Recently, both elections and the military have been in the news and on the minds of a lot of people. Elections are coming and they are coming fast early voting is being put in motion, and Nov. 2 will be here before we know it. The military has been in the news recently because of the recent injunction placed on the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy.

It is clear that we have a long list of problems in the U.S. today. We are in a recession, many people feel like we cannot trust our government to fulfill our needs, there are still people without jobs, and the American people are hurting. That being said, it is very important that we also remember our military. When problems are affecting us directly, it is very easy for us to only focus on those problems. If you are not in the military or you are not directly involved with someone in the military, it would be easy for you to forget that they are essential to our success as a nation.

We have been involved in two wars since 2001. Some people did not support these wars, and are disgruntled with how long it has taken and how much it has cost this nation both monetarily and  with the lives of great Americans. However, we are still at war, and we need to make sure the original objectives are still being pursued. Security is a right we should all have. It is the most important right because living in fear is not truly living.  Our military protects us from foreign dangers and from some of the most ruthless organizations on Earth, whether it is Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, Somali Pirates, or potential threats from places like North Korea. Most people do not realize how much power these people have, and how dangerous they can potentially be.

The strength and size of our military serves as a large deterrent from potential threats to the United States.  I truly believe that our world would be much different if our military was not as great as it is. It is important that we remember what they do, and not take anything away from them, even if you do not agree with their policies. Some people feel that the injunction on DADT is progressive and important for the future success of the military, while others believe that it will actually hurt the military. Unfortunately, the publicity surround DADT has put the military in a bad light. I hope that since their currently is an injunction in place on DADT, we as a nation can move forward, and truly find the most appropriate policy for the men and women serving in the armed forces.

Out of all the political ads I have seen, I have not seen any concerning our military and how our potential candidates feel about the United States’ foreign policy. We need to make sure to elect officials and representatives that realize the importance of our military. We need to value them, protect them and make sure their needs are met. We also need to give them the moral support they deserve.  When you consider your candidate, make sure you pick the one that suits your needs best, but don’t forget that among all the issues on the ballot, the military is among the most important.