The Koopmans’ Journey to America and Political Reflections

The Koopmans arrived in America in 1910, traveling in steerage on a ship bound for Ellis Island. My grandfather was a man of peace, eager to escape Prussian militarism and “the Kaiser’s wars.” He brought along four kids and his wife, and here we are, three generations later, still in search of peace rather than conflict. I suppose it’s in my DNA.

My father often remarked, “the Democrats are the war party.” Even as a child, that idea lingered in my mind, probably influencing my shift to the Republican side. But, looking back, I see he missed the mark. There are indeed two war parties—it just varies depending on who’s in power and who occupies the White House. The war industry, however, operates in a non-partisan fashion, amassing billions regardless of political affiliation.

For a long time, I wanted to believe that the GOP stood by its conservative ideals, favoring freedom and free will over coercion. I thought their non-interventionist stance should extend to foreign policy, just as it does for liberty, property, and free markets. Conservatives traditionally see the government’s constitutional role as defensive and protective. Thus, our military should mirror that approach—powerful but primarily for defense, seeking diplomacy over intimidation. Of course, this requires a government that’s honest and trustworthy in its negotiations.

Yet, it seems Republican leaders often stray from this principle regarding foreign policy, which reflects a broader trend of intervention at home as well. There’s a power-driven authoritarianism at play—rooted in a distrust of freedom. Perhaps if Republicans could rediscover the value of non-intervention and pursue peace and free trade globally, they might also return to those foundational principles domestically. One can hope.

Since 1990, the U.S. has executed military actions in numerous countries without a congressional declaration of war, including Panama, Iraq, and more. Many may not know this, but a significant portion of these operations have occurred under Republican administrations. For the families affected by these conflicts—those mourning loss or destruction—it hardly matters whether a Democrat or Republican was in charge.

It was a Democrat governor of Pennsylvania who recently signed artillery shells for Ukraine, while a Republican former UN Ambassador did something similar for Israeli missiles. This behavior raises serious questions about priorities, as it seems both parties have shifted their focus toward a culture of war, overshadowing any political commitment to peace.

At this point, we must ask: what have all these wars achieved, aside from deepening our national debt, harming countless service members, and creating a wider range of adversaries?

Looking at the current landscape, our close ties with Israel have led us into an offensive war against Iran, a country that posed no real threat to us, at the insistence of our allies. The financial burden has also been significant, with costs soaring into the hundreds of billions, while calls for more funding continue. It’s bewildering how almost every Republican in Congress has blindly supported these actions, regardless of the historical context.

Congress now faces a pressing issue related to Section 219 of the National Defense Authorization Act, which seeks to permanently intertwine U.S. military efforts with those of Israel, driven largely by the powerful Israeli lobby. The implications of this section are alarming, as it creates a unique and extensive military integration which has never been established with any other nation.

I reached out to three Republican congressional candidates from Montana regarding their stance on this proposal, which I see as a potential erosion of American sovereignty. Only one—Congressman Downing—gave a detailed response, emphasizing the supposed importance of cooperation with Israel. However, his argument for the benefits of collaboration seems to ignore the ongoing challenges we face regarding our own national identity and security.

It’s also worth noting that true allies don’t act as security risks or interfere in our electoral processes. It’s frustrating to see the disconnect as Republican leaders continue to claim Israel is one of our strongest allies while neglecting the numerous ways this partnership has pulled us into conflict.

Yes, there are times when a constitutionally declared war becomes necessary to defend liberty. Philosophically, I believe we also need to remember that war is inherently tragic and dehumanizing. It’s challenging to remain pro-war while simultaneously claiming to respect life. To genuinely be pro-life requires a commitment to peace. As Republicans, we have a choice: to uphold life and move away from endless wars.