Poll: I do not feel more respect or admiration for military personnel than I do for anyone else.

[Undeed]

Hate the war, not the warrior. And for those of you thinking that the military is comprised of people who are murderers and thugs, I believe that were this the case the state of the world would be much more dire than it is not. And within the army there is a medical corps, a supply corps, an engineering corps, and any number of other divisions that have no part whatsoever in actual combat. Hell, there are divisions dedicated to reducing human casualties and involvement, creating non-lethal weapons and unmanned drones. Anyone who makes sch a broad, generalized statement is likley wrong. Even me.

 

[New Troll]

In fact, I don't really see servicepeople as anything other than hired thugs trained to kill at the command of the government. That's what any military is, including that of the United States, my home country.

Most militaries, even the U.S. Armed Forces, spend more time and effort helping people than killing people. Yes, you might refer to them as 'hired thugs' but only if you also refer to someone as Robin Hood as one also.

If it wasn't for the U.S. military, just imagine how much worse the victums during Katrina would have been off. Not to mention the millions of other catastrophies covering everything from floods and tornadoes to the bombing in OKC and Twin Towers.

(Most) Anyone who puts on a uniform, wether it be police, fire and rescue, medical, or military has my respect. They do stuff I could only see myself doing in my fantasies. And the world is better off with them (as a whole) in it.

 

[Charli]

I just remember that all milatary personel are humans within their own right and suddenly the answer is clear. I think stripping them of their right to have hopes and dreams, beliefs and aspirtations, and de-humanizing them to the point of a single loathed entity is somthing to be frowned on alot more. You don't know them, or why they had to/wanted to/were expected to join up with the milatary so don't judge them as one collective figure.

 

[Arrers]

While war is wrong, I think the OP is exaggerating a bit. soldiers are suppose to be proffeisonal and capable of controlling themselves. if that wasn't the case, the concept of war crimes wouldn't exist.

 

[BubbleGumSnareDrum]

Hmm, maybe you should research 'Conscription', before making a generalisation like that.

I'll say it again, go get some life experience before you start judging people, and so you actually have any fucking idea what you're talking about.

You remind me of those people back in the 60's & 70's, who spat on serviceman returning from Vietnam because anyone who went there had obviously killed babies and civilans on a daily basis, particularly the conscripts!

Today's military, that being the military services we have today which do not operate on conscription, but on voluntary application.

Can you tell me which United States of America you're in where they still have compulsory military service?

I have no reason to thank you for anything. I am a free being and always have been simply by existing. This is true of anyone and it is pretty disgusting to me that you think your existence and the path you have taken through it somehow makes my existence more free. It doesn't.

Any military is an organization of violence, lies, and nationalism masquerading as patriotism, built on fear of people who are different from us and yet aren't at all. The wars we are now a part of do nothing to protect freedom, nothing to stop bloodshed, and overall have just been a waste of all lives and resources involved, with motives by the government and military that are not entirely known or justified to us, and if people are going to try and tell me that the military is "keeping me free" then they better be able to back it up.

The only changes that have occurred in the way of human rights since these wars began have been detrimental changes. Rights have not been preserved, they have only been diminished.

In fact, I don't really see servicepeople as anything other than hired thugs trained to kill at the command of the government. That's what any military is, including that of the United States, my home country.

This is... offensive, to say the least.

Fine, you can hate the military and think they are hired thugs all you want, and they will continue to protect your right to think of them that way. Be glad they are there, and willing to do their job despite people who think they are thugs, because if they did not, your freedom to think that way would soon be revoked.

This is exactly what I'm talking about. People are convinced that their rights have been "given" to them and are being protected by other people. You have always had all the rights you could ever want just by existing. My freedom to think that way is always present regardless of what anyone ever does or says or signs. Maybe you think yours isn't, and if you do you're only lying to yourself.

To your first point, fair enough. There are arseholes in any orginisation, and sadly the army seems to get more of them due to easy acceptance into it.

Your second point though, it isn't the soldiers who decide which war to fight. If you disagree with the wars and situations that is fair enough. But the soldiers as a whole are not the ones who cause them

A war can't be started without leaders, but it can't be fought without the soldiers.

 

[Alex_P]

In fact, I don't really see servicepeople as anything other than hired thugs trained to kill at the command of the government.

You have yet to post anything to indicate that your view isn't just as much kneejerk bullshit as "I want to kill ragheads". What do you actually know about the function and culture of the military?

...

So now I guess that patriotism is just another casualty of the post-modern era.

...and nothing of value was lost.

Perhaps to people like you, Grimrider. Perhaps to people like you.

The modern era's ideals of patriotism are irrevocably tainted by nationalism. There are better ways to love your country than "We'll kick your ass, by Jingo!"

-- Alex

 

[Fingerprint]

War is bad. Military is bad.

But we need military, like it or not. Blame the government, not the poor sods who get killed so we can live in peace.

I was going to type something but because of this ^ I don't have to.

 

[Fingolfin High-King of the Noldor]

You think that people who leave their homes for months are thugs? Having a likely chance of never coming home, never seeing their family or friends again? Threated with death every moment they are over there! Their families worrying that they will never see them again? That's bullshit.

 

[Knonsense]

In fact, I don't really see servicepeople as anything other than hired thugs trained to kill at the command of the government. That's what any military is, including that of the United States, my home country.

Wow. I hate the government, and you make me want to defend the troops here. You, sir, deserve a medal from your troll brethren.

I would say that the main legitimate purpose of a government is to stop other entities from governing it's landmass. You need a military to do this. It's not really about killing people. It's about holding the line. Granted, this can involve bad things happening, and the government as we know it has a lot of other agendas for which it employs the use of the military.

The fact of the matter is, if people didn't risk their lives doing this, we would be under a lesser system than your democratic republic. As much as I hate the lies, spectacle, and sickening corruption that are a natural part of the system, there are far worse things. Many of these people are heroes.

 

[electric_warrior]

i think that it all depends on the war they fought in (if any, my dad was in the army for four years or so and never saw combat luckily). i mean, you have to have respect for those who fought in the two world wars but not so much for someone in iraq or afghanistan. although i believe that they still deserve some credit for serving in a war, even if its a morally dubious one it must still be terrifying

 

[BubbleGumSnareDrum]

You have yet to post anything to indicate that your view isn't just as much kneejerk bullshit as "I want to kill ragheads". What do you actually know about the function and culture of the military?

Having never been in any military service, I can't say I know exactly what goes on, but I have seen the changes it brings about in people. I've watched friends go away completely level-headed and come back muscle bound, cocky and looking to pick fights, constantly talking about how they can't wait to go away and kill terrorists for Uncle Sam.

Overall I just feel that the entire psychological effect of the military on an individual is pretty negative.

The modern era's ideals of patriotism are irrevocably tainted by nationalism. There are better ways to love your country than "We'll kick your ass, by Jingo!"

I completely agree with this, and it is once again part of much of why I dislike the military and mostly has to do with the "values" I have seen instilled in people I know after they have shipped off for training or worse yet, a tour of duty and come back home a God-fearing, flag-wanking, jingoistic dolt.

 

[Gruthar]

I don't think they are all heroes, but they do have my respect. Anyone who risks his/her life in the line of duty deserves it. Sure, there are bigots in the military, but there are bigots everywhere, in every profession. To color the entire military as a bloodthirsty racist bunch of thugs is quite frankly appalling (I'm tempted to use a few more choice words here). To call them naive and brainwashed is extremely arrogant.

I know several people who are or were in the military at one point or another. My former boss served aboard an E-3 Sentry, and I had another co-worker who served aboard a P-3 Orion. I know two guys who were in Special Forces, and a handful of active duty Air Force and Army. Among the smartest people I know is a kid who went to college at the age of 14. He joined the Navy at 17, served in Iraq as a corpsman, then left the service to finish his degree. None were 'brainwashed,' and they all had different motivations for joining. Some joined for the G.I. Bill, some joined to become pilots, some were following in family tradition, some just needed a job, while others did so out of a sense of civic responsibility and patriotism. Not everyone was combat personnel. I don't see how you could paint them all with one brush.

Nobody joins because they want to do the government's bidding, they join despite the idiotic decisions the government makes and whatever hell-hole it sends our troops to die in. That takes courage, and that I respect.

 

[Evilbunny]

They go through hell so you don't have to. At least respect them for that.

 

[elemenetal150]

it depends on the person really. While serving one's country could be honorable for the most part, it can in many ways make people arrogant and less considerate towards their fellow countrymen. I know someone that is in the army and serves our country with a lot of honor and respect, he is a great person and I see his service as an extension of his responsible nature. On the other hand I know another person in the Marines and I hope he chocks on his next meal. He is worthless before he joined, he was more worthless after and now that he is back from Iraq he acts like no one else is on his level and is the most arrogant bastard I know.....like I said I hope he chokes on it and dies

it just really depends on the person and why they are in the military in the first place....

 

[Skeleon]

I do not view military personnel any differently than I would anybody else.
A lot of other career choices have serious risks as well. People who choose them aren't automatically heroes or morally superior.

 

[Jursa]

War is considered to be bad, military is considered to be good, however you cannot have war if neither side has soldiers...

 

[Tullio]

Speaking as a Brit, the military I pay for doesn't do anything for me that I am aware of. I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't get shot at by Johnny Foreigner if Britain's armed forces ceased to exist tomorrow.

I have respect enough for soldiers involved in humanitarian aid - dropping food and clean water onto the houses of very unfortunate Bangladeshi's is just fine by me. But I certainly can't call any of them heroes just because they're in the military. How does that make them a hero? They could be complete bastards that have been given a gun for all I know. Sure, they risk thier lives, but doing what? Firemen do that, and thier job directly involves saving people, just like the coast patrol in Scotland and the RNLI. Personally I have more respect for those vocations.

 

[Bored Tomatoe]

These people sign up knowing they might die. They earn the same respect I have for the Police and Firefighters.

 

[Archaon6044]

hold! for mine is a different opinion!

yeah, basicly i think they do a hard job, and get ragged for it, they deserve a lot more respect than they're given, and more recognition for the job itself, whether they're on the lines, or back at home keeping things ticking over