General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: The problem of our military worshipping culture [View all]newspeak
(4,847 posts)we had the draft and some of my school friends found themselves in vietnam. the media hype about those disrespecting the soldiers got more attention and neutralized the protests against the war.
one of my friends was on the front lines, he saw things that when he came back, he never saluted the flag again. he saw bodies-men, women, children-stacked like fire wood after being burned to a crisp.
many of our democratic congresscritters were honored wearing the flag pin-there were way more democrats than repugs wearing them before 9/11. after 9/11, little boots basically allowed any chickenhawk to wear it.
i do not disrespect our soldiers, my daughter just got out of the military and my SIL is still in-has been to iraq and afghanistan. however, i do agree with gen. smedley butler "war is a racket." our government has put our soldiers in harms way for what they "hype" as threat; but the real reason is nothing more than business interest. and the heinous acts (the death squads) are not worth losing our (american soldiers, the american people) our honor and what we are supposed to stand for. you cannot cry "democracy" and supplant a democratically elected leader for a tyrannical dictator just so certain business interests in this country are served.
the soldiers serve their country; the politicians serve their greed and interest. and mcgovern, who served honorably was right to get us out of a damn boondoggle.