From a Naval Academy grad “not helping kill anyone or destroy property needlessly since Nov 1998.”

I graduated from the Naval Academy in 1989. As a plebe, while marching or running in formation, our midshipmen leadership (upperclassmen/college seniors with a couple 1-month grey ship cruises under their belts) would lead us with chants. One popular chant ended with “cuz napalm sticks to kids”. Of course we would all repeat the verses and phrases back as if we were in church. A lot of times my peers would chuckle or hoot and holler, knowing the line was coming. We were high school grads…awkward, green, nervous, hungry to fit in. I guess endorsing killing children in Vietnam provided the social structure and connection we all craved.

I didn’t know what napalm was at the time; I had only heard of it in movies. When I found out, it annoyed me that Academy ‘firsties’ with zero combat experience would have such a cavalier attitude toward killing. But for years now I realize that is what happens when decent enough people join an institution that is immoral to the core. It’s easy for me to see today how people so easily turn off their critical thinking in favor of fitting in. I am absolutely alarmed by this widespread ‘go along’ attitude. It is everywhere. And I’m losing close friends over it. They simply refuse to consider any chance that we – my peers and I – have participated in immoral acts of aggression against non-threats. That thought I guess in just too painful to even consider…that your life’s work, your identity as a defender, your entire image as a husband and dad is a fraud.

The Best of Laurence M. Vance