|
|
| Author |
Message |
bemisnorris
Cole
Joined: 16 Oct 2002
Posts: 2083
Location: Not Here
  
Votes: 1
|
 Posted: 23 Mar 2003 12:48 AM Post subject: Blind Obedience(?) |
 |
|
When I would watch documentaries, hear, or read stories about Hitler and Nazi Germany, I would wonder how people could do some of the things they did, just because their leader, or government told them to. Current events going on around the world have given me the answer.
Being a member of the National Guard (and former soldier in the U.S. Army), I now realize that if I am activated and told to go fight in this war against Iraq, I would do so, even though I don't agree with the reasoning behind it. I now realize that I would rather go fight for something I don't believe in, than risk being incarcerated or being seen as a coward. I know, as a matter of fact, that I am not the only member of the military that feels this way. It's because of this realization that I will not be re-enlisting when my contract is up.
I also now realize that all a leader needs to get people to follow him is a major event to rally his people around (i.e. 9/11 attacks, the Great Depression, famine, etc.), a scapegoat (real or imagined) (i.e. terrorists, Jews, witches, etc.), and successful military actions (U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, German invasion of Poland, and the current invasion of Iraq).
Before Operation: Iraqi Freedom just slightly over 50% of Americans supported any military action against Iraq, but now (with things going extremely well for the U.S. in Iraq) over 70% of Americans support military action in Iraq. Think about that, for awhile.
I heard on the radio that some senator, or congressman, said that those Americans that are participating in rallies to support the troops in Iraq are "true Americans". I'm assuming that he thinks that Americans who are participating in anti-war rallies are "un-American".
But what is a "true American"? Is it someone who conforms to the norm and follows our leaders blindly? Or is it someone that speaks his mind and fights for what he believes in? After all, weren't our forefathers rebels who stood up for what they believed in? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Sponsored Links
|
|
|
verbal
Cole
Joined: 24 Oct 2002
Posts: 2499
Location: C-Town
Votes: 9
|
| Posted: 23 Mar 2003 06:22 PM Post subject: |
|
|
"Remember, when your celebrating the bicentenial... remember what your celebrating...that some white aristocrats didn't want to pay their taxes"
50% Americans supported the war, last time I checked it was at 76%.
My opinion is simple. Those extra 20% or swing vote, didn't believe in the war, but now that the war started they are supporting their troops. Many have sons and daughters or close friends, thus they now show their support. I believe it's for morale.
All I know is that it sucks that American soldiers are dying and are becoming POW's. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bemisnorris
Cole
Joined: 16 Oct 2002
Posts: 2083
Location: Not Here
Votes: 1
|
| Posted: 23 Mar 2003 08:36 PM Post subject: |
|
|
| verbal wrote: | "Remember, when your celebrating the bicentenial... remember what your celebrating...that some white aristocrats didn't want to pay their taxes"
50% Americans supported the war, last time I checked it was at 76%.
My opinion is simple. Those extra 20% or swing vote, didn't believe in the war, but now that the war started they are supporting their troops. Many have sons and daughters or close friends, thus they now show their support. I believe it's for morale.
All I know is that it sucks that American soldiers are dying and are becoming POW's. |
I know many soldiers who either are deployed or are preparing to deploy. I support our troops and wish them the best, but that doesn't mean that I support "military action" in Iraq. And I think that the American public needs to differentiate between supporting our troops, and supporting military actions. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
revramrod
IVC Dropout
Joined: 09 Oct 2002
Posts: 1409
Location: Calecia.com
|
| Posted: 24 Mar 2003 07:41 PM Post subject: Re: Blind Obedience(?) |
|
|
| bemisnorris wrote: | | When I would watch documentaries, hear, or read stories about Hitler and Nazi Germany, I would wonder how people could do some of the things they did, just because their leader, or government told them to. Current events going on around the world have given me the answer. |
Hey, I don't have anything to add. Just wanted to let you know that I agree with you. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
revramrod
IVC Dropout
Joined: 09 Oct 2002
Posts: 1409
Location: Calecia.com
|
| Posted: 24 Mar 2003 08:01 PM Post subject: |
|
|
| bemisnorris wrote: | | And I think that the American public needs to differentiate between supporting our troops, and supporting military actions. |
I don't think you'll ever prove to these morons that the two are mutually exclusive. As far as they're concerned, you're either with us, or against us. End of story.
As an American -- born and raised -- I feel it is my goddamn duty to protect it from itself. It that isn't patriotic, I don't know what the hell is.
Fuck Iraq. And, when I say "Fuck Iraq", I don't mean "Nuke Iraq". I mean "Who gives a shit about Iraq and the Iraqi's plight." If they wanna live under the rule of an egomaniacal Head of State who completely disregard the wellbeing of his people, then let them deal with it. Just like we do. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Sponsored Links
|
|
|
bemisnorris
Cole
Joined: 16 Oct 2002
Posts: 2083
Location: Not Here
Votes: 1
|
| Posted: 24 Mar 2003 08:37 PM Post subject: |
|
|
| revramrod wrote: | | bemisnorris wrote: | | And I think that the American public needs to differentiate between supporting our troops, and supporting military actions. |
I don't think you'll ever prove to these morons that the two are mutually exclusive. As far as they're concerned, you're either with us, or against us. End of story.
As an American -- born and raised -- I feel it is my goddamn duty to protect it from itself. It that isn't patriotic, I don't know what the hell is.
Fuck Iraq. And, when I say "Fuck Iraq", I don't mean "Nuke Iraq". I mean "Who gives a shit about Iraq and the Iraqi's plight." If they wanna live under the rule of an egomaniacal Head of State who completely disregard the wellbeing of his people, then let them deal with it. Just like we do. |
I agree with you 100%. I just wish that more Americans weren't so easily blinded by false patriotism. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mars
Tecato Revisited
Joined: 15 Oct 2002
Posts: 1363
Location: mangled in blackhole
|
| Posted: 25 Mar 2003 03:12 PM Post subject: |
|
|
| so when are we going to pass out the yellow ribbons? I still have my old ones. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bemisnorris
Cole
Joined: 16 Oct 2002
Posts: 2083
Location: Not Here
Votes: 1
|
| Posted: 25 Mar 2003 09:40 PM Post subject: |
|
|
| Mars wrote: | | so when are we going to pass out the yellow ribbons? |
God, I hope they don't bring those back...we were just starting to get rid of all those fucking American flags!
What troops need is letters and pictures from their loved ones. That's what helps with their morale, not rallies, ribbons, or flags! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
revramrod
IVC Dropout
Joined: 09 Oct 2002
Posts: 1409
Location: Calecia.com
|
| Posted: 26 Mar 2003 12:16 AM Post subject: Re: Blind Obedience(?) |
|
|
| bemisnorris wrote: | | But what is a "true American"? Is it someone who conforms to the norm and follows our leaders blindly? |
Unchecked patriotism leads to paranoid nationalism, which ultimately leads to rampant fascism. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
elchrist
See-thru Afro
Joined: 09 Oct 2002
Posts: 7558
Location: Calecia.com
Votes: 14
|
| Posted: 26 Mar 2003 08:25 AM Post subject: |
|
|
| bemisnorris wrote: | | Mars wrote: | | so when are we going to pass out the yellow ribbons? |
God, I hope they don't bring those back...we were just starting to get rid of all those fucking American flags! |
They should bring back these ribbons in a rainbow pattern. I think this will symbolize the level of patriotism that Americans have reached. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Sponsored Links
|
|
|
|
