Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


 OPINION 
23

Wedding Military Means Divorcing Manhattan

High society is into service, Army wife says, but not armed forces

Share

(Newser) – When her Manhattan colleagues found out Chloe Kamarck was marrying an Army officer, she got a lot of questions: “But why? So he supports the war? Is he a Republican?” This generation is into service—the recession has driven many to the Peace Corps, Teach for America, and the like—but as during Vietnam, the military carries a stigma, especially amongst the upper classes, Kamarck writes for Vogue.

Once powerful families like the Kennedys and the Bushes took pride in their military service; now, they avoid it like the plague. Schools like Harvard and Columbia still ban on-campus ROTC programs. “The tacit lesson for the elite is that military service is not for their kind.” There are cultural differences—Kamarck thought she’d be dating at the MoMA, not Chili’s—but they're superficial. “It took me a while to warm up to his buzz cut, but his patriotism was contagious.”

Joe Biden talks with his son, Army Capt. Beau Biden, at Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq, July 4, 2009. Biden is an all-too-rare example of a powerful man serving in the military.
Joe Biden talks with his son, Army Capt. Beau Biden, at Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq, July 4, 2009. Biden is an all-too-rare example of a powerful man serving in the military.   (AP Photo/ Khalid Mohammed, Pool)
First Lt. Brian Ink kisses his wife, Megan, after giving her a box of Valentine's Day chocolates on Sunday Feb. 15, 2009 at the Kentucky Air National Guard base in Louisville, Ky.
First Lt. Brian Ink kisses his wife, Megan, after giving her a box of Valentine's Day chocolates on Sunday Feb. 15, 2009 at the Kentucky Air National Guard base in Louisville, Ky.   (AP Photo/ The Courier-Journal, David R. Lutman)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
11.20.09
The Health-Care Wars Have Just Begun
23 comments
VIEWING:
 
Reader64481089
Jul 22, 09 2:15 PM CDT
The tacit lesson for the elite is that military service is not for their kind.” ..........Yea, just like Nam, save it for the poor who can't get a college deferment or a rich old man who can buy your way out.....the "Elite" can't be bothered with the wars they start, that is for lesser humans. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+9
IN RESPONSE:
Kookey90
Jul 23, 09 5:17 AM CDT
Nothing new here, this has been going on since the 70's. I grew up in NYC, went to Nam in'71 returned to the city in '73, left in '75 and never returned. I spent most of my time since in the south and overseas where people have a better appreciation for the military.
Vote up! Vote down!
0
IN RESPONSE:
myvoice
Jul 22, 09 2:58 PM CDT
"The Republican Party of today is the true party of the middle class and protector of our military and national defense" Since when? When has the GOP ever sent their own families to war? BUSH JR was AWOL in effing the guard for Christ sake! Again CK you have a case of "flap jaw"!!! your running your mouth but all that comes is ignorant BS!!!
Vote up! Vote down!
+3
IN RESPONSE:
myvoice
Jul 22, 09 3:02 PM CDT
I forgot to mentioned that you refer to the "liberal elite" what about the conservative elite? How about we just say the "Elite" regardless of there political views? The rich in general don't give a rats ass about us in the middle or the poor! I cant believe that anyone would think that GOP (which is full of the rich) care about anyone but themselves!!
Vote up! Vote down!
+3
IN RESPONSE:
Rembrandt_Q_Einstein
Jul 22, 09 3:25 PM CDT
Look what I found..."I'm all for freedom of speech but there are some members(specifically Corona_King) who don't really bring much to the comment sections besides things that wold be considered flames. I've come into countless comment threads and see that nearly ever comment he makes has been flagged. I know it isn't just me as he also carries an average of about -8 thumbs every time he posts. Is there a limit to the amount of trolling he's allowed to do or will you guys just let him go? There are civil ways to talk about opposing ideals and his way is certainly not one of them. So I'm just wondering if there's a point where you give him a demerit/infraction/etc. or ban him? I ask that you at least send him an e-mail asking him to spend a bit more time coming up with counter-arguments and less time calling anyone who doesn't agree with him a liberal fascist"......Newser's reply......"After your post, we've been having internal discussions about what steps to take with problem members. As of now, there's no banning measure in place - we rely on users to flag comments to remove them. However, we understand that this may not be enough for certain members who habitually leave inflammatory comments. We'll keep you posted on any decisions we make in the upcoming days. Thanks for the feedback - it has certainly made this a prominent issue for us".
Vote up! Vote down!
+1

View all 23 comments »

LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

1 Story

(Newser) - They’re called “ecobarriers,” but critics say the walls being erected in Rio de Janeiro aren’t there to protect trees. The 10-foot cinderblock walls are supposed to prevent Rio’s favelas, or shantytowns, from expanding into the rainforest, but critics say they’re really a means of... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Brazil • Rio de Janeiro • wall • rain forest • class divide • class

1 Story


US  •  Opinion 
TwitterFollow @NewserUS on Twitter

 
military • Manhattan • wife • class divide • class

from our news partners

CinemaBlend.com