Clovis, N.M., won its battle to keep nearby Cannon
Air Force Base open (HCN, 8/22/05: Leavin’ on a Jet Plane). This
demonstrates that we are, indeed, a nation with an economy on an
eternal war footing, where peace is just bad for business.
The Air Force wanted to close Cannon to save money. Now
we are essentially subsidizing Clovis so that residents can
continue to live in the manner to which they’ve become
accustomed.
Clovis spotlights our hypocrisy. We say we
are peaceful, but our economy is dearly dependent upon fighting
wars and preparing for wars. How can we be a peaceful nation when
so many communities like Clovis hitch their livelihoods to the war
wagon and fight to keep it rolling?
My youngest son,
Jacob, graduated high school this year, so of course the local
military recruiters stuffed our mailbox with pitches. “You know,
Dad, this might be a good way to get money for college,” Jacob
mused while perusing a brochure fictionalizing the lifestyle of a
weekend warrior.
“Son,” I said, “the military is not
about money for college. It’s not about seeing the world and
it’s not about learning a trade. The military is about
killing people. If that’s not something you want to be a part
of, then the military is not for you.”
Art
Merrill
U.S. Navy, retired
Prescott
Valley, Arizona
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Clovis highlights America’s eternal war economy.
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