In the wake of Memorial Day, America’s recognition of our soldiers’ sacrifice has not been enough. Many will put their American flags up, and politicians will certainly claim to honor our fallen soldiers, but true recognition comes with advocating for a more peaceful future. Today, this means ending the war in Iran.
Over a dozen American soldiers have died in the conflict so far. Nearly three months in, it has not resulted in any notable change besides drastic rises in energy prices for Americans back home due to the Strait of Hormuz blockade.
Gas prices have gone up by over 50 percent since the war began, and inflation has risen to 3.8 percent. The war’s economic impacts were further highlighted by the sudden shutdown of Spirit Airlines on May 1, in part due to the dramatic surge in fuel prices that put the airline’s low-cost model in jeopardy.
However, the recent aggression in Iran is far from the only unjustified and costly American operation in history. Our history is plagued by pointless and deadly conflicts that have received bipartisan support despite their humanitarian consequences and the danger posed for American soldiers.
A recent example is the second Iraq war (2003), in which over 4,000 American service members were killed. The primary motive for the war was the unreliable suspicion of Iraq having weapons of mass destruction.
Although Iraq’s brutal dictator, Saddam Hussein, was successfully overthrown just weeks into the conflict, his removal was only followed by aggressive insurgencies.
The continued fighting between American troops and insurgent groups killed approximately 200,000 Iraqi civilians, and the country was left in complete ruin and instability after the United States pulled out of the conflict in 2011.
The Iraq war highlights the dangers of interventionist policies, as the United States was pulled into a conflict far more severe than anticipated. The suspicion of Iraq having weapons of mass destruction is also nearly identical to the Trump administration’s justification for the current conflict in Iran.
America’s disregard for our soldiers was also highlighted in the Vietnam War, which holds essential lessons for today. The war was fought to curb the spread of communism in a far away country during the Cold war, and the United States lost over 50,000 soldiers. Additionally, 25 percent of soldiers deployed to Vietnam were drafted, and draftees accounted for 30 percent of American fatalities in the war.
The Vietnam War exemplifies how soldiers are too often treated by politicians not as human beings with futures ahead of them, but as pawns in a geopolitical chess match. The draft was not used to defend the United States from an immediate threat. Instead, it sent young Americans to fight in a foreign war whose purpose became increasingly difficult to justify.
Our soldiers are not just a mere statistic, and their lives are inherently valuable. Unfortunately, too many of our soldiers have been lost to our overseas interests, and while America does face legitimate threats, war should always be a last resort.
A fallen soldier leaves behind their friends and loved ones, who are left to carry the burden for years to come. Beyond fatalities, soldiers who are sent to combat often suffer from lifelong physical wounds, PTSD, and economic hardship.
Our government has consistently failed to support our veterans in need. Although the defense budget has increased, topping $1 trillion last year, less than half of the budget has gone to supporting veterans and active military personnel. Instead, most of the budget has gone to private companies. Additionally, the Department of Veterans Affairs has shown consistent failures when treating veterans with mental illness, with issues including short staffing and a failure to enforce high standards of care.
How Many Times Has the Draft Been Used?
There was an error. Please try again.
1 Total Questions
Demanding accountability from our government is one of the greatest displays of patriotism and respect for our soldiers. Patriotism is not just putting up an American flag at your house, or reposting a Memorial Day message on Instagram. Rather, it is recognizing the significance of our fallen soldiers’ lives, and trying to limit the future number of soldiers who are killed.
Our current administration may claim to honor our troops, but its actions have done the exact opposite. Both the war in Iran and the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in January have put our soldiers’ lives at risk, and neither operation has brought substantial benefits to Americans back home.
Additionally, President Trump has had a history of making disrespectful comments toward veterans. In a visit to France in 2018, he referred to fallen World War 1 soldiers as “suckers” and “losers.” In 2015, he bashed then-Arizona senator and Vietnam War veteran John McCain for being a prisoner of war, saying, “He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.”
Despite his past comments, Trump will still try to act as if he respects our soldiers on Memorial Day, and unfortunately, many Americans will believe him. However, don’t be one of them. The truth is not in his speeches or extravagant military parades. It’s in his actions and comments behind closed doors.
Memorial Day should not just be a day for remembrance. It should also be a day for action and change, so we can have fewer dead soldiers in the future. Criticizing the current war in Iran is not unpatriotic—it’s the opposite, and it is a great way to honor our soldiers and Memorial Day. Our history is filled with pointless conflicts, but now is the time for change.
This issue matters especially to us. As high school students, many of us are approaching the age when males must register with the Selective Service, making the possibility of a future draft feel less distant.
It may not be you who is called to serve, but it could be a friend, classmate, or sibling. Memorial Day should remind us not only to honor those who died in war, but also to think carefully about the future we want to build. That change starts with us, the American people, and it must eventually reach Washington, D.C.
