"In the book, you credit the military for setting you on the right path. But a lot of people see the military as an institution that preys on men in disadvantaged situations."
Have there been problems with the military, historically? Absolutely! I can't ignore them, but to say the military is an unfair institution that feeds by preying on people is, I think, unfair by any stretch of the imagination.
It's something I had to wrestle with. I come from a community and a family that is very skeptical of the military, and, in some ways, has thought it hasn't always lived up to its creed. I know the man I am has a lot to do with my military training, and the soldiers I went through combat with. It gave me the opportunity to pay for college, and some of my proudest moments have occurred while wearing the uniform. And it's worth remembering that the military has led the charge for a lot of social issues. Desegregation occurred in the military before it did in the rest of society. It has concepts of equal pay and equal worth for men and women, which society still doesn't have.
"As your book suggests, a lot of poor Americans aren't getting the help they need from public institutions. Does that ever make you question your decision to fight for the country?"
My grandparents grew up at a time when, if they were driving through the country, they would make sure they eat whenever they could because you never know when the next place will come that will allow black people in. Are there still systemic problems? Absolutely! But I think about the level of progress that we have made, and the country that I would like to see in the future.
Source: http://www.salon.com/2010/05/09/wes_moore_interview/
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