Americans Regard Military Highly

The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life reports that the American public’s esteem for the Military is high. The findings are based on a survey of 4,006 adults via telephone interviews conducted March 21-April 8, 2013. The report further explains the findings:

Americans report that they continue to hold the military in high regard, with more than three-quarters of U.S. adults (78%) saying that members of the armed services contribute “a lot” to society’s well-being. That’s a modest decline from 84% four years ago, the last time the Pew Research Center asked the public to rate various professions. But the military still tops the list of 10 occupational groups, followed closely by teachers, medical doctors, scientists and engineers. A solid majority of the public says each of those occupations contributes a lot to society.

Whites are somewhat more likely than either Blacks or Hispanics to say members of the military contribute a lot to society. And Republicans and independents who lean toward the Republican Party are somewhat more likely than Democrats and independents who lean toward the Democratic Party to see the military as contributing a lot to society.

The full article can be read here:  http://www.pewforum.org/Other-Demographics/Public-Esteem-for-Military-Still-High.aspx

Finkelman on Lincoln and the Dakota Pardons

Paul Finkelman, Albany Law School, has posted Lincoln the Lawyer, Humanitarian Concerns, and the Dakota Pardons, which is forthcoming in the William Mitchell Law Review 39 (2013)
Here is the abstract:    

H.A. Schwabe, The Siege of New Ulm. (Credit)

In 1862 there was a short war in Minnesota initiated by some members of the Dakota (Sioux) Nation. The Dakota fought against settlers in central Minnesota, and ultimately against the Minnesota militia and U.S. Army elements. After the War was over the Army tried nearly 400 Dakota soldiers by military commissions, and sentence 303 to death. President Lincoln, acting under the militia act of 1862, refused to sign the warrants of execution for 87 percent of those sentenced to die. In the end Lincoln reprieved 265 of the condemned men. The remain 38 were eventually hanged. This even was both the largest mass hanging in American history and also the largest mass pardon of my people sentenced to death. This article – the lead article in a symposium on the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 – explores the route Lincoln took to pardoning the vast majority of those convicted. It also explores the fairness –actually the utter unfairness – of these sham “trials” before the military commissions that often lasted no more than ten minutes.

Changing Opinions About Keeping Troops in Afghanistan

With recent news of Obama's plan to pull troops out of Afghanistan, many people have the war on their minds, and they expressed their opinions in this survey from the Pew Research Center. For the first time, the majority of American citizens would like to see troops pulled out of Afghanistan instead of being kept there until the situation is more stable. Support for taking troops out of Afghanistan has grown for every demographic group since this time last year. The majority of every group now believe that taking troops out is the best thing to do. The only exception is Republicans, with a slight majority (53%) believing that we should keep troops there until the situation stabilizes.

One reason for this sudden shift in thought might be due to the optimistic opinions that most hold about U.S. involvement in Afghanistan. Across the board, the majority of Americans believe that using military force was the right decision in this situation. Most also believe that the U.S. will achieve its goals, and that the military effort is going well. Despite these positive opinions about the U.S.'s military involvement, not as many people believe that Afghanistan will be able to maintain a stable government.

sr cf

Thank You Soldier!

On this Memorial Day 2009, themostsearched would be greatly amiss if we didn't publicly thank the noble and courageous men and women serving in our armed forces, past and present. We honor you today.

themostsearched is chagrined we did not honor our living members of our country's armed forces last week on the 60th annual Armed Forces Day. Upon reflection, we have three annual opportunities to pay homage to our military: the current forces on Armed Forces Day, the deceased forces on Memorial Day, and our honorably discharged and retired forces on Veteran's Day. Custom, however, permits us to honor all or any of our present or past military on each holiday.

Serving in the military is a noble endeavor; indeed, it is one themostsearched wishes perhaps we somehow had made the opportunity to experience. Alas! themostsearched must use this freedom granted by the service of our military to lift our country and build from within.

America, May God Thy Gold Refine!