Culture Making Articles items tagged military

Toward a wartime mentality

2025-01-02T22:53:00Z

Christy: ?Photographer Peter van Agtmael casts fresh light on the landscape in Afghanistan in this photo essay for the New York Times. As I watched this slide show and listened to van Agtmael's narration, it struck me that, with social networking and the Internet, we in America have more access to information about this war than any previous one, yet it seems that we are less interested or concerned than past generations, for whom every aspect of daily life was affected by the "wartime mentality." I wonder what this says about us as a culture??

from "Two Weeks in Forever," by Peter van Agtmael, New York Times, 14 October 2009

When civilian and military leaders meet

2025-01-02T22:53:00Z

Andy: ?One of the most troubling features of American life is how disconnected most elite, college-educated civilians are from peers in the military. My friend Michael Lindsay (Faith in the Halls of Power) has undertaken a major study of one of the most influential leadership development programs in the United States, the White House Fellows Program. Today on WashingtonPost.com he describes how a program like this provides an opportunity for civilian and military leaders to meet—with significant results.?

Because the White House Fellowship draws younger leaders from many different fields—including business, the military, nonprofits, law, and academia, it provides one of the few professional settings where leaders from very different fields regularly work together and build collegial relations. This cross-pollination of leaders makes a huge difference over the long term. For instance, consider the program’s impact on fellows’ attitudes toward parts of the federal government.

We see that fellows with no military experience express significantly greater confidence in the military after spending a year with a classmate who has a military background, and for each additional class member with a military background, the non-military fellow’s level of confidence rises. Levels of support for the military can rise from 54% to 81% among fellows, depending on how many classmates with military backgrounds were in a class. Most significant, that positive attitude toward the military remains over the course of the leader’s life, whether that Fellowship contact happened last year or four decades ago.

from "A Public-Service Game Changer," by D. Michael Lindsay, On Leadership, WashingtonPost.com, 2 October 2009

Fatigue, by Jay Walker

2025-01-02T22:53:00Z

Christy: ?Jay Walker will be among the artists featured at "Reflections of Generosity: Toward Restoration and Peace," the exhibition opening at the Fort Drum Army base in upstate New York tonight to honor fallen troops and those currently engaged in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. I have seen this painting in person, and it is stunning. And very large.?

"Fatigue," oil on linen, 80" x 50" by Jay Walker, 2007

Art that heals wartime wounds

2025-01-02T22:53:00Z

During Sgt. Ron Kelsey’s year-long deployment in Basra, he began to think about how his work as a fine artist jived with his position as an Army officer. Pondering the power of art to heal emotional wounds, Kelsey approached IAM about partnering with the U.S. Army on an exhibition. Mako will speak, I will sing—and there will be plenty of beauty to help the healing begin. —Christy Tennant

Reflections of Generosity: Fort Drum Arts and Crafts Center
August 19 - September 11

The “Reflections of Generosity – Toward Restoration and Peace” Art Exhibit is dedicated to the memory of the heroes of 9-11 and the Soldiers who have given their lives in recent conflicts. Experience the power of painting, sculpture, and song to facilitate restoration through generosity, community, and beauty. Join us at Arts and Crafts for artwork and performances that reflect the spirit of ongoing generosity demonstrated by the military. The opening night will feature Makoto Fujimura, Tim Sheesley, Pamela Moore, Sharon Graham Sargent, Claye Noch, Joyce Lee, Sandra Ceas, Jay Walker, Gerda Liebmann, C. Robin Janning, Craig Hawkins, John Russel, Charles A. Westfall Macon, Ron Kelsey, Kyla Kelsey, Christa Wells, and Christy Tennant.