The use of the military as a testing ground for social reform is something that happens much more often than most Americans would believe. This, however, does not mean that it is ineffective; on the contrary, it actually proves that it has been effective, because everyone knows that stories of governmental mistakes quickly become fodder for ruthless journalists. Basically, there are three main reasons why the military has been, and should remain, a testing ground for social reform. These reasons are: the persons involved in military are more prepared for changes, the military environment aids the reformation process, and the use of the military in this manner has worked many times in the past.
There is no doubt that people who enlist in the military are different from civilians. They have, for one reason or another, decided to lay their lives on the line for their country, something that most people would never even dream of doing.
English: Plate entitled "To the friends of Negro E...
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militaryThis makes them, in a way, more open-minded, and different from the sometimes racist and/or sexist general population, because they would not be sacrificing their lives to defend people they hated or looked down upon. Their way of thinking and willingness to defend everyone who lives in America proves that they are more prepared for change than others, and makes using them in reform experiments a good plan.
The military environment can be described in many ways, but it is probably most often described as intense and controlling. This makes it the perfect testing ground for reform, because the intensity that comes from battle and training leave little time for discrimination or other problems that can sometimes arise in mixed groups. Also, even if there are those close-minded enough to risk their lives or waste valuable training time on hatred or discrimination, there...