Ben,

I just wanted to write and say kudos on 2 Dinar! Your articles are on point. "Nothing Romantic About It" hit a chord with me. You wrote, "my war experience has consumed me ever since... souring every career opportunity with disinterest." It felt so good to know that I am not the only who feels this. Here I am, college educated, a wealth of experience from my tours in OIF, and I cannot find a job that keeps my attention more than 2 months. The only solace I have found has been a return to school for a graduate degree.

Thanks and keep on writing.

Dave
Dallas, TX

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the note and the kind words, I'm glad you found 2 Dinar and it means a lot to us when other vets give feedback and help keep us pointed in the right direction.

Moving on is undeniably hard. I just stay closely linked with other Marines and vets and everyday try to channel that impatient energy into finding the lifestyle that respects and lives up to the kind of experiences we've had in the service.

-Ben

Dear Steve,

Your suggestion of a National Service draft is an excellent idea that deserves much merit. It would allow enough freedom for people to choose something they are good at and/or enjoy while also serving the general public. This is a public policy I would endorse to the fullest extent. I have myself contemplated what type of public service I could enter, and have considered becoming a JAG when I earn my Law degree, or perhaps spending some years with the Peace Corps or a similar organization after I earn my BA.

This does not seem like an unreasonable burden on the everyday citizen, it retains a generally all-volunteer army, and any self-respecting American must recognize that self-sacrifice is necessary to ensure that the American legacy will live on. I have been a long-time reader (relative to the age of the site of course) and this is easily the article that I have agreed with the most. I do have a feeling however that an amendment would be necessary to prevent the inevitable squabbles over individual civil liberties. All in all, excellent proposal, and I know I'm not the only one out there listening.

Thank you for your service to this amazing country.

Andrew

Andrew,

Thank you for your letter. We're glad that you like the idea of a national service mandate. In our view, it's about time more Americans took responsibility for the direction of our country, and service is a great place to start. Your concern over individual civil liberties is certainly one of the largest obstacles to bringing this to fruition. A solution for this may be to give service credit for volunteering, however then we really just open a loophole for exploitation. The road is difficult, and possibly impossible to traverse, but if only a thousand people give more of themselves then they ask of others this country will be better for it.

-Steve

Ben,

[In regards to your article Environmentalism = Patriotism,] I enjoyed the article and agree with most of what you wrote. I do have one point of contention with your ideas, however. While I believe it is true that Israel should be supported by the United States, I do think that both the Israelis and the Palestinian people suffer under the arrangement.

I have two questions for you and they are admittedly rhetorical: How did the modern nation of Israel come into existence and who benefits from it the most? One book that you can read that will help you figure this out is The Secret War Against the Jews, by James Loftus, another is The Sacred Executioner by Hyam Maccoby.

Just think about the long history of the Jews being used as pawns and scapegoats by those in power. In my opinion it was not for their benefit that the Jews were enticed into creating the modern nation of Israel.

Please let me know what you think about this.

Michael
USA

Hi Michael,

I agree that both the Palestinians and Israelis are suffering. However, the history of how Israel came to be- defined from any perspective- has been eclipsed by the current paradigm, and is thus irrelevant to someone in my position- serving on the front lines of American foreign policy. My concern is about the future and safety of America, and secondarily about the well being of all other peoples around the world.

Frankly, I see the only positive outcome for the US, Israelis, and Palestinians to be peace (at cost to all parties), and it's unclear to me why the US and Israelis are content with a deadly stalemate in which, as you said, both sides suffer. The Arabs in the region are looking to the US to step up and make it happen- because we are still one of the most powerful countries in the world, and because Israel's power, in many forms, comes from us. The disengagement on the Palestinian/Israeli Peace issue by our current leadership is a boon for terrorism and a self-inflicted wound that will keep bleeding.

But back to the article I wrote- I sincerely think we're halfway out of the Persian Gulf if we can create peace in Israel/Palestine. It's not going to be easy, but that's what the Dept of State gets paid for. I think...

-Ben

Writers-

I don't usually write "amen letters". They are tedious and redundant. Plus I'm not a veteran, so I don't feel qualified to comment on many of your topics. Sometimes we agree, sometimes not, but I have tremendous respect for your cogent, sincere writing.

In my opinion the media is all about whatever bloviating blowhard can make the most noise. There is no effort to achieve real solutions, everyone just runs their mouth, points fingers, does nothing. I applaud your efforts to say something intelligent and nuanced about the armed forces, foreign policy, and the war(s).

I'm a regular visitor and my only suggestion is that you might as well make a few $$ from your work. It could be argued that it would influence your commentary, but I think that's nonsense.

This is my last correspondence until I have something salient to add to your work. Until then, I'll be reading. Keep it up.

Case
Orange County, CA

Case,

Thanks for the thoughtful feedback and for the suggestion.

In response to your first comment- before I joined the military, I had the same feeling of being unqualified to pass judgment on policy and war. But looking back on it, I'd say today that every informed American is qualified to comment on these issues and in fact, should share their opinions with their countrymen and delegates in DC. This is the participatory element that seems to be missing in our democracy, partially, I submit, because we citizens have allowed our politicians to break it (the democracy).

I have considered using the site to make money for veterans' aid organizations. But because so many media channels have devolved into biased profit generators, once you bring money into a magazine like this, credibility deteriorates while the number of skeptics increases exponentially. Admittedly, I'm one of those skeptics. 2 Dinar will remain a staff-funded project with a negative cash flow to preserve our impartiality.

-Ben