To The Editor,
I continue to ask myself this question, why should African-Americans, Latino-Americans, middle-class Americans and poor Americans serve in the United States Armed Services?
I say this because of what the Tea Party, the Conservatives and the Republicans in the U.S. Congress and in some state legislatures are doing to the American people. For example, disenfranchisement in voting, threatening to shut down the government, budget cuts to Social Security, Medicare, education, food stamps, Meals on Wheels, health care benefits, unemployment benefits and other programs that are useful and essential to the livelihood of many American families. Their drive for austerity, like cuts in the military budget harms everyone, especially those in the Armed forces and their families.
Among the things you never hear them discuss are cuts to their own pay, health care and benefits. If they did it would allow them to feel the effect of cuts and how other people have to live with less. But, it would never happen because it is called — greed.
As for me, I am an American first and foremost and would not hide my children or grandchildren from going into the military service. However, this question remains: why should they go to war in other countries and fight for what they themselves don’t have here at home?
Is there anyone out there who can answer that question? (Please don’t tell me to go back to Africa like you used to say.)
Elwood Dixon
Coatesville
