"Your generation and mine have had very little real experience; we've been severed from the direct experience of war by some very good things. By the end of the draft, and by the defeat in Vietnam"

This quote by Michael Ignatieff speaks to the generational divide between those who have actually experienced war firsthand and also those who have not. Ignatieff recognizes that his generation and also the generations that complied with have actually been mainly spared from the straight experience of war because of completion of the draft as well as the defeat in Vietnam. This has been a favorable development, as it has permitted people to live their lives without the fear of being composed into battle or the trauma of experiencing battle firsthand. However, Ignatieff additionally recognizes that this has actually created a disconnect between generations, as those that have not experienced battle firsthand might not comprehend the gravity of the scenario or the repercussions of war. This quote acts as a suggestion that battle ought to not be taken lightly and that we need to make every effort to comprehend the experiences of those that have actually been directly influenced by it.