This got under my skin today
In this pagan woman's LJ she talks about-
What does it mean to be honorable? What does it mean to be loyal? What do either of those words mean coming from the mouthpiece of genocide?
BBC News reports that US troops smiled before killing Iraqi insurgents.
And what do we expect? Does not military training indoctrinate people so that they are able to do such deeds? Doesn't Fort Benning, Georgia teach techniques of torture?
Why is the US continuously surprised at the horrific actions of US soldiers?
Because of our mythology. We still want to think of ourselves as a "peaceful" nation. A "strong" nation. A "freedom loving" nation. Our collective myths are strong. And these collective myths are lies.
So, we shouldn't be surprised when our soldiers commit horrific actions during war? I guess they're all just programmed to behavior that way. Better tell my husband he's slacking then.
Since we're painting with broad strokes here, I guess I can call the author a pedophile. I mean, after all, this pagan friar is and says that "Not all pedophilia is bad, and sex [with boys] can be healthy,"
So, why should I be surprised? I mean, aren't ALL pagans pedoplhiles?
Wait, you mean...they're NOT? Well, how can THAT be?
See where taking the actions of a few sick people and basing your opinions of an entire group on them will get you?
No, I don't think pagans in general or this woman in particular are pedophiles. I also don't believe that our soldiers in general are trigger-happy, smiling murderers.
I just get tired of having to defend the 99+% GOOD man and women in uniform from being smeared by people like this who takethe proverbial 'bad apple' and make it the rule and not the exception.
Tags-bigotry
posted by Kyrie Drake @ 1:12 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
You put this very well; I enjoy the times when you link to other posts and then give your take on them.
Maybe the whole labeling thing falls under the category of "don't believe everything you hear." Sometimes I talk or write of Christianity in general, or a thing about human nature in general, and then realize that one must put specifics to it before it makes any sense. In the same way, it seems like there's this broad picture about the American military out there, that just gets in a lot of people's heads. You know that it's not true--you're quite close to the way that the American military actually operates.
Anyway, good rebuttal, and I enjoy all the detailed articles about what we're accomplishing in the Middle East that you've put up.
Maybe the whole labeling thing falls under the category of "don't believe everything you hear."
I think more to the point- Don't lump all of a group of people together based on the actions of the few bad apples.
I have studied the history of American combat from the French-Indian War on and reject the popular myths also. America is the super power it is for two reasons.
1. Americans are very very good at warfare and win for that reason not because we are the "good guys".
2. Americans will rewrite the rules of warfare as needed to win.
Some people have to have the myths because they can't deal with the idea that Americans are the meanest and nastiest SOBs on the battlefield. A good cause helps but compitence is required.
Anon-
1. Americans are very very good at warfare and win for that reason not because we are the "good guys".
Absolutely. I would say that USUALLY, we are the 'good guys' as well, but we win because we are the best at committing war.
2. Americans will rewrite the rules of warfare as needed to win.
It's interesting. In looking at WWII through the current conflicts, I don't see us so much rewriting the rules in order to win as adapting to new tactics that are thrown at us.
We went from the 'front lines' massive battles of WWII, to the guerilla jungle fights of Korea and Vietnam, to the even more modular types of units needed for the current battles in the Middle East. Each time, America has had to rethink how it commits troops and change the structure of it's forces.
Some people have to have the myths because they can't deal with the idea that Americans are the meanest and nastiest SOBs on the battlefield.
We HAVE to be the 'meanest and nastiest SOBs on the battlefield', but that doesn't mean we can't be the 'good guys' as well. It certainly is not the same as taking pleasure in killing captured combatants.
It's THAT myth that I want to debunk. That all our troops are bloodthirsty, trigger-happy murders who kill women, children or prisoners in cold blood. Yes, it happenes, but that's NOT the rule, it's the exception, and a rare one at that.
Thanks for your comments!
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