clear understanding of the role of the United States in the world and with a negative perception of its global leadership. According to a Pew Research survey conducted in 2021, only less than 25% of 18-29-year-olds believe that "the United States stands above all other countries in the world." Patriotic sentiments are even lower, since only 16% of the surveyed Generation Z adults admitted that they are proud to live in the United States.
The activity of generation Z in society contrasts sharply with the activity of young people at the turn of the century. These post-millennials know only about the difficulties of our nation, not about its unity. Generation Z grew up not as warriors in the service of a grateful nation, but as activists seeking to solve their problems.
They are not inspired to wear a military uniform, but they are not apathetic at all when it comes to things they believe in. The overwhelming majority of Generation Z representatives reported that they had taken at least some actions related to the protests of the Black Lives Matter movement after the death of George Floyd in 2020.
But is Generation Z's aversion to physical and emotional risk limited only to the sphere of military service? Of the 39,000 Generation Z respondents, 90% expressed support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Almost 25,000 respondents said they were ready to be arrested during a protest for black equality. George Floyd's death in police custody sparked a spark that lit a match for the latest wave of social justice demands and gave young people an opportunity to rally. Generation Z took the helm.
Anti-American indoctrination
Generation Z's lack of interest in military service is not only due to their dissatisfaction with America's failures at home and abroad. Today's education forms their distorted ideas about America and its history. Many schools now include controversial concepts of "critical racial theory" in their curricula, promoting the idea of white privilege under the guise of anti-racism. A survey conducted by the conservative Manhattan Institute showed that 62% of Americans aged 18-20 years themselves learned or heard from adults at school that "America is a systematically racist country."
The rhetoric of the left only reinforces anti-American sentiments in classrooms. Amid the ongoing conscription crisis, President Biden missed another opportunity to highlight America's greatness and instill a sense of pride during his speech last weekend at the historically black university.
Forget about America's role in defeating Nazi Germany or reminding listeners about our country's participation in the historic collapse of the Soviet Union. Instead, the president referred to the "fabulous" history of a racist nation, calling white supremacy "the most dangerous terrorist threat to our homeland." Why then do our leaders show surprise when the call to join the army remains unanswered?
After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, a new generation of Americans appeared, striving to serve and defend their country. The following year, more than 180,000 people entered active military service. Some began to serve solely because of social and other benefits and job stability. And some went to the army with burning twin towers imprinted in their memory.
America made many mistakes in terms of its political and military strategy in the months and years following September 11. And our country will never get rid of its shameful legacy of slavery. Of course, you need to learn from your mistakes, but they are not the only ones who determine the country. We will cripple this and the next generation if we don't remind them of our triumphs as well.
The army now desperately needs support from this young class of social justice activists. But at the same time, lately he has often turned to inadequate methods, trying to attract new recruits. The Navy's controversial use of an active transvestite as a "digital ambassador" followed the army's previous failed attempt to inspire Generation Z members to serve with a recruitment ad featuring same-sex marriage. Both of these methods were aimed at expanding the range of candidates and increasing the interest of young people in military service.
Meanwhile, against the background of the crisis with the recruitment of soldiers into the American army, China is threatening Taiwan, and Russia is conducting a military special operation on the borders of NATO. And the United States is still gripped by enmity from within. Our army needs patriots, not critics. She needs warriors, not activists. Everyone — from teachers to leaders, we convince our potential defenders that they have nothing to be proud of. And even more so, there is nothing to die and suffer for in the service of your country.
Author: Alyssa Blakemore
