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How To Make Sense Of Military Service In A Culture That No Longer Understands It
The Federalist ^
| 05/25/2020
| Casey Chalk
Posted on 05/25/2020 8:34:53 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
A couple years ago, I took a red-eye flight from Washington Dulles International Airport to London. Standing in line to board, I suddenly spied one of our nation’s most notorious military leaders, David Petraeus. “King David,” as he was known during his tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, curiously walked up to an empty kiosk not far from the gate where we were boarding for London.
Within less than a minute, an attendant appeared and started checking him in, ostensibly for our flight. Special service for the former commander, I thought. “Look,” I exclaimed to those nearest to me in line. “It’s David Petraeus!” Within minutes, everyone was pointing at him, commenting on his presence, and taking pictures of him on their iPhones. “How did you recognize him so quickly?” asked the woman behind me. “Because I’ve briefed him,” I replied, with a smile.
Indeed, during my first and second tours in Afghanistan, I had helped assemble briefings personally directed to him. That might lead readers to wonder why I would be so willing to embarrass a man under whom I had once served. The answer is simple.
While we were working our rear ends off enabling him and his staff to make decisions to further our nation’s strategic objectives and save American lives on the battlefield, he was sleeping with his biographer, U.S. Army reservist Paula Broadwell. Apparently during or after that fling, Broadwell got access to classified documents from Petraeus, or, as we began calling him, “General Betray-us.”
For those of us who worked for him, it felt like a betrayal, not just of U.S. military regulations regarding sexual relations, but of everyone serving in Afghanistan. That the affair didnt come to light until Broadwell started harassing another woman was all the more damning. I suppose King David was an apt nom-de-guerre, and not just because of Petraeus military brilliance.
I thought of that anecdote while reading the chapter on honor in Scott Beauchamp’s recent book Did You Kill Anyone?: Reunderstanding My Military Experience as a Critique of Modern Culture. The series of essays are inspired by Beauchamp’s service in the U.S. Army.
Honor, says Beauchamp, has to do with “the deepest sort of fidelity, or attunement, to a higher and anti-utilitarian moral purpose.” This sense of honor is certainly inculcated in the military, but one finds it plenty of other places: family, faith, and nation. Honor fosters devotion for goods that transcend our individual desires and bind societies together. Yet, as Beauchamp also rightly diagnoses our culture, it’s “most alien to contemporary Western (particularly cosmopolitan) sensitivities.
Beauchamps reflections on the intersection of the military and contemporary culture are most welcome. His thoughts on boredom, ritual, community, hierarchy, smoking, tradition, and honor are both interesting, and to varying degrees, counter-cultural or with a conservative bent.
Yet the subjects are addressed in novel and intelligent ways that should be accessible to a broad audience. I imagine many liberal elites would find themselves persuaded by Beauchamps indictment of technocracy, materialism, consumerism, social atomism, and utilitarianism. This is a testament to the authors ability to swim in common American waters, as well as those that are highly academic.
Unfortunately, some aspects of Did you Kill Anyone? proved annoying. Beauchamps seven essays are overstuffed with quotations. Many are interesting and relevant, but they tend to drown his voice. Indeed, I often found it hard to locate Beauchamps thoughts amid the seemingly hundreds of people he cites in the course of a 130-page book. That was frustrating, especially because every time I succeeded in identifying the authors voice, I was increasingly interested to hear what he had to say.
This gets to my larger frustration with Did you Kill Anyone? Each essay was engaging and thoughtful, but I wasnt sure what held them together. His postscript is short and amorphous. Nothing at the end of his last, seventh chapter connects with the previous six.
Certainly Beauchamp has offered a credible critique of many aspects of modern American culture. Yet there is no unifying coherence and no clear alternative. He writes in his postscript that he has a skepticism towards unfettered capitalism and materialism, a skepticism that I share, although Beauchamp offers little as an alternative.
Beauchamp writes of a longing for values which gesture toward transcendence. Such milquetoast phrasing is inadequate given the threats facing Americans fed up with a global economy that has left them behind and a meritocratic elite who condescendingly sneer at their traditionalist beliefs and cultural practices. We dont need gesturing toward transcendence, whatever that means. We need transcendence itself, which our forefathers found in abundance within the worship, liturgy, and sacred truths of biblical religion.
Beauchamps language, whatever his noble intentions, is reminiscent of Philip Larkins Church Going. In it, the poet recounts stopping at a country church not worth stopping for, but that retains value, if nothing else, because so many dead lie round. America will need a much heartier view of transcendent truth to weather the storms that confront us today and inevitably tomorrow.
Id embarrass Petraeus again, if given the opportunity. His arrogant indifference to his role as a senior officer in the U.S. military coupled with an incomplete apology and his continued enjoyment of lucrative senior positions gained from his military and intelligence experience is a violation of so much that Beauchamp rightly commends in his book.
A lack of ritual, community, and respect for traditional forms of hierarchy, tradition, and honor are all contributing to the unraveling of American society. Im grateful for Beauchamps penetrating analysis of all these subjects. I just wish he had given the reader a more coherent, complete narrative to unite these disparate themes and orient us towards an alternative future focused on human flourishing.
Casey Chalk is a columnist for The American Conservative, Crisis Magazine, and The New Oxford Review. He has a bachelors in history and masters in teaching from the University of Virginia, and masters in theology from Christendom College.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: military; militaryservice
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To: SeekAndFind
Casey Chalk, the author, comes off as incompetent, completely self-absorbed, lacking in humility, and a jerk.
It is far more important to him to further the Progressive Project, than any allegiance to the United States or the Constitution.
2
posted on
05/25/2020 8:39:55 AM PDT
by
marktwain
(President Trump and his supporters are the Resistance. His opponents are the Reactionaries.)
To: SeekAndFind
Interesting perspective. Im of the impression that U.S. military culture hasnt been culturally relevant in decades. Its demise began in Vietnam and was complete when the military became nothing more than a mercenary force for globalists and Islamic royal families.
3
posted on
05/25/2020 8:41:46 AM PDT
by
Alberta's Child
("And somewhere in the darkness ... the gambler, he broke even.")
To: Alberta's Child
Great points. The US military has become a mercenary army paid for by the highest bidder and in its most recent cases, those payers have been islamic countries.
JoMa
4
posted on
05/25/2020 8:53:31 AM PDT
by
joma89
(Buy weapons and ammo, folks.)
To: Alberta's Child
Its demise began in Vietnam and was complete when the military became nothing more than a mercenary force for globalists and Islamic royal families.
My 20 years service in the U.S. Navy was something more than serving as a mercenary force for globalists and Islamic royal families.
5
posted on
05/25/2020 8:54:50 AM PDT
by
suthener
To: Alberta's Child; joma89
You guys do realize this is Memorial Day, right? The day we remember those who have died defending our country and its freedoms? I dont know who you think youre criticizing, but calling our military members mercenaries....I dont know. Once again I learn a new lesson about the people on FR.
6
posted on
05/25/2020 8:59:16 AM PDT
by
suthener
To: suthener
Well, thats true. The Navy was always a different story because its designed to operate on the open seas where no country has any legal jurisdiction.
7
posted on
05/25/2020 9:01:09 AM PDT
by
Alberta's Child
("And somewhere in the darkness ... the gambler, he broke even.")
To: suthener
My 20 years service in the U.S. Navy was something more than serving as a mercenary force for globalists and Islamic royal families. As another squid who served as a line officer as a tin can man, I would disagree.
Since World War II our mission has strayed dramatically. We find ourselves more often ignoring Washingtons foreign entanglement warning and are frequently sending our sons and now daughters to die for causes far from our own defense.
Personally, I would prefer we bring our people home from across the globe Japan, Korea, the Middle East, Germany everywhere. Out of every sh*thole on earth. Keep a naval presence on the sea and thats it. With todays technology, we can be where we need to be very quickly. We dont need to be a standing yes mercenary force to protect peoples who dont appreciate, or pay, for our service.
8
posted on
05/25/2020 9:04:46 AM PDT
by
Magnatron
To: suthener
No offense, but when was the last time the U.S. military defended anyones freedom here in the U.S.? That was the whole point of my historical reference there.
Maybe I missed the media coverage of the Army protecting barbers in Michigan or the Marines guarding beachgoers in New York who were threatened with arrest by totalitarian thugs.
9
posted on
05/25/2020 9:07:19 AM PDT
by
Alberta's Child
("And somewhere in the darkness ... the gambler, he broke even.")
To: marktwain
"Casey Chalk, the author, comes off as incompetent, completely self-absorbed, lacking in humility, and a jerk." Ellsworth Toohey
10
posted on
05/25/2020 9:10:32 AM PDT
by
outofsalt
(If history teaches us anything, it's that history rarely teaches anything.)
To: Alberta's Child
Well, thats true. The Navy was always a different story because its designed to operate on the open seas where no country has any legal jurisdiction.
I dont even know to respond to that. I guess the aircraft on those carriers, around which almost our entire Navy is structured, just operate in open waters, as well as the next level of Naval force projection, amphibious task groups.
11
posted on
05/25/2020 9:14:07 AM PDT
by
suthener
To: Alberta's Child
when was the last time the U.S. military defended anyones freedom here in the U.S.?
You want the U.S. military to operate here? Are you freakin nuts? That would only go against.., I dont know, everything this country stands for.
12
posted on
05/25/2020 9:17:51 AM PDT
by
suthener
To: Alberta's Child
“No offense, but when was the last time the U.S. military defended anyones freedom here in the U.S.?”
Probably the Revolutionary War. When you boil the military experience down the only thing you really give a shit about are your mates...comrades in arms...and that’s for life.
13
posted on
05/25/2020 9:18:24 AM PDT
by
Bonemaker
(invictus maneo)
To: Alberta's Child
Are you serious? I recognize the handle but did you just slide over here from the DUmp?
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, including me. My opinion of you now is that you’re just stupid. Just my $.02.
14
posted on
05/25/2020 9:21:06 AM PDT
by
Afterguard
(Deplorable me!)
To: Alberta's Child
cogent point and well made.
I ‘gave up’ on the senior leadership while and active duty Zoomie.
The classic O6 gets a pass while the enlisted guy takes in in the neck soured me.
Funnest? When the base commander got named in a paternity action - the publicity forced his wife to file for divorce... All well known across the installation before the **** hit the fan.
Punishment?
He wasn’t allowed his next star.....
15
posted on
05/25/2020 9:23:31 AM PDT
by
ASOC
(Having humility really means one is rarely humiliated)
To: Alberta's Child
You have your perspective. Mine is different.
The Military culture has been far more conservative than any other government agency.
The Military promotes merit more than most of the bureaurcracies.
The Military promotes love of country, nationalism, more than the other bureaucracies.
Your attitude that we can ignore the rest of the world in fortress America, is short sighted. We could not afford to do so in 1801-1805, or later.
The problem is, since 1965, most of the Media and much of the ruling elite (part and parcel of the same), no longer have allegiance to America. They actively seek global government and the decline of America.
We lost Vietnam in the American Media. We did not win decisively in Iraq, in the American Media.
We cannot afford to ignore the rest of the world. The whole world is smaller now, than the American colonies in 1776, as far as communication and transportation.
President Trump is working hard to return America's military to protecting America's interests, as he should.
16
posted on
05/25/2020 9:25:03 AM PDT
by
marktwain
(President Trump and his supporters are the Resistance. His opponents are the Reactionaries.)
To: Magnatron
Definition of mercenary (Entry 1 of 2)
: one that serves merely for wages
especially : a soldier hired into foreign service
mercenaries who guaranteed the success of the rebellion
B. F. Reilly
mercenary adjective
Definition of mercenary (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : serving merely for pay or sordid advantage : VENAL
also : GREEDY
2 : hired for service in the army of a foreign country
If youre okay with being called a mercenary, more power to you. Im not. I dont disagree with the rest of your post, but criticizing politicians who set policy and military members themselves are two different things.
17
posted on
05/25/2020 9:26:31 AM PDT
by
suthener
To: Alberta's Child
Im of the impression that U.S. military culture hasnt been culturally relevant in decades. How have you gained this deep insight? Your "About" page makes no mention of any military service by you. Did you acquire it in Alberta or Zambia?
What areas of American "culture" do you consider to be "culturally relevant in (recent) decades"?
18
posted on
05/25/2020 9:27:31 AM PDT
by
BwanaNdege
( Experience is the best teacher, but if you can accept it 2nd hand, the tuition is less!)
To: suthener
Theres a reason why the words army and navy are used separately in the U.S. Constitution.
This country was never supposed to have a large standing army at all. Instead, the Federal government was given the authority to raise an army by compelling states to put their state militias under Federal control when a war declaration was passed by Congress.
No such arrangement exists for a navy, because individual states had no legal authority to conduct military operations in international waters. Thats why the U.S. Navy was a Federal institution from the founding of the country.
By the way ... to the extent that those aircraft and amphibious tasks forces you described were engaged in military campaigns that had nothing to do with the defense of the United States then they WERE nothing more than mercenaries.
19
posted on
05/25/2020 9:28:21 AM PDT
by
Alberta's Child
("And somewhere in the darkness ... the gambler, he broke even.")
To: marktwain
He’s upset about an affair, but likely supports all sorts of gayness and pedophilia in the name of diversity.
20
posted on
05/25/2020 9:30:21 AM PDT
by
PIF
(They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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