PBS premiered a seven-part documentary series this week by filmmaker Ken Burns titled “The War.” In it, Burns reminds us of the sacrifices made by the young adults of the WWII era – the "greatest generation."

When American journalist Tom Brokaw, author of "The Greatest Generation," spoke at the Murrow Symposium nearly two years ago, he said, “In distant places, young men and women are in uniform and in harm's way. However you may feel about the decisions that placed them in harm's way, you cannot feel disconnected from their service, citizen to citizen. We must keep them not only in our hearts but also in our minds because it is dangerous for a republic to have two societies separate and unequal, one civilian, one uniform.

Chelsea Tremblay is a WSU sophomore living in both societies. Her stepbrother, Jarrett Heffner, recently finished his first tour of duty in Iraq as a medical platoon leader.

“America is not at war. The military is at war. America is at the mall,” Chelsea said. Even if it doesn’t feel like it on this side of the world, to be alive in 2007 is to be alive during wartime.

For the greatest generation, life during wartime mandated sacrifice and awareness. An American woman featured in “The War” recalls reducing the ingredients to bake a cake as a means of rationing. Americans were asked to do without the luxuries and necessities they took for granted: coffee, cigarettes, and gasoline, and even then we’re only scratching the surface. Can you imagine this country – let alone this community – making that same sacrifice?

History indicates negatively on several accounts. In the days following 9/11, President Bush urged Americans to “go to the malls” in an effort to show we aren’t afraid of the terrorists, to return to normalcy. The president accrued accolades for exhibiting leadership after 9/11 from people like Al Gore. However, how did encouraging consumption exhibit effective leadership when today we hear about troops lacking equipment? Bush fumbled away a great chance to unite the country and call all Americans to seriously contribute to the war effort like President Roosevelt before him. Instead, we’ve contributed partisan bumper stickers and substantial flag sales.

The rationing and donating that developed during WWII derived in part from the fact that the majority of Americans had a loved one enlisted or drafted into the armed services.

According to Pentagon data released to Salon.com in 2005, more than 1 million troops have been deployed since 9/11. During WWII, moderate estimates suggest 13 million US citizens served. We’ve let apathy seep into our collective consciousness because the majority of Americans don’t have a loved one in harm's way, relative to the 1940s.

Chelsea concisely points out, “Until there’s a draft, this is somebody else’s problem.” Still, even when Americans take the problem into their own hands, they’re frequently contributing a net negative. Chelsea recalls an experience when the women in her dorm sent care packages to soldiers overseas. Lollipops were attached with words of encouragement like “Have a nice day!” When a typical day for a 20-year-old soldier is patrolling in 100 degree heat, lugging equipment and pursuing a mostly undefined enemy, can people not sense how easily insensitive their perceived aid can be? Some would say it’s the thought that counts, but when the thought is so detached from the reality of our armed forces, the thought doesn’t count for much. It's one thing for a daughter of a soldier to do the same, but it’s a whole other when it’s a college student.

And in other institutions like the mainstream media and the government, they have also failed successfully in bridging the gap between civilians and the military. Since 1991, laws have restricted the publication of military coffin photos. What this does in effect is mask the realities of war behind firm-faced numbers. If the government allowed the publication of these photos, the American people would see something more than a statistic. If emotion truly is the kryptonite to apathy, then to put a face, even a coffin, on a story is the most justice we can do to any injustice, like the Holocaust, like the Vietnam War, and even now. No number can ever bridge that disconnect.

Give time or money to a reputable charity. The website www.specialops.org, for example, helps put the children of military personnel who were killed through college. Visit a VA hospital and talk to a veteran, or even one whom you know personally. Tell a service member thank you even if you disagree with the policy. Do this country a favor and get informed by getting your news from a variety of sources, especially independent media. Write to a politician because in the end, Chelsea says, “It’s the government you need to influence.” We are not the greatest, let alone a great generation, because we’re not united. Times like these, Chelsea says, are “one of the great tragedies of our time.” But despite all of her, my, and perhaps your pessimism, don’t give up. Because we are a hopeful bunch, there’s reason to be optimistic in the face of it all. And after all, if there’s no hope, where is there to go but down?

Heed the words Tom Brokaw continued to say later that night:

“I am never more proud to be an American than when a fellow citizen steps from the pack and says, 'Can't we do better?'”