The American political system currently moves between extremist ideologies rather than adhering to a shared liberal consensus like that which followed World War II.

“one of the problems that the United States appears to be in is this sort of jibing back and forth, if I can use a sailing term, from this extremist Republican ideology where the government should do nothing to this Democratic ideology that says the government actually has a role to play”

The American revolutionary-era tradition is characterized by an aversion to blind obedience and a demand for understanding the rationale behind orders.

“Americans, unlike any other troops he had ever dealt with, didn't follow orders. You had to explain why they were doing what they were going to do.”

He reflects that the Vietnam War was a hideous conflict and feels sympathy for soldiers who did not receive proper recognition upon their return.

“but now I look back and my heart aches for those soldiers who came home and were not honored yeah and I'm so glad they have the honor flights now and so they can get some yeah recognition for what they did for our country it was a hideous War”

Apoliticalness is an invalid and non-existent concept because everyone is impacted by and subject to the politics of the country they live in.

“Apoliticalness is is a luxury of somebody not impacted by politics. Depending on how you live in this country you do not have the luxury of being apolitical. Your history is not apolitical and your existence on this planet is not apolitical.”