General Discussion

Lydia Leftcoast

(48,217 posts)

1. At what point does equating militarism with patriotism become pathological?

Sun Dec 30, 2012, 06:12 PM

Dec 2012

Would Smedley Butler have been proud to serve the oil companies in Iraq? Would he have been proud to serve in a senseless war in Vietnam (that may have been about oil, given the revelation of oil reserves in the South China Sea)? Would he have been proud to teach right-wing Central American governments to torture revolutionaries? Would he have been proud to invade Grenada to keep them from becoming uppity?

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

98 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

At what point does obsessive disdain for the military become pathological? [View all] 11 Bravo Dec 2012 OP

At what point does equating militarism with patriotism become pathological? Lydia Leftcoast Dec 2012 #1

You would be unlikely to find anyone less in favor of war and less ... 11 Bravo Dec 2012 #3

Do you always thank fishermen for their seafood? NoOneMan Dec 2012 #5

Wow, the sad part s that vets nadinbrzezinski Dec 2012 #10

Which vets? JoeyT Dec 2012 #22

Yes, what JoeyT said Lydia Leftcoast Dec 2012 #24

Funny, the vets I know nadinbrzezinski Dec 2012 #25

It depends on which one it is for the ones I know. JoeyT Dec 2012 #29

Ah, rear echelon personnel nadinbrzezinski Dec 2012 #32

You just described my dad (although I don't know if I'd call him jaded) Rob H. Jan 2013 #65

Good for your dad nadinbrzezinski Jan 2013 #66

Tell that to the 25% of my 1st Cav unit Jackpine Radical Jan 2013 #57

So yes, some conflicts are more deadly than others NoOneMan Jan 2013 #63

These guys were mostly draftees, not in line for benefits. Jackpine Radical Jan 2013 #71

Yeah? NoOneMan Jan 2013 #73

His point is obvious Shivering Jemmy Jan 2013 #78

So are those vets an exception who "served" and should be "honored" exclusively? NoOneMan Jan 2013 #79

No, they should be fucken reviled Jackpine Radical Jan 2013 #86

When does the defense of it become pathological? NoOneMan Dec 2012 #2

I don't know any vets that go on about their medals. hobbit709 Dec 2012 #12

Right about now... this thread! JackRiddler Jan 2013 #72

ask the GOP. they managed to pathologically worship and disdain the military at the same time NuttyFluffers Dec 2012 #4

K&R n/t RomneyLies Dec 2012 #6

I don't know, but I think the occurance is as rare Rex Dec 2012 #7

WHAT ABUOT BLOWING THE WHISTLE ON REPUKE PLAN TO OVERTHROW THE US GOVRNMENT? Ernesto Dec 2012 #8

A balanced view of the military is best. bluestate10 Dec 2012 #9

Sorry, but... Spider Jerusalem Dec 2012 #11

+1 L0oniX Dec 2012 #13

In a military community it is meant as support the troops rl6214 Jan 2013 #40

That is not the general use of the phrase in Gulf War propaganda. maxsolomon Jan 2013 #82

I support the troops by not wanting them in harms' way. Dash87 Dec 2012 #14

Amen. Jeff In Milwaukee Dec 2012 #16

KnR. As a non-vet, I was so proud to stand with the Vets for Peace... Hekate Dec 2012 #15

a couple of OPs ago arely staircase Dec 2012 #17

When does love of the military become pathological? WinkyDink Dec 2012 #18

When you hate the grunts half as much, as much, or more than the fuckers giving the orders TheKentuckian Dec 2012 #19

What are these "conscripts" you are speaking of? rl6214 Jan 2013 #41

Draftees. Not an issue now but has been in the past and could happen again. TheKentuckian Jan 2013 #70

Exactly, we don't have to worry about conscripts with our all volunteer military rl6214 Jan 2013 #87

Ugh...so other than Ww2, all other modern war by USA Pretzel_Warrior Dec 2012 #20

Good question. Please allow me to answer. Taverner Dec 2012 #21

The need for any war is debatable sarisataka Dec 2012 #26

An officer can always refuse orders. There may be consequences, but they can always refuse. nt Taverner Dec 2012 #27

Anyone can refuse sarisataka Dec 2012 #30

You know, it s easy to say people can disobey orders nadinbrzezinski Dec 2012 #34

It is rare for us sarisataka Dec 2012 #37

In a democracy a soldier is not barred from being part of "civilian leadership". redgreenandblue Jan 2013 #44

Of course you ignore the UCMJ nadinbrzezinski Jan 2013 #48

So, people who sign up are innocent because of economic draft, redgreenandblue Jan 2013 #52

You had some responsibility nadinbrzezinski Jan 2013 #53

Economic draft cannot explain the spike in enlistment when the Iraq war started. redgreenandblue Jan 2013 #55

Really? After 911 I tried nadinbrzezinski Jan 2013 #56

LoL. Ok, you win. redgreenandblue Jan 2013 #60

Run for congress nadinbrzezinski Jan 2013 #61

LOL...You are such a great kidder. cliffordu Jan 2013 #67

Allow me to answer you... pinboy3niner Jan 2013 #43

Great reply. nt XRubicon Jan 2013 #84

Never. Zoeisright Dec 2012 #23

$500 million per year is spent just on our military marching bands think Dec 2012 #28

I dunno. Let's talk about 50 years of national priapism. /nt TheMadMonk Dec 2012 #31

Seems to me that the "disdain" is trendy these days, especially on the internet. JohnnyLib2 Dec 2012 #33

Propping up Banana Republic dictators and the profits of US mulitnationals think Dec 2012 #35

"At what point...?" For me, it was about two hours after Kent State..... lastlib Dec 2012 #36

I served... DissidentVoice Dec 2012 #38

ikr! cecilfirefox Dec 2012 #39

***Horsehockey*** No one here is "denigrating the men and women" who serve. Link?. The General would grahamhgreen Jan 2013 #42

Not hating the people seen posing in the Abu Ghraib pictures is pathological. redgreenandblue Jan 2013 #45

Right on, Brother! pinboy3niner Jan 2013 #46

Let's take a realistic look at disdain for the US military. Prometheus Bound Jan 2013 #47

Well played indeed. A brilliant response to a hit and run rant about something that never happened. Egalitarian Thug Jan 2013 #49

Ummm, the "hit and run" ranter is still here. And if you wish to claim that posts attacking ... 11 Bravo Jan 2013 #92

You're still lying. I've known too many like you in my life. You steal the credit that others have Egalitarian Thug Jan 2013 #93

You have known too many like me in your life? Funny, I could say the same. 11 Bravo Jan 2013 #95

I recognize all of your bullshit, it isn't even original. Try selling somewhere else, poseur. Egalitarian Thug Jan 2013 #96

Been here 11 years, and haven't sold a thing. But it's always fun to meet ... 11 Bravo Jan 2013 #97

I always do, and it's always tough guys like you that bring out the thug, Egalitarian Thug Jan 2013 #98

What? Too busy protecting our freedom to reply to what I wrote to you specifically? Egalitarian Thug Jan 2013 #94

But that doesn't fit on a little ribbon as well as Support Our Troops whatchamacallit Jan 2013 #51

False premise. Arugula Latte Jan 2013 #50

Sometime after all the troops are home from foriegn soil and the military budget is less than 10% Coyotl Jan 2013 #54

At what point does a straw man argument become relevant? Vinnie From Indy Jan 2013 #58

Yes nadinbrzezinski Jan 2013 #59

Is it me or is your reply equally as incoherent? Vinnie From Indy Jan 2013 #62

No that is not it. Rex Jan 2013 #64

Thx! Trying to get my bearings on this thing! Vinnie From Indy Jan 2013 #68

Anytime! Rex Jan 2013 #69

"Like all the members of the military profession, I never had a thought of my own until Egalitarian Thug Jan 2013 #74

Less then 5 percent of Americans ever served in the military therefor 95 percent of people stultusporcos Jan 2013 #75

Sorry that doesn't fly. white_wolf Jan 2013 #85

Yes you can say what you want it is still sort of a free country stultusporcos Jan 2013 #88

You should take your own advice. That was Mark Twain, not Lincoln. white_wolf Jan 2013 #89

The quote has been mostly attributed to Lincoln stultusporcos Jan 2013 #90

No I understand I just think you are the one being foolish. white_wolf Jan 2013 #91

It's attention seeking behavior. I tend to consider the source. MADem Jan 2013 #76

Disdain for THIS military ... you bet! earthside Jan 2013 #77

Very effective and to the point. It is unfortunate most people aren't aware of this including myself think Jan 2013 #81

no idea about the Butler name thing but this thread reminds me of how quinnox Jan 2013 #80

US Major General Smedley Butler wrote a book after his service called War is a Racket think Jan 2013 #83