CHAUTAUQUA–To those who came of age in the last quarter of the 20th century, American–and young Americans’–involvement in long wars then seemed like something for history books.

The experience of earlier generations was different. Many knew the experience of long wars. Some knew it first hand.

For however many generations, many young American men, and some young American women, had been in the military, for however long.

Some young American men were drafted.

Many other young American men, and some young American women, voluntarily enlisted. Maybe they enlisted and then, for whatever reason, opted not to re-enlist. Yet enlist they did.

A change culminated in 1975. By then, even the military draft–which had ended in 1973–was gone. Young Americans were free to choose a military path or another path. Most chose another path.

When this columnist was a teacher in Germany, German boys found it astonishing that American boys didn’t have to do what they had to do: Either a brief time in the military, or a slightly longer, but still brief, time of “Zivildienst,” literally translated as “civil service.” For a brief time after secondary school, their lives would be different than most of their American counterparts.’

One result of the change that culminated for Americans in 1975 is that for most who came of age after 1975, war is a bit of an abstract concept. Whatever the consequences of that might be, war is a bit of an abstract concept.

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Others’ experience is different.

They understand, not in an abstract way but first hand, that challenges–particularly military challenges–abound for the United States in the 21st century.

Meet David Rodriguez. His military career took him to many places, and he filled many roles.

This retired four-star Army general speaks the way armed-forces members are taught to speak: Confidently, methodically, and carefully.

Speaking to Advocates for Balance at Chautauqua, or ABC, on July 29, Rodriguez saw four countries presenting concerns to the United States: China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.

Although both China and Russia have aging populations, which are negatives for them, Rodriguez sees China engaging with other countries diplomatically, economically, and militarily, while Russia engages in war with Ukraine and destabilizes other countries.

Apart from these countries, he sees violent extremist organizations operating in the Middle East and east of the Middle East. One, he says, has not just “terrorists” but “a terrorist army” with 300 miles of tunnels in Gaza, some of them under schools and hospitals.

Other concerns include recent episodes Rodriguez recalls: CoVid, the Chinese balloon traversing American air space, the Colonial Pipeline episode, and the July 2024 “computer outage.”

As for possible upcoming concerns, he sees space, cyber security, natural and man-made disasters, technological disruptions, and Russian interference in American elections.

And, he notes, the United States has the smallest army since World War II.

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Rodriguez didn’t say this, yet we’ll pose the question here. Think about the concept of a terrorist army. And now think about the millions who have crossed the southern border of the United States beginning in 2021.

How many of them need to be part of any terrorist army, or need to be terrorists, to cause–let’s borrow Rodriguez’s word–“concern” for the United States?

The answer isn’t difficult: Not many.

With them in the United States, the “concern” of war–in one form or another–on American soil may not remain an abstract concept.

It can–in one form or another–happen. If it does, then no matter who wins the 2024 American presidential election, blame will lie with those who opened the border, and the rest of us will have to endure the consequences.

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On its website, https://www.abcatchq.com, ABC posts videos of most of its speakers.

ABC was formed in 2018. Its mission is “to achieve a balance of speakers in a mutually civil and respectful environment consistent with the historic mission of Chautauqua” Institution. ABC is its own Section 501(c)(3) organization, legally separate from the institution.

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Dr. Randy Elf’s Aug. 20, 2020, ABC presentation, on “How Political Speech Law Benefits Politicians and the Rich,” is at https://works.bepress.com/elf/21.

COPYRIGHT (c) 2024 BY RANDY ELF