Lessons from History: Leadership, War, and the Call for Action
- James Jerome Hankin
- Jun 24
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 26
24 June 2025
U.S. Politics/Commentary by author:
"What We Blacks Need To Do Part 2": Mr. James Jerome Hankins
Echo Press: In 1969, The Temptations released their hit song "War," a message that continues to resonate today, especially in light of the 77 million people who voted for Trump. Effective leaders, unlike Trump, dedicate a significant amount of time—about 95%—to studying problems before taking action. Instead of researching essential issues, Trump often chose to play golf.
History has shown us the consequences of war through the unfortunate loss of life. For instance, the Vietnam War lasted twenty years, claiming the lives of 4,435 American soldiers. Similarly, the Afghanistan War spanned two decades and resulted in 2,459 fatalities. Beyond those lost, many more were wounded. During this time, Trump's administration, led by his highly questionable Cabinet Secretary, fired 1,500 VA workers and proposed further cuts to the VA budget.
As an old country preacher might say, "Who but the Lord knows how long a war will last?" From my experience as an infantry soldier, I recognized that at some point, we would need to deploy ground troops for close combat. Our all-volunteer military faces significant challenges today, especially with Trump adding illegal police duties in Los Angeles, which raises concerns under the Posse Comitatus Act: The Posse Comitatus Act Explained https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/posse-comitatus-act-explained
Given the current circumstances, Trump may feel compelled to reinstate the draft. The previous draft included men aged 18 to 26, but considering Trump's views on women, he may also extend the draft to include them. It's worth noting that women were first allowed to serve in combat roles in the U.S. military in 2016.
In my household, we are committed to urging my North Carolina representative, David Rouzer, along with Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, to vote for Trump's impeachment when they return from their July 4th break. If they fail to take action, we will rally to support their retirement. Please consider doing the same.
As stated in Ecclesiastes 3:8
"A time to love, a time to hate, a time for war, and a time for peace."
James Jerome Hankins is an author, journalist, Realtor®, former local NAACP president, Army veteran, caregiver, and a 34-year shop teacher. He graduated from North Carolina A&T State University in 1971.
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