Dying for Your Country: Horizontal Recruiters - Essay Example

Essay On Horizontal Recruiters Horizontal recruiters at first looks like a very bitter piece from a young man who went into the military because he thought it was what he was supposed to do. He did not realize that he could have stayed home because he was the only son in his family. He sheds a different light on the Arlington Cemetery where thousands of people go every year. It is unfortunate that he had such a difficult time but it is not necessarily the way that all soldiers view the cemetery. One of the main points he makes is that the Army uses this cemetery as a way to recruit young men. It is the only cemetery that is under the Armys jurisdiction while the other 113 are under the Veterans Administration. He notes that although these men and women who are buried there were once regular citizens like the people who come to read their names, they are seen as heroes. The Army has glorified these corpses as something that should be revered and that it is something that people should be humbled by because these soldiers laid down their lives for their country. The author also suggests that President Kennedy also became a heroic entity within the walls of Arlington because of his assignation and the fact that he is the most visited grave in the cemetery. He talks about the fact that although he was under court martial his father was able to get him out of it and this act led to him being elected president later. All of this information made the author angry about what he was seeing how the Arlington Cemetery as a tribute to the militarys need to emulate its victims. Another historical fact that he brings to light is the fact that Arlington was once named "Freedom Village" and it served as a place where free slaves were living just after Lincoln freed them. This was a place where they could receive permanent housing and community service. This was an established village for them for over 30 years. Unfortunately because it was under the jurisdiction of the Army, many residents complained that the living conditions were like living in slavery. After the war it was more difficult for the ex-slaves to get the help they needed and the federal assistance they were receiving was reduced. He makes the point that the Arlington National Cemetery brought this about and created a welfare state before there was welfare available to the nation. Another travesty that this young man is upset about is the fact that in Arlington National Cemetery blacks and whites could not be buried together. This created another way for the slaves to be separated within the cemetery. This situation happened just after the war and continued through to 1948 and this created more of a sense for the author that black service men were not being respected. The challenge to this writing is that this individual is very angry about what has happened and it does not seem to be relevant to the aspects of the military. It seems that there is more anger within him than there is accuracy as to why the cemetery is more a recruitment ground. Dying For Your Country I have thought a lot about this issue especially in the current time. I have read many papers on the current war and other wars before now. I do not think that a person should give up their life for their country because it is never appreciated. The current Iraq War has everyone baffled because there is no reason for the United States to be there. Originally it was stated that the War was initiated to get Saddam Hussein. He was captured very early in the War and then suddenly it seems we are there to stay. This is disturbing because there are men and women who are dying for no reason. If you look at any military cemetery you will find that they have grown in the amount of people who have died. The recruitment posters and the commercials on television tell you that it is a great thing to become a part of the service. Each individual undergoes basic training but it cannot prepare a young person for War. It can simulate certain situations and it brainwashes young people into thinking that they are doing something great for their country but when people get through the experience they find that it is not as they were told. Many young people die for what appears to be no reason. There is a documentary movie called, "Why We Fight" (Jurecki 2005) and it states that the reason we are fighting the War is more about oil than anything else. I believe this and this fact will never come out because it is the way that the United States plays a game. The challenge in writing these words is the fact that many people would think that I am anti-American. The general public ahs been brainwashed into assuming that it is the right thing for us to be at war. Therefore anyone who is against the war is "anti-American." This could not be further from the truth. I think that if we were in a situation where men fighting for freedom was important then it would be the right thing to fight for your country. The War we are fighting now is senseless and no one really knows the answer to why we are still in the Middle East. When asked, some people will say "because of the terrorists" but we have not seen any real justification for this War. Joining The Military There was a time when the country had a draft system that said that someone had to go into the military if their number came up. This happened to many people before 1973 and but by this time they stopped the draft. This meant that everyone who goes into the military does so as a volunteer. I do not agree with people going into the military because it there is no reason for it. Although recruits are told that if they join they will get their education paid for and they will have many rewards many of the things that are said are lies. If you research the GI Bill it is clear that not all students are able to use it. As an example, a recent article the military has issued a statement that says that students who take online courses will receive less financial assistance that those who take them in the classroom. Most people know that an online course is more money than classroom and that it is sometimes the only way for someone in the military to access classes. This is one of the difficulties that new soldiers run into after the recruiter says they will have their education paid. Joining the military is a negative thing to do for most people who go into it. Though there are success stories of people who make it through unscathed there are also stories about those who are harmed. The video, "The Ghosts of Abu Ghraib" is another documentary that tells the story of the men and women who were court marshaled and living in military prison because of their hand in what they did to the prisoners in Abu Ghraib. This documentary spotlights the problems that happened there and the fact that the men and women sitting in prison were only doing what they were told to do by their superior officers. The military is a very frightening place and they are able to do anything to recruits they want to do. Once they are in the military recruits understand that they are owned by the government. This is what makes the entire situation so dangerous. Works Cited Howell, Terry. "New GI Bill: A Disincentive to Online Education?" 23 January 2009. . The Ghosts of Abu Ghrib. Documentary. Dir. Rory Kennedy 2004. 16 February 2009. . Why We Fight. Documentary. Dir.Eugene Jarecki. 2005. 16 February 2009. Read More