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Resistance See other Resistance Articles Title: Thank A Vet? We’ve all seen the bumper stickers: "My son is in the Air Force," "If You Can Read This in English, Thank a Marine," "Proud Vietnam Veteran," "Fly Navy," and of course, "Thank a Vet." Why should we? Why should we call them heroes, give them military discounts, grant them veterans preference, express our support for them with ribbons on our cars, honor them with a holiday, hold military appreciation church services for them, and thank them for their "service"? Veterans Day began as Armistice Day to commemorate the signing of the armistice that ended World War I. It had nothing to do with honoring current and former members of the military like Veterans Day is celebrated today. And if the sole purpose of Armistice Day was to honor World War I veterans, it should never have been celebrated since no American soldier did anything honorable by intervening in a European foreign war. And it doesn’t matter if he was drafted or not. Britain’s last World War I combat veteran, Harry Patch, died last year at the age of 111. He boasted that he hadn’t killed anyone in combat. "War isn’t worth one life," Patch said, it is "calculated and condoned slaughter of human beings." In his autobiography The Last Fighting Tommy, Patch wrote that "politicians who took us to war should have been given the guns and told to settle their differences themselves, instead of organising nothing better than legalised mass murder." In the last years of his life, Patch warned some young naval recruits that they shouldn’t join. Frank Buckles, age 109, is the only American veteran of World War I still living. When asked while being honored for his service at a 2007 Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery what he thought about being there while the United States was at war, he replied: "I’m no authority, but I’m not in favor of war unless it’s an emergency." I think that Buckles is more of an authority on the horrors of war and the folly and wickedness of war than the current members of the Joint Chiefs. It is only because World War I did not turn out to be the "war to end all wars" that the holiday was changed to Veterans Day as a tribute to all soldiers who fought for their country. Although I believe World War II to be neither necessary nor good, I come not on this Veterans Day to criticize the "greatest generation," who, it turns out, were also great at pillaging and carousing. For reasons I explained in "U.S. Presidents and Those Who Kill for Them," World War II marks the permanent establishment of the American military as the president’s personal attack force to kill by his decree Koreans, Vietnamese, Laotians, Cambodians, Grenadians, Panamanians, Yugoslavs, Serbians, Afghans, Iraqis, Somalis, Yemenis, and Pakistanis. Next on the list is Iranians. Sometimes these presidential decrees are rubberstamped by a congressional authorization to use force, but they are always preceded by presidential lies and warmonger propaganda. So why should a Vietnam veteran be proud? He was typically young, ignorant, deceived, and drafted. He may have fought obediently, valiantly, selflessly, and fearlessly, but since he had no business fighting in Vietnam in the first place, I have nothing to thank him for. And I certainly can’t thank him for preventing the Viet Cong from turning America into a socialist republic. Besides, LBJ beat Ho Chi Minh to that anyway. Many Vietnam veterans have written me and expressed shame, remorse, anger, and resentment – not pride – for having been duped into going thousands of miles away from American soil to intervene in another country’s civil war. In fact, I have found that it is those who are not Vietnam veterans who are the most vociferous defenders of the war in Vietnam. The most undeserved and oftentimes disgusting outpouring of thankfulness I have ever seen is over those who have fought or are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. The praise and adoration of those fighting in "the front lines in the war on terror" reaches its apex on Veterans Day, which has become a day to defend U.S. wars and recognize all things military. These soldiers certainly have done nothing worthy of thanks. Sure, they have rebuilt infrastructure – after bombing it to smithereens. They no doubt removed a brutal dictator – and unleashed American brutality in the process. And yes, they have rescued orphan children – after blowing their parents and brothers and sisters to kingdom come. What is there to thank our soldiers for? They are not defending our freedoms. They are not keeping us safe from our enemies. They are not protecting us from terrorists. They are not guaranteeing our First Amendment rights. They are not defending U.S. borders. They are not guarding U.S. shores. They are not patrolling U.S. coasts. They are not enforcing no-fly zones over U.S. skies. They are not fighting "over there" so we don’t have to fight "over here." They are not avenging 9/11. They are not safeguarding the American way of life. Oh, and they are not ensuring that I have the liberty to write what I do about the military. What, then, should we thank our soldiers for? Should we thank them for fighting an unconstitutional war, an unscriptural war, an immoral war, an offensive war, an unjust war, or a senseless war? Should we thank our veterans for helping to carry out an aggressive, reckless, belligerent, and interventionist foreign policy? Should we thank the military for sucking $1 trillion out of the federal budget? But, some will say, these soldiers are just doing their jobs. They can’t help it if the U.S. military sends them to fight in an unjust war in Iraq or Afghanistan. They are just following orders. They didn’t enlist in the military to kill people. What would any sane man think about a doctor who takes a job at a hospital knowing that the hospital instructs its doctors to euthanize old and sickly patients – and then says he was just doing his job, following orders, and didn’t take the job to kill people? Why are soldiers treated so differently? Why do they get a pass on committing or supporting those who commit murder and mayhem? But, someone else says, the military has lowered its recruiting standards and is scraping the bottom of the barrel. Many soldiers are ignorant about the true nature of the military and U.S. foreign policy. Why should we fault them for their ignorance? Why should they be criticized for unjustly killing Iraqis or Afghans or Pakistanis? They are just following orders. Let’s go back to the doctor I mentioned. Suppose that after he takes a job in ignorance at what he thinks is a reputable hospital he is instructed to euthanize old and sickly patients? What should he do? I don’t know of anyone who would say anything else but that he should quit his job or at least refuse to euthanize anyone. Again, why are soldiers treated so differently? Why do they get a pass on committing or supporting those who commit murder and mayhem? But, comes another reply, soldiers have a term of enlistment. They can’t just quit their jobs. Doctors can walk away from their jobs at any time. Then I guess it all comes down to morality: Be a mercenary and kill for the state or refuse to do so and suffer the consequences of dishonorable discharge and/or imprisonment. It is high time that Americans stop holding veterans and current members of the military in such high esteem. It is scientists, engineers, inventors, businessmen, industrialists, software developers, and entrepreneurs that made America great – not veterans of foreign wars. It is doctors, iron workers, taxi drivers, bricklayers, writers, electricians, and cooks that positively contribute to society – not soldiers. I would like to be able to thank a vet – on Veterans Day and every other day of the year – but I’m still searching for a reason.
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#17. To: Ada (#0)
"It is high time that Americans stop holding veterans and current members of the military in such high esteem. It is scientists, engineers, inventors, businessmen, industrialists, software developers, and entrepreneurs that made America great – not veterans of foreign wars. It is doctors, iron workers, taxi drivers, bricklayers, writers, electricians, and cooks that positively contribute to society – not soldiers." Well then, as an Army Vet from '65-'68 Artillery, How about thanking me for 7 Patents as an Engineer. Or the 3 Industrial Manf. Plants that I was Plant Mgr. of? Or the Machine Shop I started when I got out of Mfg.? Other than that, I've really just sucked up my SS.
Well Sir, as riff raff most likely you and I are mucking up this thread in particular and the forum in general. I need to be taught my place. Someone mentioned the best and the brightest as paying the bill by dying. That is not factual, never has been, and anyone desiring to, may peruse the official government records that break down the death statistics by ranks. The best and brightest rise to the top, the riff raff remains at the bottom, this seems always to be true and accepted. Official records show the overwhelming death rate of the bottom layer VS the top layer death rate. Too many people here do not want to be reminded that a riff raff soldier refused to kill any more during WW2 and Eisenhower had him shot. This by a man that never in his military career had one day of combat. Eddie Slovak was against war and killing, he deserted time after time, so he was shot. No loss, just more riff raff.
Isn't it surprising that we Riff-Raff can actually use a.......computer thingy? The Army gave me a lot. Those who haven't served, just don't comprehend. I got E-5 at 12 months, thanks to a Brig. Gen. Kenny, It was a start in Life, and some of the best and worst experiences. But I left the Army changed, and ready to fight for what I wanted. Every male with two arms and two legs should have the experience. And I was paid well for my time later, much later, The V.A. gave me a Liver Transplant when I was 63.
A few years prison would do anyone a lot of good. So I agree with you. And thanks to veterans who won the wars for banksters, prison or the military are the only choices millions of young Americans have these days. In fact, as you well know many who served were given that choice by sentencing judges. But, we should never fail to be grateful for the marines who served in Haiti (?) or those who served in The Philippines(?) or the brave troops who attacked Granada, which had a socialist govt for years, but two weeks before Granada nationalized the banks that laundered drug money destined for the final wash at the Federal Reserve via Miami or Chicago. Smedley Butler pointed to at least 100 wars and conflicts that were unnecessary. So, even if some wars since 1812 were arguably in America's interest (I disagree but I won't dispute it because it's not necessary to making my point) is that any reason to pile up young American bodies without daring to question the need for those losses? Old men who romanticize their military experiences should be told if they helped enslave half of Europe for over 40 years. They are Soviet war vets who fought on the wrong side. George Patton was either a brilliant visionary or a traitor, and those mindless vets would have followed whoever won the debate to attack the USSR while we had the chance. Both sides couldn't be on solid moral ground. And if simply following orders was enough to vindicate vets there wouldn't have been any Nuremberg trials.
Romanticize???? That is a stretch of the imagination , rather new to me. I dont know of anyone that ever viewed military life in such a light. The blood and gore, the death and dying were rather realistic teachers, one never romanticized then or later about the dead.
You can't expect much more from someone who obviously doesn't understand how so many were "used by society as cannon fodder". Furthermore, it is UNACCEPTABLE to be "written off here on this forum as someone not worthy of any consideration".
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