Let's not forget...

in many places, the only government outreach programs available to poor white kids -- non college material -- is ... the U.S. Military. Not that there's anything wrong with that, necessarily.

Nor is it unwise for blacks not to support these wars in large numbers with their own blood and treasure. (The latter being life.)

You just wonder: if -- like Rep. Charlie Rangel suggested earlier -- it was more a collective military effort shared across the socioeconomic and racial spectrum, would we have just as much media coverage of the soldiers' losses last week over there as we do for the unfair job loss of a career servant here at home?

We can self divide, and see what that brings us. Or we can try and work together and prioritize these interconnected national issues.

Eyes on the prize, and all.