Commentary: Veterans understand the threat of isolationism
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is a commentary reflecting on Veterans Day.
On each Veterans Day, it is important to pause and see where we are as a country, with respect to our veterans’ representation.
In 1970, 75% of US House members were veterans. In 1974, 81% of U.S. senators were veterans. These were the peaks for each body. Now only 17 U.S. senators (17%) and 82 members of the House (18.9%) are veterans (Pew Research Center). Among the U.S. civilian population today, only 6.2% are veterans (US Census), while fewer than 1% are combat veterans. These days, too many non-veterans in our government are calling the shots, especially on foreign policy.
February will mark the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We just had the one-month anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel. While the world is distracted by these two wars, China may take advantage and finally invade Taiwan.
From the words of some 2024 presidential candidates, to the votes of a few members of Indiana’s Congressional delegation, to pro-Russian and anti-Israeli Facebook posts of a former Muncie School Board member, I am concerned that too many in positions of influence want us to turn our backs on the rest of the world. This is also turning back the clock in a major way.
In 1916, Woodrow Wilson (a non-veteran) was re-elected president on the theme, “He kept us out of war.” Shortly after his second inauguration, President Wilson ate his words and asked Congress to enter the war. Had the USA entered World War I in 1914, instead of 1917, perhaps many more lives could have been saved on both sides.
A generation later, the America First Committee was led by isolationists, including aviator Charles Lindbergh, wanting to prevent entry into World War II (The Economist, October 28, 2023). Many of its members referred to FDR as “Franklin Delano Rosenberg.” Had the USA entered the war in 1939, instead of 1941, perhaps the Holocaust could have been ended earlier and many more lives would have been saved on both sides.
In 1952, my grandfather, E. Wayne LaMar, chaired the presidential campaign of isolationist Ohio Senator Robert Taft (a non-veteran) in Henry County. Thankfully, Taft was barely beaten by Eisenhower at the Republican National Convention. Had Taft been elected president, the USA may have withdrawn from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which would have led to further Communist gains.
Here in Indiana, we have been blessed by leadership from several veterans who understand the threat of isolationism. The late Sen. Richard Lugar was a Navy veteran, who chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and helped make the world a safer place through the Nunn-Lugar Soviet Nuclear Threat Reduction Act. Former Sen. Dan Coats is an Army veteran, who also served as ambassador to Germany and most recently as director of National Intelligence. Sen. Todd Young is a Marine Corps veteran, who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and is currently ranking member of the subcommittee on the Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism.
Gen. Douglas MacArthur once said, “The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.” Yet soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines do not cut and run. On this Veterans Day, let’s remember to not turn our backs on our friends and allies. After all, every time history repeats itself, the price goes up.
Nate LaMar, an international manager by profession, also serves as Military Academy Liaison Officer (West Point recruiter) for East Central Indiana, and served as Henry County Council President from 2009-2019.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Commentary: Veterans understand the threat of isolationism
