Military v. Anti-Military

The following article has been taken from one American soldier in the Armed Forces explaining the reasons why this person joined the armed forces and a college student going against this soldier's argument about the military and fighting abroad. By the way, there may be some harsh, expletive words used in this piece; however, I want to keep the authenticity of this article by including all the words written by both people.

A Prospective from One American Soldier

Civillians will stop me in the Mall because they see the Uniform and ask me whether I'm going over there soon. When I tell them they act all shocked, saying that they wish I didn't have to go, they wish me luck, or they might recount times that they spent over seas in the service, or relate a story to me about thier son or brother or sister or cousin who is fighting alongside me to make life better for the Iraqi's.

That kind of stuff motivates me. Makes me feel like I'm going in to "win one for the team" so to speak. I mean, why would I be one of the worlds fewest and finest fighting men if I didn't wanna fight? I would have joined the Air Force or gone to college or something if I didn't want a piece of the action. But their concern is all fair and well, and its nice for me to come here to my home in the midwest and find people that still believe in America. It may sound like a stereotype, but it's true.

But what worries me is this surge of Anti-American attitude from here inside our own borders. Not to go around name calling, but your a bunch of Hippie far left liberal new age anarchists and commies that think that America is the bane of all existance, a cancer on life around the world and that socialism will cure all of our ails. I know that you have the right to believe what you want, but when you use those rights to shit on the people that are providing them unselfishly with thier time, service, and too many times thier blood, it just makes me sick to my stomach.

If you don't like the people who send us over there, I don't give a fuck either. Personally i think the majority of the leadership in our country knows nothing about leading, tatics, or strategy. But hey, i didn't vote for them, and all i can really do is just do my job, do it well. Yet people shit on us for doing our jobs (which is more than most of you will do in thier entire liftetime, lazy pieces of shit!), and then you have the balls to say that this country and its troops are to blame. It parrallels to bastards who would pour pigs blood on Troops as they came back from vietnam and call them "Murderers" and "baby killers". when thier hippie asses were to busy playing purple haze records over and over and smoking joints; (*cough* G.W. *cough*), to get off thier asses and do something about the people that were being beheaded and blown up by the V.C.

But I got some news for "Fuck the Troops", "Against the Troops, Against the War", or anyone for that matter who gets off on that kind of outrageous bullshit. If you don't like this country, pack your shit and leave. Go live someplace where you don't have the freedoms to bitch as much as you do and then well see how long you last. Yes our world needs change, but you don't shit on the people who are the ones actually going out and making it happen. Cause really, do you think you that you Nathan as a High School senior Che rebelbullshit wanna be have done anything to help your fellow man with this? If you love the Iraqi people so much please leave your priveledged middle class American lifestyle, )that I unselfishly provide for you by the way), and go and live with them. Then come back in 7 monthes and tell me how you feel.

I may be an average Jarhead, but I don't take Bullshit from no one. I repeat the words of Pete Steele, "If you don't like it here, then pack your shit and leave. U.S.A., U.S.A. U... motherfuckin' S... A!!!!!!!" America... FUCK YEAH!

A College Student's Argument Against this Soldier

"But what worries me is this surge of Anti-American attitude from here inside our own borders. Not to go around name calling, but your a bunch of Hippie far left liberal new age anarchists and commies that think that America is the bane of all existance, a cancer on life around the world and that socialism will cure all of our ails."

For someone who doesn't want to name call, I think you used just about every name in the book, didn't ya? No matter- the fun fact of this statement is that those names and opinions are, more or less, my exact description and a part of the huge political and social philosophy I hold. I'm not sure I see anything wrong with any of it, either.

"If you don't like this country, pack your shit and leave. Go live someplace where you don't have the freedoms to bitch as much as you do and then well see how long you last. Yes our world needs change, but you don't shit on the people who are the ones actually going out and making it happen."

I've noticed that military men are quick to assert that they are solely responsible for winning and defending our freedom. Yet when one uses those freedoms and rights to criticize the military, the government, or the "good 'ol US of A" in general, they say that even though the "liberal commie pinko douchebag" has the right to say those things, they shouldn't. You're free as long as you fall in line with everyone else, am I right?

Also humorous is the "go live somewhere else" line. I have considered living in another country, and I'm still considering. But I believe that the best way of making change is to stay put and make the change where you are. Perhaps it is you, sir, who would enjoy living in another country. Don't like criticism of the military or government? I got a great place lined up for you. It's called China. They enjoy putting bullets in the heads of people who disagree with their policy. Since you seem to hate our type so much, you might enjoy that job description.

Also, you like defending freedom and your country? Well, there's a whole long list of nations who would gladly like you to defend them- from the United States' unwarranted attacks against them.

The only thing you are changing, is adding another nation or people to the sphere of influence and control the US has over the world. You'll also be destroying countless lives and families of the poor and already oppressed. The only thing you will do is contribute to terrorism, by committing it yourself, and by encouraging the suffering people of foreign nations to rise against the people who stole their families from them.

"Cause really, do you think you that you as a High School senior Che rebelbullshit wanna be have done anything to help your fellow man with this? If you love the Iraqi people so much please leave your priveledged middle class American lifestyle, )that I unselfishly provide for you by the way), and go and live with them."

Well, we couldn't finish off a rant without a nice ad hominem attack, could we? Allow me to start by saying that my age has nothing to do with wisdom, intelligence, or the ability to percieve events in the world. I was picking up on nasty trends within the government (USA "PATRIOT" Act) nearly 3 years before the news decided to cover it. I've noticed that whenever the US or its leading administration suffers bad publicity, in some sudden stroke of luck they stop a "plot" or catch a "terrorist". But upon closer inspection, it turns out that someone was usually coerced into a false confession, or it was a hoax altogether.

I don't understand how I'm a "wanna be" in any sense of the world. Is it true I live a middle class life-style? Yes, and I acknowledge that. But my life has not always been this way either, and you wouldn't know half of that. My class does not invalidate any of my beliefs or philosophies, either. As you 'name called' earlier, yes, I am a part of the radical left and an advocate of anarco-syndicalism (Anarchist Socialism, more or less). I do what I can to help my 'fellow man' and intend to do much more in the future. I lend a hand to the poor and needy, the hungry and dying, the weak and oppressed.

You put bullets in their heads.

If I had any such opportunity to live with the people of Iraq, or any suffering country, that didn't involve me killing them, I can guarantee you I would gladly do so.

The only way in which you provide this lifestyle to me is that your predecessors oppressed and killed the people of foreign nations and stole from them what was rightfully theirs. Your predecessors and yourself support a system that thrives off the suffering of millions of people. Your predecessors murdered foreign leaders that could have brought greater fortune to the people of their countries, and all because it didn't fall in line with the US of A's plans for said country. If I had the ability to give every nation, every person, in the world the same middle-class luxury that the US has, I would very well give it to them. Or if I could give away some of my luxury so that everyone in the world could live in equal comfort, I'd do that just as well.

But that is not the aim or goal of this nation, whether you think it is or not. This nation promotes freedom and equality, religious and political tolerance, cultural diversity...While condemning and destroying it abroad. The ruling class sneers at foreign religions and culture. They exploit them for cheap labor while cleverly turning middle America against the exploited and not the exploiters. The ruling class wiretaps, monitors, beats, arrests, kills, condemns, and derides citizens who elect to use the freedom given to them. The media reports government-friendly bullshit, while its friends in the military destroy or buy alternative sources.

Never, ever, disregard one's viewpoint based on appearance and age alone.

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