Thursday, January 24, 2008
Militaristic Brainwashing
I've been following, and participating in, a discussion in the comments on The War on Guns. The one commenter is completely obsessed with the military. Yet she is a libertarian. I admit I can't even begin to comprehend the thinking that makes one acknowledge that big government is a bad thing, yet support the biggest violations of rights and the most egregious initiations of force that can be imagined. This libertarian is willing to completely betray liberty in defense of war, because keeping troops in Iraq until they can be brought home, one at a time in the distant future I suppose, is "absolutely crucial" to her. How is supporting the military, the US government's agenda, in this way increasing liberty anywhere? I am baffled and disgusted. I decided to bow out before I said something rude. Maybe I am a simplistic "war protester"....I don't know. You read it and see what you think.
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Anyone who actually supports war is a fucking lunatic. Seriously.
ReplyDeleteObsessed with the military? That's a bit insulting, Kent. I came to this country from the Soviet Union - an oppressive, tyrannical environment. I made a commitment to serve this country in gratitude for the opportunities I got here. I'm fully aware of the imperfections of the military, and the Army, and the National Guard, but I am also committed to protecting my country and the Constitution, as I swore an oath to do. If that's an obsession, so be it. I know what I swore to protect and why. Don't hurl ad hominems by calling me brainwashed. Instead, maybe make a small attempt to understand why the issue is crucial, instead of blindly screeching about how military=tyranny and trying to equate advocating some sanity to redeployment to supporting war.
ReplyDelete"I made a commitment to serve this country in gratitude for the opportunities I got here."
ReplyDeleteI think you made a mistake. Let me correct what you typed:
"I made a commitment to serve my new rulers in gratitude for the opportunities they haven't yet taken away from me."
See, that is actually not a lie.
The only people you are serving are the ruling class and the plutocrats. You are fighting for corporate interests and political polls. If you believe you are protecting anything else, you are either full of shit or a complete imbecile.
You are a class traitor.
You are a trained murderer.
And you talk to us about sanity?
I love that I am both a lunatic and a traitor for having a Combat Infantryman's badge.
ReplyDeleteAnd a trained murderer! Hell Ya! And my hands are licensed as killing machines.
You are wasting your time here Nikki, dude is a boner fide asshat.
Listen, cockstain - out of respect for civil discourse, I tried to keep my comments clean. Now, I'm simply going to tell you this. You obviously have no concept what it's like to live under a tyrannical government. You obviously have no concept of what it's like to not have the freedoms most members of the military have sworn an oath to protect. And you are obviously such a blinded, pathetic mediocrity, you're intent on blaming everyone and everything but yourself for your pathetic lot in life, including the eeeeevil corporations and the eeeeeevil military. You grew up enjoying the many freedoms so many others are lacking in this world, yet you condemn those who want to help protect them.
ReplyDeleteYou are a pathetic sack of effluvia and a coward to boot.
Have a nice day.
TSO, that much is obvious. The fact that he took a French moniker kind of says it all too... because you know, France is obviously a bastion of free thought and libertarian ideals.
ReplyDeleteAssclown.
"Listen, cockstain - out of respect for civil discourse, I tried to keep my comments clean."
ReplyDeleteWell that's nice of a murderer like you to have a conscience. You think you could have had a conscience before signing up to be a class traitor, too?
"Now, I'm simply going to tell you this. You obviously have no concept what it's like to live under a tyrannical government."
So your argument here is "if you don't support us, we'll kick your ass?" Why should I be grateful that you and your ilk are not beating me up or killing me? That's called basic respect for human beings.
Or do you relish the day when the US government will order you to beat up or kill its own subjects?
"You obviously have no concept of what it's like to not have the freedoms most members of the military have sworn an oath to protect."
The only freedom you are protecting is the freedom of the ruling class to exploit us and make money off the misery and death of people in other countries.
If you believe otherwise, you are delusional. I cannot imagine how any sane, reasonably intelligent individual could look at the current politics and the current genocide in Iraq and not realize this.
"And you are obviously such a blinded, pathetic mediocrity, you're intent on blaming everyone and everything but yourself for your pathetic lot in life, including the eeeeevil corporations and the eeeeeevil military."
I don't blame anyone for the few bad things in my life, and I am pretty happy with my life. Are you projecting here?
If you're going to insult me, at least write insults that are true.
"You grew up enjoying the many freedoms so many others are lacking in this world, yet you condemn those who want to help protect them."
No, I don't condemn anyone who wants to help protect my freedoms. Unfortunately you are an enemy of said freedoms, so I certainly condemn you and all your fellow murderers.
"You are a pathetic sack of effluvia and a coward to boot."
How am I a coward? Because I speak up against the military?
I suggest you calm down and think about what you're writing, because you're not making much sense. You seem to be blinded by rage, like all militarists I have ever talked to. I mean, being a depraved person doesn't mean you have to insult me for no reason.
Oh, and nice hat there, Kent. Jake Gyllenhaal called and said he
ReplyDeletecan't quit you. I'm just sayin'.
And the 70's called demanding you return their moustache.
Wow francois, you are so intelligent and erudite and so much better than me, I really am suffering some serious self loathing here knowing I take up space on a planet so clearly in your intellectual debt. I'll bet you are just the pride of your mothers basement.
ReplyDeleteThus Spake Ortner, you sure got me there. Yes, I am arrogant. That's true.
ReplyDeleteYou're a class traitor and a criminal.
I think I get the upper hand on that one.
Do you think you can take your hand off your meat pistol long enough, or are you working your way through the latest issue of Hogger?
ReplyDeleteI knew this class traitor once. That fucker told the teacher that we went into the girls locker room and looked at them while they were changing. I wanted to grow my hair out, pretend to hate the establishment and wear cowboy outfits, but the whole thing fell apart after the Village People hit it big. Who knew that assless chaps, giant mustaches and leather vests equaled "gay"?
ReplyDelete"Do you think you can take your hand off your meat pistol long enough, or are you working your way through the latest issue of Hogger?"
ReplyDeleteIs that what you do in between killing women and children and sucking your superiors' dicks?
Class traitor... how Marxist.
ReplyDeleteYeah well, when my jaw gets tired I usually unwind by killing women and children. It's fun. It's like when you sit at home and stare out the window and pretend you are something other than an anti-social asshat with delusions of grandeur.
ReplyDeleteAllright, I've wasted enough time on the mentally ill today, I'm going to go back to figuring out how I can smuggle out the plans to "my class"es Death Star to the rebel alliance.
I know you guys aren't going to answer any question seriously, but I do have a question I hope you'll answer:
ReplyDeleteHow does it feel to put your life on the line so that Haliburton and Lockheed Martin can make hundreds of billions of dollars and so that the US ruling class can expand its powers into the Middle East and attack our civil rights? In short, to be a total sell-out to the rich and powerful?
Do you even sleep at night?
Oh, what am I saying, you guys have no morality, of course you sleep at night. But how does it feel to be a trained murderer for the rich and powerful, seriously?
Against my better judgement, I will actually answer this one.
ReplyDeleteI served in Afghanistan. I served as an infantry squad leader with the best group of people I've ever known. Before you jump on me being uneducated, I have an undergraduate degree in International Affairs, and a Law Degree. But I digress.
We ran patrols to find and kill or capture the Taliban. When not doing that we guarded the base. That base housed many nationalities. In particular, we had an egyptian hospital group. Every Friday they opened the base to local children to get medical attention. It was mostly boys who had rectal bleeding from being raped by Taliban soldiers.
When we went out on town, we spent the bulk of our time assessing the needs of the villages. Water, education medical. The people who most wanted to see us were little girls. Why? because we brought them pens, crayons, shoes, comic books and other things. Before the US came, girls couldn't go to school. We brought them hope.
When it came to killing, we did what we had to do. There are bad people out there who don't believe in Freedom.
You don't know shit about us. I know you look around at all the "sheeple" and think we are all idiots held in thrall by a horrific government. You continue to think that. For myself, I feel as bad for the raped boys and the uneducated girls as I do for the xenophobic, narcissistic and conspiracy theorists like you who really don't understand the reality of our world.
Think of me as a killer, as a class traitor or whatever else. I can not even begin to convey to you how little your assessment of me means.
Now we're just down to personal name calling.
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying living in America isn't better than living in the Soviet union, but that doesn't mean it's just.
When you compare Hitler to Castro for example, you would much rather live under El Presidente.
That doesn't mean it's rightful and just.
As for xenophobia, narcissism, and conspiracy theories....
Most of those are uncalled for, although I can't disagree with the Narcissism part.
The lesser of two evils is still evil.
ReplyDeleteSome of the most educated people in this world were the most wrong. Being wrong does not = being stupid. But being smart does not = being right.
Wanting to protect your fellow citizens isnt a bad thing, but joining the military is.
It is not necessary to join the police to protect your family and home, for example, is it?
It is not necessary to become a full-time karate instructor to learn self-defense techniques, is it?
"I love that I am both a lunatic and a traitor for having a Combat Infantryman's badge."
Nah, it just means you're more dangerous, and should not be trusted to act peacefully all the time.
Dont worry though, everyone makes mistakes. I dont blame Patty Hearst 100% for her infamous error, for instance.
"How is supporting the military, the US government's agenda, in this way increasing liberty anywhere?"
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you ask an Iraqi Kurd, Kent?
Yea, I'm sure they're really grateful that we're killing their husbands, wives and children.
ReplyDeleteAny American placed in the same situation as these people would fight the invaders with fanaticism.
But of course when brown people do it, they're immoral, because brown people are inferior, right army guys?
Wow, the splashing sound of vinegar and water is overwhelming here...
ReplyDeleteWhat is your obsession with "brown people"? Jesus, I've never seen someone so conscious of color in my life. Have you actually taken the liberty of meeting any Iraqi's or Afghani's? because they are a hell of a lot paler than most my troops were. But I guess that doesn't fit your mantra?
ReplyDeleteFrancois -
ReplyDeleteThe Kurds fought WITH us, asshat. By the way, they're brown-skinned, too.
Nicki -
Thanks for your service to our country. Are you sure that splashing noise isn't Francoise spilling the Hater-aid down the front of his Che Guevara t-shirt?
Anonymous, it's the sound of douche being created out of one Marxist Canadian.
ReplyDelete:-)
re: anonymous,
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you ask an Iraqi Kurd, Kent?
Oh, you mean the people in north Iraq that we abandoned during their rebellion in the 90s when they all got slaughtered by Saddam? It was the "Bay of Pigs" of the middle east. Ya, those Kurds sure do love the US. Yea, right.
re: thus spake ortner,
ReplyDeleteAlthough your comment was directed at Franc, I cant resist but to offer a reply of my own to it:
What is your obsession with "brown people"? Jesus, I've never seen someone so conscious of color in my life.
Clearly, his brown people comments are going right over your head. He is only using the term to accuse you soldiers of measuring the worth of humans differently for different races/cultures. In other words, he is accusing you of valuing white/american people more than arab/brown/foreign people. Most of the time, people arent aware of it when they are doing it. But they do it nonetheless.
Have you actually taken the liberty of meeting any Iraqi's or Afghani's? because they are a hell of a lot paler than most my troops were. But I guess that doesn't fit your mantra?
I cant speak for Franc, but I personally know an Afghan family, a couple Iraqis, and numerous Iranians, including a few Iranian princes. Their colors vary considerably.
I think what Franc was doing was simply using the "brown skinned" term as a convenient way to differentiate westerners from arabs and other foreigners. And one thing is for sure, I know that Franc is well aware that the US military is disproportionately filled with minorities and immigrants, a fact which actually only reinforces his point.
It's funny that even when I mock them for their stupidity, they don't get it. Wow.
ReplyDeleteJesus, Vanna, can I buy an IQ over 20?
ReplyDeleteYes, I know what he was going for. He is insinuating that the US Army is racist. My point is that that is not the case. You guys really are immune to facts aren't you? Everything I say merely reinforces the fact that kkarl Rove's brainwave machine has us by the short and curlies.
Of course their color varies, that was my fuggin point. Seriously, if your insurance covers it, could all of you accessing this blog ask about cranial rectal extraction?
And yes, you do have a point, I do value cultures differently. My bust. But one which values ass raping boys while ensuring that little girls remain uneducated and veiled strikes me as counterproductive towards advancement.
As for valuing "white" over brown, my descendants are from Ireland, I hate all you sonsabitches equally.
Trust me, I am well aware of it.
"Jesus, Vanna, can I buy an IQ over 20?"
ReplyDeleteSorry, but you'll be a fucking imbecile all your life, more than likely. The probability of people like you getting smart is pretty low.
ha! Good show cretin, good show. Even a blind survivalist, conspiracy fruitcake, Paul supporter finds a nut now and again.
ReplyDeleteOk I have to agree with Thus Spoke, being in the Army myself I would have to say that you Fancois and all of your little buddies need to use some common sense here.
ReplyDeletePicture yourself in Germany, the year is 1939, and you decide to print some of the same BS you are doing now, do you think you would have lived to see your next birthday? I would think not!
Now fast forward 50 years to Northern Iraq 1991, and you are a Kurd that takes place in the rebellion to overthrow a government that only 10 years prior came to your village and mustard gas everyone- by everyone I mean men, women, children of all ages, and because you didn’t have the support to help fight the dictator of Saddam and you were not only killed but butchered by the government, would you still think that the freedom's we have because of the brave men and women of this country have fought and dies to insure that you are not gassed by your own country.
Or better yet lets take what Thus referred to imagine being an eight year old boy in Kabul in 2000, imagine you are walking down the street going to the radical Islamic school that the government makes you go to, and half way there some Taliban fighter snatches you up and decides he wants to ass rape you just for the simple fact that he can and nothing can be done about it. Now imagine that you are a father here in the states and your eight year old son is on his way to school and some assclown snatches him and does the same thing, what would you do? Like most you would bring the law down on his head, but under the Taliban that wouldn't happen.
Now I know you are going to go on a rant that I am a baby killer and some sort of demon, well that’s fine, because you have that right top do so because you live in the U.S., where men and women have died fighting for you to open your mouth to the world and prove how much of a douchbag you really are, but again that’s my opinion.
So even thought you do not agree with what the government is doing, or you don't agree with the was in Iraq, remember the rights you have to express those feelings were only given to you by a check written by the blood from a solider, sailor, or marine, and there are numerous countries in the world that would love to take that check back those men and women wrote for your freedom's and cash it with your head on a platter after they torture and ass rape you.
Using "common sense"? Since when do criminals use "common sense"? If you used common sense you wouldn't be a criminal in the first place. To quote Homer Simpson, "duh."
ReplyDeleteWell how is it "criminal" to volunteer to join the nation’s military to serve and protect the people of the United States, to serve and protect the Constitution of the United States and all that it stands for?
ReplyDeleteHow is it "criminal" to fight against an enemy that would like to use your 8 year old son's ass as a penis sock, and no allow females to be educated?
How is it "criminal" to protect the basic freedoms that are guaranteed to every man, woman, and child born onto this earth, but in some countries they are not allowed to express those freedoms?
How is it "criminal" that someone you do not even know, someone you call a murderer, a baby killer, a criminal, is willing to die if needed to insure that you can make "assclown" comments on the internet?
Please tell me how these things are "criminal" and then maybe then I might actually think you are capable of using common sense. Until then thank a solider, sailor, or marine for the right to read, write and speak the English language, because without them you might be speaking German!
Rights never come from government and are very rarely protected by government.
ReplyDeleteWell without the First United States Congress writing the Bill of Rights in 1789, insuring that your rights as a human being will always be there, you would have been just like the people of Iraq where. Also without the government protecting those rights by sending men and women off to fight in foreign lands to insure those rights will always be there, again you would have lived like the Iraq's use to live. And by fighting in a foreign land where the enemy was versus fighting here in the U.S. in your back yard, where not only the military men and women would be in harms way but so would every citizen of this great country. But the biggest thing that bothers me it, you sit here in the freedoms of a great country, being able to spew the crap that comes out of your mouth because of the men and women that have died to make sure you could, and all you can do is talk down to a great patriots of the American Military, talk down about the government and how they are sinking the ship, well have you ever thought of packing your shit and moving to a country like China or better yet, Iran where you would not have these freedoms? I would have to think the answer to that would be no! So the next time you run your mouth, but a gun, write some shitty blog, or vote in this years election, remember that you are able to do that because of the countless men and women that have died to make sure that you could.
ReplyDeleteThank you for demonstrating my point more forcefully than I have ever been able to do.
ReplyDeleteWell I am glad that you think you had some sort of "point" becasue if you did, I have yet to see it!
ReplyDeleteHere's a relevent article: I'm an Anarchist, and I Don't Hate the Troops
ReplyDelete