One of the pivotal moments that drove my pursuit of a career in the armed forces was in my high school AP US History class, I asked my teacher how was it that the US had been so successful when it was only a couple centuries old whereas so many other countries that had been established for so much longer were nowhere as powerful or stable? Without missing a beat, she responded “the fact that we have a new government every four years and the diversity of our people.” Digesting this concept, we come to understand that the diversity fuels innovation that challenge preexisting notions and a systematic government overhaul carried out through democratic processes enables rational change to occur, with a balanced amount of constitutional conservativism to ensure our nation’s security. These principles have guided our nation through tumultuous times. Although it’s hard to accept, at points throughout our history, the majority often argued in favor of unethical practices including the enslavement of other human beings, the sanctioned displacement of native populations from their homes, the prohibition of women’s suffrage, segregation (and sanctioned severe mistreatment) of non-white Americans, to list a few - all ideas into which the majority were indoctrinated. Although we had our hiccups, in all listed cases, we grew together as a nation based on objectively challenging those ideas and asking the hard questions: Does this really make sense? Is this fair? Would I be ok if I (or worse, my child) were born into that situation? I strongly believe in the principles upon which my country stands and have faith that we will always come to the right ethical conclusion on all issues independent of predispositions in due time. It is our civic duty to stay informed, to keep asking hard questions, and to drive reaching the morally correct outcomes. “For in the final analysis, our most common link is that we inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children’s futures. And we are all mortal.” Happy Veterans Day.