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Title: There Are Too Many Veterans
Source:
Lew Rockwell
URL Source: http://www.lewrockwell.com/vance/vance126.html
Published: Nov 12, 2007
Author: Laurence Vance
Post Date: 2007-11-12 06:41:23 by Ada
Keywords: None
Views: 2140
Comments: 251
We have too many veterans. We have too many living veterans. We have too many dead veterans. We have too many wounded veterans. We have too many disabled veterans. We have too many veterans who have fought in wars. We have too many veterans who have never fired a shot. Any way you look at it, we have too many veterans. Veterans Day began as Armistice Day – a day to commemorate the signing of the armistice on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month that ended fighting on the Western Front in World War I, "the war to end all wars." A few years after World War II, the holiday was changed to Veterans Day as a tribute to all soldiers who fought for their country. Veterans Day has now become a day to honor, not just those who have served in the military during wartime, but those who have served during peacetime or are serving now. It has also become a day – even though we have Armed Forces Day – to recognize all things military. Why? Why do most Americans hold veterans and current members of the U.S. military in such high esteem? Why is there such a military mindset in the United States? One reason people feel this way is because they falsely believe that those who serve in the military are somehow defending our freedoms. They are convinced that it is the military that stands between a free society and subjugation by some foreign power. They think that it is because of the military that we still have our First Amendment rights. It is inevitable that whenever I write about the military I receive an e-mail or two from a current or former member of the military who closes his rebuke (which usually argues that I have the freedom to write the "trash" that I write because of the U.S. military) with this simplistic cliché: "If you can read this e-mail, thank a teacher. If you can read it in English, thank a Marine." Has anyone ever thought this through? Are we are supposed to believe that the German army that couldn’t cross the English Channel to invade Great Britain and make its population speak German was going to cross the Atlantic Ocean to invade the United States and make us all speak German if it wasn’t for the Marines? Or was it Japanese that the Marines kept us from speaking? Or perhaps it was Spanish because of the tremendous threat we faced from Spain during the Spanish-American War? Were we in danger of having to speak Russian during the Cold War? Looking at the history of U.S. military interventions, there is one thing we can thank the Marines for: We can thank the Marines for helping to carry out an evil, interventionist U.S. foreign policy. Thanks a lot, jarheads. Semper Fi and all that jazz. Our freedoms, our liberties, and our Constitution that all Marines swear to uphold are under attack by our government. The state is a greater enemy than any foreign country or ruler. If the Marines are to really defend our freedoms, then they should be deployed to Washington D.C. After they oversee the closure of most federal agencies and expel the bureaucrats from the city, they can protect the Constitution (with fixed bayonets) from its daily assault by the members of Congress. In that case I would even say with you: "The few, the proud, the Marines." Another reason the military is held in such high esteem is that most Americans wrongfully assume that the military is actually engaged in defending the country. They don’t know about the hundreds of U.S. military bases on foreign soil. They don’t realize that there are thousands of U.S. troops stationed abroad to defend other countries. They have no idea that the United States has troops in 150 different regions of the world. Instead, they think that it is because of the military fighting terrorists "over there" that we don’t have to fight them "over here." The threat of a conquest of America by foreign invasion is nonexistent. And if we were attacked with nuclear weapons, even the Marines would be helpless to defend us. Although the purpose of the U.S. military should only be to defend the United States from genuine attacks and credible enemies, it has primarily been used to intervene in the affairs of other countries. When all of the troops come home and start guarding our borders and patrolling our coasts then, and only then, can we say that the military is defending the country. Even the Coast Guard, which actually patrols our coasts, is tainted – thanks to another unconstitutional, unwinnable war that the government is engaged in that is more destructive than the "enemy" we are fighting: the war on drugs. Still another reason for the military mindset is that members of the military are viewed as "public servants." Members of Congress like to brag about how they have been in public service their whole life. Some policemen and firemen have jumped on the "public service" bandwagon as well. But if you want to be a policeman or a fireman, fine, just don’t expect us get excited about the fact that you have a job. And plenty of jobs are just as dangerous. Veterans are looked upon as special because they "served" in the military. It didn’t take any special education, experience, or accomplishments to land a job in the military – they just signed on the dotted line. We don’t bestow any special honors on bricklayers, mechanics, and accountants; yet, we see plenty of bumper stickers that say things like: "My son is in the Air Force." We never see "My son is a plumber" or "My son is a garbage collector" or "My son is a waiter"? And why not? The people in those occupations don’t drop bombs on anyone. They "serve" some important needs of society. Shouldn’t we honor them as least as much as soldiers? It is unfortunate that some of the most vocal defenders of today’s military are Christians. It is even worse that churches fawn over current and former members of the military on Veterans Day. In response to my recent article "Should Anyone Join the Military," I was chastised by two detractors. The first asked if I could read the Old Testament and still say that no one should serve in the military. I was also told that God instructed the Jews and others to destroy people. It is not hard for me to read the Old Testament and still say that no one should serve in the military. America is not Israel, and the U.S. military is not God’s army. And telling me that God instructed the Jews and others to destroy people is like telling George Bush that he is the decider. There is no denying that God instructed the Jews and others to destroy people. But George Bush is not God, America is not the nation of Israel, and God didn’t command the U.S. military to kill anyone. My other detractor appealed to Alphonsus Liguori and maintained that as the sword maker has no control over the product, so "the soldier does not commit an actual sin unless he chooses to break a moral law while in the military." It is "the leaders or military officers who sin when they issue immoral orders." Military service is "morally neutral." But what kind of morality is this? It certainly isn’t Christian. What kind of morality says that it would be okay to kill someone in an unjust war in his own country who was no threat to you or your country because you are wearing a military uniform? Oh, I forgot: Just don’t break a moral law while you are killing him. It is high time that Americans stop elevating members of the military to a position of honor. It is long past the time when veterans have done anything honorable. We should abolish Veterans Day. And because of our shameful foreign policy and militarism during the twentieth century, we should abolish any Armistice Day celebration as well.
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#3. To: all (#0)
I served in the military at a time when many like Bush and Cheney and their ilk did not. Contrary to the marketing by the military, having a military background during Vietnam did not translate to acceptance by business. Whether in college, law school, or the world, I found that most of the Bushes and Cheneys did not want real vets around to remind them of their shallow patriotism during that war. That held throughout the 1980s, too, as downtown types were increasingly bellicose about what the US should do in the world, but increasingly nervous around real veterans. I used to have no problem telling young people to join the military. I thought it could be a good experience. The Bush admin has changed all that, however. Their blatant misuse of American troops for domestic politics is a violation of the duty the government owes its soldiers. The way the Bushies actually treat the soldiers is appalling. These recurring tours with short times back home are devastating to the families. Being a soldier or former soldier does not give one a better opinion, unless that opinion is about the functioning of the military. It certainly does not invest the vet with superior knowledge in the field of US foreign policy. Ultimately, we are what we do, and it took me 25 years to come to terms with that. Once you realize you really were doing a great deal of evil to innocent people, you realize why we are so thoroughly hated in so many countries.
Your hate for everything American is appalling.
Odd that you would be here where so many people support Ron Paul. We must assume you include him in you diatribe as he is a veteran, "AGAINST HIS WISHES" as are the majority. Dr. Paul spent 5 long years against his wishes working for peanuts. Perhaps to use your vulgar gutter language you would care to call Dr. Paul a"jack off" in an open letter to him. Surely 4um would not censor it. His campaign HQ address is readily available.
Based on your comment....I take you have never beem in a war or understand anything about history
May I assume you also would consider Ron Paul a "jack off"???
While Burk's rhetoric is over the top, I see no reason to "thank" anybody for "defending my freedoms," at least not for anything done since the end of the Cold War. How have Serbia, Iraq, or any other hapless third world country that we invaded and destroyed threatened my freedoms in any way? Why then should I "thank" anybody for waging war on them?
War has become a spectator sport (shades of Rome) to be enjoyed between shopping trips.
REPUBLICANS ....... HAD ENOUGH?
Like I said you understanding of history is lacking and your comment on Ron Paul proves that point
Guilt over the way vets were treated after Nam.
Certainly not, he was a draftee. Now we have "volunteers" .... called on in '03, and then again, and again, and again, and again ................
Republicans (Democrats for that matter) ....... HAD ENOUGH?
How's the current "volunteer" Army and the farces in the Balkans and the ME workin' for yuh? The American people squashed the draft and they'll do the same for the "Perpetual War" mongers.
Republicans (Democrats for that matter) ....... HAD ENOUGH?
Many of these were forced to go, and they had every right to government services after being used and abused by the govt' in a war that by McNamara's own admission was basically a cynical PR ploy. In contrast, those who "protect our freedoms" (gag) in Iraq volunteered to go, in many cases because they were conned by Bush administration propaganda and now want to "go and kick some ass." I don't know about you, but I never asked for their "protection" from any Iraqi.
rob... Possibly you may be correct about my lack of a sense of history. I admit my grasp of history may be shallow for my nearly 80 years of life. Having lived thru the depression, WW2, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and assorted other affairs, perhaps I was not paying attention. I, like Ron Paul and many millions of others had no choice, the government demanded we serve and we did. Having lost a brother and many friends to the evil deeds of war, I reject any blanket denigration of those that served. Burka most likely will indeed compose an open letter that all may read. addressed to all veterans, describing them with his vulgar gutter language, there may be room for others to sign their names as being in agreement. I look forward to the same.
Especially dead and horribly mutilated ones.
Republicans (Democrats for that matter) ....... HAD ENOUGH?
Remember all the press conferences during Gulf War I with generals showing us video of how we could drop a bomb down an air shaft of fly a cruise missile in a window? You could almost hear the home viewing audience cheer the death and destruction.
Hear, hear! I think that many -- maybe most -- who did time in the government's murder gang are mostly not to be blamed. After all, Uncle tends to grab people from their late teens to their early twenties, which are not most people's "prime time" for critical thinking. So, a fair number of present and former uniform-wearers should be regarded more as victims than as criminals. That said: it's crazy to honor victims for being victims. The illiterately- named "Veterans Day" is just another day on which all of us are pressured to avoid calling things by their real names. Being honest is going to hurt many victims' feelings, and that really is unfortunate ... but continued dishonesty perpetuates the crime, which is intolerable. It also makes us all even crazier, which is nothing that we can afford.
- - - - - - - - - - - Based on the above you should know better about wars and those that serve.... Armistice Day was to remember those that died in the "War to end all wars" WW! and to vow never to repeat it .....my farther was from your generation he never spoke to me about what happened in North Africa his kind like many others just sucked it up and moved on....but the demons of that experience never left him till the day he died...I never knew why he never spoke until it was my time to serve....wars are a barbaric way to settle a difference in this so called enlightened age...and those that support wars have by and large never been there.
What should I know about those that "served". Having lived it, I am perplexed as to why I and untold millions should be labeled "jack offs". Somehow I do not believe it is warranted. We were not as ignorant as some may like to advance. We knew in the 1930s that war was coming and Americans were being lied to. War came, Japan invaded us and we invaded North Africa. Americans were not so stupid that they could see the duplicity. Veterans are "jack offs". I assume that would also have pertained to the veterans of the Revolutionary War. How could they have been so blind, so ignorant, that they bled and died to found a country. Just common riff raff. My Great great great great Grandfather was one of those "jack offs" that volunteered, froze his feet and was a cripple for life. A grateful populace in 1823 finally gave him a $13 dollar a month pension. He died a year later. Damned riff raff "jack off" veterans anyway, why should we even recognize tham.
Rob, this is the best lesson in history I've seen Total Onslaught - Revolutions Tyrants and Wars.avi Walter Veith 1 hr 35 min 55 sec "You can not save the Constitution by destroying it."
well said, Enderby
I assume this would also include veterans of the Revolutionary War? The Civil War?
Alex Jones just said this to a VN veteran who called into his show and who now gets it. "Your service is not lessened by the fraud." I think that's meaningful.
One difference between then and now is TV. Americans just aren't willing to have this go on for year after year anymore, even if it were for a just cause. TV has caused generalized ADD among the entire population. I think the veterans are paying the price for Americans' general war-weariness. A clear majority of the public turned off this war years ago, to put it in TV terms. From 9/11 to now is a longer period of time than from August 1939 to August 1945, which is the generally-recognized span of WW II. All this is doing is transforming the U.S. into a Third World country right before our eyes.
“I would give no thought of what the world might say of me, if I could only transmit to posterity the reputation of an honest man.” - Sam Houston
I did not instigate WW2 or anything after that. I will guarantee that those here denigrating veterans with a wide brush have parents or grandparents that voted "FOR" the government that took me and my brother off to bleed and die. Do these people share any blame??? Of course not, they ride on the high moral plane. If I am a "jack off" for surviving, what ungodly name would they have for my brother who did not?
Sorry Cynicom, I meant that for Burkeman.
I couldn't agree more. Deciding to join the US military today is akin to joining the biggest mafia hit squad in the world. I know most are brainwashed into military service by lies in public schools and from recruiting agents so I can't fully blame them for being so naive at such a young age, but nevertheless unless they are retarded they are partly responsible for their decision to fight and possibly die fighting for no more than a measly paycheck.
God is always good!
Like I said before your understanding of history is all screwed up....you cannot compare the Revolutionary War with WW1/2 Korea Nam or Iraq for that matter you are comparing apples and oranges....I suggest you do a little book learning start with the "Just War Theory" by Saint Thomas Aquinas.
You are wrong. There are many that have defended this country from real threats, regardless of what you think. The very fact that we have (or had) a strong military is what kept other nations from bullying this country around. There is something to be said about "Peace through Strength". Just as a school yard bully targets the weaker kids, and leaves the "tough" kids alone, this country has been able to discourage those nations that would have liked to bully us around. It is those that you disparage as "jack offs" that gave this Nation her strength, and kept the bullies at bay. In this day and age where China is building up her military by leaps and bounds, has a blue water navy and subs capable of sinking US carrier fleets, has anti-satellite technology that can disable our ICBM's, and ICBM's of their own with sophisticated guidance systems, we should really be concerned about our military strength, and support those that ARE there as a deterent against outright Chinese aggression. Then again, China could win a war against us without even firing a shot simply by dumping the US dollar and bankrupting this country. We can thank the treasonous dealings of the corporate elite and their puppets in Washington for that.
Its 80 million gun owners in America that has stopped "other nations from bullying this country around".....
I doubt many of those gun owners would have the balls and the know-how to repel a real invasion, especially when facing nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons. Even in a conventional conflict, not many would be ready to stand up against well trained troops armed with automatic weapons, artillery, and air support.
OK, in which war? WW1 - No threat to America. WW2 - Again, no threat to America. (The bombing of Pearl Harbor was provoked by the blockade, and of course was set up to get us in that war by Roosevelt. Korea - Still no threat to America. Vietnam - No threat. Grenada- No threat. Panama - No threat. (Jimmy Carter even gave the Panama Canal away, which is now creating a real threat with China taking it over) Afghanistan - No threat. Iraq - No threat. Iran - Of course, no threat. Bosnia/Serbia - No threat. The real threats have only been dealt with by non-military members: the border patrol, the coast guard, and occasionally local police departments and the FBI.
God is always good!
You need to stop watching 24 and come back to the real world
You are right, professional murderers are always going to have an edge over novices. But the sheer volume of novices would overwhelm the professionals easily.
God is always good!
It's the wars that DIDN'T happen that I was referring to. In other words, I was speaking of the DETERRENCE against wars, rather than actual recent conflicts. And I would disagree with your assessment of WWII, where Hitler DID want to spread the Third Reich across the entire globe. He may very well have pulled it off if we didn't join the war when we did. If he had been able to take over all of Europe, Africa, and Russia, and if Japan had been able to take over China and the rest of Asia, building up reinforcements on both fronts, the Axis powers could have launched invasions of South America. From there, they could have pushed northwards up through Mexico, and carried out an invasion of the US from both coasts and from the south.
How many elderly gentlemen could successfully stand up to jet fighter/bombers, or nuclear tipped missiles?
LOL! Would you care to give me a run down about how your imagined military takeover of the United States would supposedly happen? This ought to be entertaining. we should really be concerned about our military strength, and support those that ARE there as a deterent against outright Chinese aggression. Never mind. You were writing a parody. I get it now. A parody about how China spends 1/30th on their military and have 0 aircraft carriers and fly spy planes right up to US airspace (oh wait that was the US doing that to China, never mind) and have 30,000 soldiers in a nation bordering the US ( oh wait, that's Uncle Scam in Korea, never mind), and yet the goobers still wet the bed in fear of the "Red Chineeee". Shwoo, I thought you were serious for a second there.
Do you make your own cool-aid or do the send it FedX?
The best one could hope for would be a strong insurgancy against an occupation force. However, I'm not sure many in this country could wage such an insurgancy, EXCEPT for the VETERANS.
Hitler couldn't even scrape up enough boats to launch an invasion across the damn English Channel. The RAF put down the Luftwaffe all by their little selves. The History Channel has warped your brain.
Are you trying to say that Hitler would have left us alone if we had just stayed out of WWII? I'm not the one drinking "cool-aid" pal.
If we hadn't joined Britain in her fight against Germany, Britain would have exhausted her resources and would have been unable to repel an invasion. It was BECAUSE of our help Britain was not invaded. The war was not going well for Britain until we came to their assistance. I don't watch the History Channel.
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#4. To: Burkeman1, christine (#2)
Nothing is more revolting than the legions of American "Veterans"- most of whom never heard a shot fired in anger- and did little more than jack off for 2 to 4 years on the American tax payer dime - demand that we kiss their ass and "thank them." For what? Eating, drinking? Going to titty bars? Taking drugs? Supporting child prostitute pimps in the Phillipines and a dozen other places aroudn the world? Not a living "veteran" has ever defended this country from a real threat. Not one.
#5. To: Burkeman1, christine (#2)
I'll second that. Nothing is more revolting than the legions of American "Veterans"- most of whom never heard a shot fired in anger- and did little more than jack off for 2 to 4 years on the American tax payer dime - demand that we kiss their ass and "thank them." For what? Eating, drinking? Going to titty bars? Taking drugs? Supporting child prostitute pimps in the Phillipines and a dozen other places aroudn the world? Not a living "veteran" has ever defended this country from a real threat. Not one.
#6. To: Cynicom (#4)
Your hate for everything American is appalling.
#7. To: robnoel (#6)
Based on your comment....I take you have never beem in a war or understand anything about history
#8. To: Cynicom (#7)
#9. To: Burkeman1 (#2)
SO sick of this shit.
#10. To: Cynicom (#7)
#11. To: Ada (#0)
Why do most Americans hold veterans and current members of the U.S. military in such high esteem? Why is there such a military mindset in the United States?
"every time government grows it is at the expense of personal liberty" - Ron Paul
"I see the Constitution as being written precisely for one purpose -- to restrain the power of government; never to restrain the people" - Ron Paul
#12. To: Cynicom (#7)
May I assume you also would consider Ron Paul a "jack off"???
#13. To: Cynicom (#5)
he is a veteran, "AGAINST HIS WISHES"
#14. To: farmfriend (#11)
(Edited)
Guilt over the way vets were treated after Nam.
#15. To: robnoel (#10)
#16. To: Ada (#0)
There Are Too Many Veterans
#17. To: iconoclast (#9)
War has become a spectator sport
#18. To: Burkeman1 (#2)
It is high time that Americans stop elevating members of the military to a position of honor. It is long past the time when veterans have done anything honorable. We should abolish Veterans Day.
Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under. -- H. L. Mencken
#19. To: Cynicom (#15)
I admit my grasp of history may be shallow for my nearly 80 years of life. Having lived thru the depression, WW2, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and assorted other affairs, perhaps I was not paying attention.
#20. To: robnoel (#19)
Based on the above you should know better about wars and those that serve...
#21. To: robnoel (#19)
#22. To: Enderby (#18)
#23. To: Enderby (#18)
It is high time that Americans stop elevating members of the military to a position of honor.
#24. To: Cynicom (#20)
#25. To: Cynicom (#20)
#26. To: christine (#24)
#27. To: Cynicom (#5)
(Edited)
You appear to be a major trouble maker...and I'm getting really pissed. - GoldiLox, 7/27/2006
#28. To: Ada (#0)
It is high time that Americans stop elevating members of the military to a position of honor.
#29. To: Cynicom (#20)
#30. To: Burkeman1 (#2)
Not a living "veteran" has ever defended this country from a real threat. Not one.
You appear to be a major trouble maker...and I'm getting really pissed. - GoldiLox, 7/27/2006
#31. To: FormerLurker (#30)
The very fact that we have (or had) a strong military is what kept other nations from bullying this country around.
#32. To: robnoel (#31)
Its 80 million gun owners in America that has stopped "other nations from bullying this country around".....
You appear to be a major trouble maker...and I'm getting really pissed. - GoldiLox, 7/27/2006
#33. To: FormerLurker (#30)
You are wrong. There are many that have defended this country from real threats, regardless of what you think.
#34. To: FormerLurker (#32)
#35. To: FormerLurker (#32)
Even in a conventional conflict, not many would be ready to stand up against well trained troops armed with automatic weapons, artillery, and air support.
#36. To: RickyJ (#33)
OK, in which war?
You appear to be a major trouble maker...and I'm getting really pissed. - GoldiLox, 7/27/2006
#37. To: RickyJ (#35)
But the sheer volume of novices would overwhelm the professionals easily.
You appear to be a major trouble maker...and I'm getting really pissed. - GoldiLox, 7/27/2006
#38. To: FormerLurker (#30)
It is those that you disparage as "jack offs" that gave this Nation her strength, and kept the bullies at bay.
#39. To: FormerLurker (#36)
#40. To: RickyJ (#35)
You are right, professional murderers are always going to have an edge over novices. But the sheer volume of novices would overwhelm the professionals easily.
You appear to be a major trouble maker...and I'm getting really pissed. - GoldiLox, 7/27/2006
#41. To: FormerLurker (#36)
If he had been able to take over all of Europe, Africa, and Russia, and if Japan had been able to take over China
#42. To: robnoel (#39)
Do you make your own cool-aid or do the send it FedX?
You appear to be a major trouble maker...and I'm getting really pissed. - GoldiLox, 7/27/2006
#43. To: SmokinOPs (#41)
(Edited)
Hitler couldn't even scrape up enough boats to launch an invasion across the damn English Channel. The RAF put down the Luftwaffe all by their little selves.
The History Channel has warped your brain
You appear to be a major trouble maker...and I'm getting really pissed. - GoldiLox, 7/27/2006
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