The conflict we barely see

Another good example of how our society's approach to conflict has changed is the difference between the two wars we have fought with Iraq. Although it only lasted a little more than a month, I can still tell you all kinds of things about the Persian Gulf War, because I, along with the rest of the American people, was there. I don't know if my younger readers realize this or not, but that war was televised, not just in quick soundbites on the 6 o'clock news, but with live coverage on all the networks for the first few days and then on CNN. I remember watching it in Mr. Hehr's study hall. We didn't usually get to watch television in school, but he thought it was important that we all should know what was going on, because the boys in my class were almost old enough to be drafted. See this video for an example of the coverage on CNN, and here is an example of the regular television briefings that General Schwarzkopf gave.

Contrast this with either of the wars we are fighting now and have been fighting for most of the last decade. How much information do we get about what is going on and the actual violence that is occurring? "Yes," I can hear you saying, "but there's no way we could take seeing that level of violence day in and day out." Which is my point exactly! If we are going to cause violence elsewhere in the world, we need to know what is happening and agree that it is necessary and we are able to live with the consequences. If we can't take it, we shouldn't turn our heads away and pretend it isn't happening! It is our removal from these conflicts that has allowed them to go on so long. (And did you realize that last month, the war in Afghanistan surpassed the Vietnam War as the longest-ever conflict involving Americans?)