The De-Localization of Patriotism
Although bases in Massachusetts will gain from the proposed realignment of military bases, New England is clearly losing out in favor of southern states. More than half of service positions in New England may be cut.First, I think that the Pentagon is making a huge mistake closing the submarine base at Groton, CT, which will drive Electric Boat out of business.
Second, it will affect patriotism and the mentality of the military. Fewer New Englanders will experience a base in their neighborhoods, and thus will have a lower regard for military service. A less geographically diverse group of men and women will join, meaning that the leadership of the mililtary will be less representative of the nation as a whole.
It won't be enough to have recruiting offices in strip malls. The realignment will denigrate the landscape of American patriotism.
posted by Nathanael @ 12:41 PM
4 Comments:
I'm not as informed about these base closings as I should be, but they stink of the privatization of military to me.
-brdgt
Many of the base closings signal that the Defense Dept will not work as closely with industries in the North East. Sikorsky in Hartford has already experienced a major drop in sales. I think that EB will do less business. I think the exact issue is that the military is aligning itself with specific industries.
N,
I thought this remark curious:
"Fewer New Englanders will experience a base in their neighborhoods, and thus will have a lower regard for military service."
These closings will put alot of people out of work, no doubt. But I don't see them causing Yankees to turn a corner on their attitudes toward the military. I can't think of a place in the country where the military is held in lower regard than here already. .
Military bases have a clear integrating effect. In neighborhoods in New England where there are bases, such as mine, respect for service is higher. Yankees might be disposed against the military, but the presence of bases clearly has a positive effect.
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