Hello Ladies (and Gentlemen, as we all know sometimes the case may be)!
My name is Carissa Picard. Babette has kindly allowed me to share with you my experiences at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. As a fellow military spouse with press credentials, it has been very exciting so far!
I thought, however, it would help for you all to know a little about me first. I am the wife of an active duty helicopter pilot currently in Iraq and the mother of two BEAUTIFUL (if not rambunctious) young boys. I am an attorney (licensed but not practicing) and freelance writer.
Now that we have been “introduced”, let me tell you about Angie Morgan.
Angie Morgan is a military spouse (her husband is an active duty marine) and former marine reservist who led the Pledge of Allegiance during the Convention’s opening ceremonies.
Angie is also part of the leadership for Blue Star Families for Obama, a grassroots group that was created by Kathy Roth-Douquet, an active duty Marine spouse, and Laura Dempsey, an active duty Army spouse, when it became clear that Senator Obama was the front-runner for the Democratic nomination.
I had a chance to talk to Angie on Monday. Naturally, I asked her why she chose to come out in support of Senator Obama. I thought she had a really interesting response
Angie explained that she was encouraged by Senator Obama’s stance on active citizenship. She said that as a military family member she was excited by this vision; one where every citizen serves this country in some capacity; for example, you don’t have to wear a uniform to serve, you could volunteer in your community, you could take time to consider how your personal decisions and actions are benefiting this country as a whole and impacting your fellow citizens.
It is a message that resonates with Angie and she believes that it will resonate with other military families as well because “the burden of our conflict overseas isn’t just a burden placed upon our military, it is a burden placed on America and every American should be matching that burden with their efforts and ideas on how they too can best serve our country in this time of trial and conflict.”
For Angie, Senator Obama’s vision for active citizenship encourages Americans to do that.What do you think?
4 Comments
Hi Carissa, welcome to the MilSpouse blog.
My opinion is that active citizenship is not a new concept and it’s been around a lot longer than Obama has been in public service. High school students are encouraged and many are required to do community service as part of their education before they graduate. My college alma mater makes volunteerism and community work an important part of what their students do outside the classroom. There are also many, many community organizations out there working hard to help promote important projects to benefit our communities and our country. We may not hear about it in the press, but that’s the beauty of active citizens who do their part without concern for recognition.
As a Navy Reserve wife, I understand the feeling that military families often share, that we’re the only ones who are doing the most in terms of service for our country, but there are hundreds if not thousands of grassroot organizations out there right now formed by ordinary citizens who do things to help make our country better. Many of them do things to support our military in addition to our schools and our communities. I don’t think any kind of push from the top for a new program or a new policy intiative, whether by Obama or anyone else, is going to increase community service or good active citizenship – it has to start with the individual.
The other point I’d like to make from your post is that no, Americans “don’t have to wear a uniform to serve” but we should still remember that those serving in uniform are serving at the highest level to our nation in protecting and keeping our citizens and our national interests secure. The service of our military shouldn’t be equated with the service of someone taking their lunch hour to serve in a soup kitchen. Each is important in their own way, but they are two very different forms of “active citizenship.”
The idea of ‘active citizenship’ sounds an awful lot like ‘nationalism,’ to me. I think we’ve moved away from a national identity during the last few generations, and it would be good to encourage a return to a united America.
A lot of people I know (not me, personally) don’t seem like they’re ‘proud’ to be Americans, and I think part of the reason is that they feel alienated, disengaged, too busy looking out for #1. And we’ve had 16 years during which about half the country’s population really didn’t like the president (i.e., Clinton’s two terms and Bush’s).
Has it always been this way? Am I betraying my youth?
I have to agree with the other comments- I think it’s always been part of the American ethic, whether adhered to or not, to be philanthropic. Alexis de Toucqueville, a wealthy Frenchman visited this country at its inception and remarked of our ability to come together to support one another. ‘Active citizenship’ isn’t an ethos of the Obama campaign anymore than chicken noodle soup is the newest invention for comfort in times of sickness.
My humble opinion is that we need to be very aware of the topics and where we as Americans stand on topics rather than the jargon put out at any of the conventions, debates, or other public forums. When it comes down to it, stances on issues far outweigh any well-spoken moments.
Over and out…
I think people underestimate the how much active citizenship there really is in this country. I’m not discounting Ms. Morgan’s statement in any way, just making a personal observation in light of her statements. And, I think this matter doesn’t have so much to do with military service as it does with individual civic service and/or volunteerism.
Sara Horn made an interesting comment here. She stated, “[t]he other point I’d like to make from your post is that no, Americans ‘don’t have to wear a uniform to serve’ but we should still remember that those serving in uniform are serving at the highest level to our nation in protecting and keeping our citizens and our national interests secure. The service of our military shouldn’t be equated with the service of someone taking their lunch hour to serve in a soup kitchen. Each is important in their own way, but they are two very different forms of “active citizenship.”
Respectfully, Ms. Horn, people do know this and no one is disputing that, at least not here as far as I can tell. I don’t imagine Ms. Morgan, Ms. Picard or Mr. Obama would allege that military service and “soup kitchen service are the same. Ms. Picard was simply reiterating the statement that we can all serve our nation in some way. Active citizenship is more basic than one might think. Surely, military service is one way to exhibit citizenship in one’s country. However, citizenship, as defined in part by Merriam-Webster, is essentially being a part of a community or country. So, a just your average voting person even is a prime example of an active citizen; as they are one who takes part in the government, for example. As we can see, it’s certainly not limited to military service or people who volunteer their time otherwise. It can be basic acts showing you are personally invested in the country you call home.
I think that Mr. Obama appeals to so many people because he gives a sense that the American public is a bigger part of the national equation. Additionally, he does not limit his ideas and ideals to solely his individual plans. He incorporates the citizens of the Nation and draws them in by encouraging them to do—something, anything. It is a prominent Democratic stance. Think back to President Kennedy even.
Ms. Morgan stated that, “the burden of our conflict overseas isn’t just a burden placed upon our military, it is a burden placed on America and every American should be matching that burden with their efforts and ideas on how they too can best serve our country in this time of trial and conflict.” This is reminiscent of a bygone era. The families, spouses and general public during WWII had a strong sense of civic duty. They did what they could back home to support the war effort or the troops (perhaps dependent on their politics) and demonstrate patriotism. For some, it was working in a munitions factory (even when they didn’t have to) and for others it was volunteering for the Red Cross or even the USO.
While I think that volunteerism and civic engagement is underestimated in our country, I do always think there is room for improvement. If 2 out 5 people are volunteering, why can’t 4 out of 5 or 5 out of 5. It only takes an hour a week or even an hour a month. Giving back to a community, state or country often gives one a feeling of belonging. Theoretically, the more invested one is in something, the more likely they are to care about it and nurture it. I believe that is why Ms. Morgan feels so strongly about Mr. Obama. And, if that is truly Mr. Obama’s message and his goals for our country, then it is worthy of applause. Many will say that it’s all talk and campaign storytelling. Perhaps it is. Whatever the case, the message is a good one and something worth considering.
On another note, in this same vein, both Presidential candidates will participate in a forum called “A Nation of Service” on September 11, 2008. The plan is for them to each discuss their own visions of civic engagement. The candidates both made a comment, which I copied from Greg Heinrich’s August 21, 2008, article Obama and McCain Agree to Participate in Forum on Service and Civic Engagement (9/11/2008):
“I look forward to participating in the 9/11 service forum,” said Senator Obama. “After September 11, Americans of every age, race, region and walk of life were ready to step up and answer a new call of service for their country. Making that call to service will be a central cause of my presidency, because we need the active citizenship of the American people to meet the challenges of the 21st century.”
“I am pleased to be participating in the ServiceNation Summit in New York City. The Summit will be an important remembrance of those that made the ultimate sacrifice serving their country and others as we focus on how to inspire others to serve causes greater than their own self-interest through national and community service,” said Senator McCain.
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[...] When this presidential election came down to Senators Obama and McCain, there was a lot of talk about national service and what it means to “serve” your country. McCain and his supporters naturally felt they had the market covered with his military service during the Vietnam War (and subsequent years as a prisoner of war). Then-Senator Obama and his supporters countered that national service, or put differently, serving your country, can come in many shapes and forms—not solely that of a man in a uniform bearing arms. Echoing that theme of variegated national service and its value to this country in its diversity, was Angie Morgan, a military spouse and member of Blue Star Families for Obama that I interviewed at the Democratic National Convention in August of 2008 for Military Spouse Magazine. [...]