U.S. military and civilians are increasingly divided

Yes, there is a warrior class. I take umbridge with terms like "lavish" when describing benefits people have earned in blood. Subsidized housing exists to compensate for the relatively smaller pay, frequent moves, and your relative inability to earn equity in a home.

People feel awkward when they deal with us for a variety of reasons. It stems from I think genuine human need to relate, include, and form groups. They recognize we leave the group to protect the group, so they don't want to be jerks about it. Problem is they can't relate because they have not shared the sacrifice and the hard ships. This is where the real weirdness starts. It is easy to feel like a stranger in your own home land.

I strongly disagree with the people who brand this as hero worship that we some how demand from them. I never asked for that. Just don't crap all over me while I do it. I think some genuinely are grateful, of which I appreciate. I think others feel some guilt and assuage it by heaping praise (i.e. Thank god he dove on that one so I didn't have to, I've got shit to do). Others simply don't know what to do (i.e. I don't know what to do with my hands, I am nervous). Conveying thanks seems to be a socially accepted thing and doesn't offend, so they go with it.

People wonder aloud about why the (perceived) diversity problem exists, it is because service is voluntary and it calls to people with certain convictions, predispositions, and ideals. It doesn't resonate with large swaths of Americans. If you attract the same types of small groups of people (not just ethnicity), your diversity (on many dimensions, not just ethnicity) will decrease. This is why people don't know what to do if they don't share the same experience and sacrifice, and is also why Matt Best's characteritures of wimpy, liberal milenials resonate with the veteran community. The trail diverged in the wood a long time ago. This is very dangerous for the nation. The Clauswitzian three legged stool of the relationship between the government, the military, and the people is perilously wobbly for many reasons, in addition to this one.

This is why there is an ever increasing divide between the 99% and the 1%. Until "they" walk a few feet in "our" boots the divide will only get larger..

Interesting read. Thanks for sharing.