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No, troops really aren't fighting for your freedom

by JerryM | June 8, 2012 at 06:01 am

1719 views | 2 Recommendations | 7 comments

A common refrain is that troops give us freedom. They really don't. They just don't. In theory they could fight in a war for our freedom, but that has rarely been done. The wars that have been fought in some way for our freedom of religion, speech, assembly etc are less than a handful. Of course the Revolutionary war was fought, in part, for our freedom.

In the War of 1812, we were invaded, but at best the war was fought for the freedom of American sailors not to be put in the British Navy. But, it didn't effect the average American in the least.

The Civil War, at least after Jan. 1st 1863, was fought in part for the freedom of those held in slavery. But, those who most repeat the refrain that wars are fought for our freedom, are probably the most likely to be defenders of the Southern Confederacy as something good and noble.

WWII, maybe, but unlikely the Germans could have ever invaded us if we never fought. They couldn't even invade Britain, less than 30 miles from the coast of France.

Now, this is not to say that troops couldn't potentially fight for our freedom, but they really haven't done so, at least in the last 200 years. Saying troops fight for our freedom, or that we should support them, is often a way to gain support of a war. Military defense contractors, for example, love people saying these cliches. Helps drive defense contracts.

I believe the greatest propaganda was when the name of the War Department was changed to the Defense Department, because at least War Department is honest. It's about war, not necessary defense.

The fact is, people want to believe that their military is all good and noble. I think the U.S. military has overall, done good things. We freed people from Nazi domination. We ensured South Korea didn't go over to those nutjobs in North Korea. We, on the other hand have supported thugs in the Cold War, such as the dictator Pinochet of Chile. But, we shouldn't lie to ourseves when talking about the military. Let's be honest.

Well, this column by a Tom Mullen explores the myths that troops fight for our freedom. He makes an excellent point that during a war, opponents of a war are commonly rounded up, or at least have their free speech rights violated or curtailed. So ironically, wars often lead to less freedom and not more. This was especially true during WWI, and the Cold War, such as McCarthyism. So, be sure to question anything that someone says, and don't be a sheep following patriotic correctness.

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tikun

at 07:43 on June 8th, 2012

Jerry, You put the burden on the soldiers that represent the political and governmental establishment.They are paid to serve the U.S. government and the President as their chief. They do his bidding on behalf of the country he/she was elected to serve.

If you disagree as to how they are being used that is one thing but to demonize them and create a narrative that suggests that they do not represent the interests of the country is just nonsense.

I am not going to get into good wars and lousy ones. Just that as long as our troops are sent on behalf of American interests by a sitting President they do represent all of us. That includes fighting for our "Freedom". We all can disagree but the onus is on the Government and political establishment and NOT the troops.

JerryM

at 08:57 on June 8th, 2012

That has absolutely nothing to do with what I wrote. Nothing at all. I am not demonizing them. Did you even bother to actually read what I said, all you are doing is spewing rightwing talking points. I am disagreeing with the statement. The statement. Do you actually believe soldiers/troops are a statement or a cliche? No, they are flesh and blood, the statement is just a meaningless, vague and confusing statement. Now, do they represent us when sent into war? Yes, but that doensn't mean the war should be supported. That's just well, stupid.

Do you want troops sent into a bad war, just because they were sent into a bad war? Does this mean we should support DEA agents in their breaking down the doors of innocent people in the dead of night, in order to raid some marijuana, because we are currently doing so.

Your response is typical of the unthinking, anti-intellectual, illogical and simplistic thinking that drives anyone who can actually think for themselves, nuts. You aren't saying anything of merit.

You are just saying support them, because they were sent there. Yeah and if they were sent to invade Canada to get some maple syrup, would you support the war then? After all, we must support the troops right? Think for youself man.

Lastly, I see you are reporting from Israel. Are you even an American? If not, don't lecture me on troops fighting for Americans freedom. You aren't even from this country!

tikun

at 03:13 on June 9th, 2012

Jerry, Jerry, Is name calling the best you are? I didn't insult you in anyway. All you did was throw insults. I just shared my take on the article you wrote and I read.

to quote you "Your response is typical of the unthinking, anti-intellectual, illogical and simplistic thinking that drives anyone who can actually think for themselves, nuts. You aren't saying anything of merit."

Irony (not verified)

at 04:57 on June 9th, 2012

I'm afraid that is pretty much all Jerry is good for. Check his profile page, it is full of hysterical rants (for the most part ignored). Whenever anyone does question his views he either insults them or makes some absurd moral relativism.I WAS impressed by the concluding part of his comment though. We can now be assured that Jerry will never criticize or offer an opinion on anything outside the USA. He wouldnt be that hypocritical.....surely....

JerryM

at 05:35 on June 9th, 2012

No, not everything I did was insult, though it was part of it. You responded to nothing I wrote. You probably had trouble comprehending it.

Irony (not verified)

at 05:54 on June 9th, 2012

Thanks Jerry, but there are plenty of examples of your girly shrieking and hissy fits on your own page, we didnt really need another one.By the way, I did respond to what you wrote. check again.

Dala (not verified)

at 21:00 on June 29th, 2012

It's true. It's really just a phrase that means nothing anymore, "fighting for freedom." I don't think a lot of people who say it are really thinking about what that means. And I hear plenty of it. I'm in military city, u.s.a., and the overuse and misuse of the phrase is eyeroll-worthy.