Military fetishism

[Metacomet]

so-5IwAae2s

Thoughts? I think this is one of the most dangerous and odd things going on at the moment. Such reverence of militarism can not lead to anything positive. If anything it makes the public utterly accepting of war and makes any atrocities that happen there in vanish.

In many ways the U.S seems to be more like Sparta and less like Athens now.

[Zav]

so-5IwAae2s

Thoughts? I think this is one of the most dangerous and odd things going on at the moment. Such reverence of militarism can not lead to anything positive. If anything it makes the public utterly accepting of war and makes any atrocities that happen there in vanish.

In many ways the U.S seems to be more like Sparta and less like Athens now.
When the fuck was the U.S. ever like Athens?

It's to be expected, really, with all the nationalist indoctrination and propaganda. Unfortunately the guy retracted his statements after backlash from the non-thinking crowd. He should have held firm and tried to make a difference.

[Metacomet]

When the fuck was the U.S. ever like Athens?

It's to be expected, really, with all the nationalist indoctrination and propaganda. Unfortunately the guy retracted his statements after backlash from the non-thinking crowd. He should have held firm and tried to make a difference.

I misworded that. It's more like that the values of Athens have been almost totally eclipsed by the values of Sparta. Whats the first thing boys are encouraged to be now? Soldiers. Intellectuals are weak and only exist because tough soldiers protect them.

[Anarcho-Brocialist]

I wrote a comment on YouTube of support of the statement, and I was quickly shunned :laugh:. I think the problem is, as Chris states, it's pushed into our heads that the men and women in the armed forces are hero's, and we have to support the troops. With that being said, any opposition towards the troops, causes a shit-storm.

You're absolutely correct, though. We do have a fetish for everything military. The doll soldiers, the toy aircraft's, the war movies etc, all of these products provide an appetite for not only support, but makes children believe it's a 'cool job'.

Another reason why we have bowed down in favor of the military industrial complex is the huge budget, and during these hard time for many individuals, you still have some believing that we should place more money into the already bloated defense budget instead on social programs. In addition, their is relatively no opposition towards the posters, fliers, and recruiters in the high-schools, as well as on the TV.

[Hexen]

You're absolutely correct, though. We do have a fetish for everything military. The doll soldiers, the toy aircraft's, the war movies etc, all of these products provide an appetite for not only support, but makes children believe it's a 'cool job'.

Not to mention the Call of Duty games and it's clones.

[Metacomet]

I wrote a comment on YouTube of support of the statement, and I was quickly shunned :laugh:. I think the problem is, as Chris states, it's pushed into our heads that the men and women in the armed forces are hero's, and we have to support the troops. With that being said, any opposition towards the troops, causes a shit-storm.

You're absolutely correct, though. We do have a fetish for everything military. The doll soldiers, the toy aircraft's, the war movies etc, all of these products provide an appetite for not only support, but makes children believe it's a 'cool job'.

Another reason why we have bowed down in favor of the military industrial complex is the huge budget, and during these hard time for many individuals, you still have some believing that we should place more money into the already bloated defense budget instead on social programs. In addition, their is relatively no opposition towards the posters, fliers, and recruiters in the high-schools, as well as on the TV.


I wouldn't even necessarily say it's war movies either. It's "historical" movies and "action" movies in general. 300 stands out as an example. So does Ironman. Half of those movies make me feel like I'm watching an army ad.

And what's on TV on memorial day? John Wayne war movies. :rolleyes:.

Interestingly I noticed the more anti-war film. Letters from Iwo Jima wasn't on until 11 PM

[Robocommie]

When the fuck was the U.S. ever like Athens?

Well dude, Athens was a slave-owning oligarchy.

The thing is guys, this isn't new. The United States has been using military service and a cult of honor and service since at least the Spanish-American War. It's part of the trappings of an imperialist power. You get people to conflate their own identities and own sense of self worth and dignity with the dignity and honor of the nation and the nation's military, and people will fight and die for you, to the point where you actually have people believing that sending troops to fight shepherds in the mountains of Afghanistan has anything at all to do with protecting our freedom and democracy.

[Robocommie]

It actually took a shitload of courage on Chris Hayes' part to even consider saying this on national television.

[Revolution starts with U]

The worst part is when people consider soldiers "brave heroes." As if just being in a military situation is what makes one a hero... of course this doesn't apply to the people fighting against us, they're monsters...

It's like the video in Iraq where the "insurgents" are laying down their arms and surrendering. The soldier radios in to ask what he should do and is told to "take no prisoners." So they slaughter them all.
What would have been truly heroic would be to say "no sir. I would rather rot in jail than murder innocent people." That's TRUE bravery. There's nothing brave about merely following orders.

[The Douche]

Its important to be clear that public is in no way accepting of actual war, only war which is waged on other nations, far, far, away.

If mortars and rockets were in the skies of this country it would be a whole different story. The majority of the population of the US has absolutely no idea what war even is.

[Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant']

I wouldn't even necessarily say it's war movies either. It's "historical" movies and "action" movies in general. 300 stands out as an example. So does Ironman. Half of those movies make me feel like I'm watching an army ad.

And what's on TV on memorial day? John Wayne war movies. :rolleyes:.

Interestingly I noticed the more anti-war film. Letters from Iwo Jima wasn't on until 11 PM

Another big offender is Michael Bay's Tranformers series, lots of oohing and ahhing the military, a lot of hardware on display, seemless communication and epic heroism throughout.
Sickening.

[Comrade Marxist Bro]

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Great clip: George Carlin, 1990s.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Another big offender is Michael Bay's Tranformers series, lots of oohing and ahhing the military, a lot of hardware on display, seemless communication and epic heroism throughout.
Sickening.

Yeah, these action movies are the worst offenders. At the end of the third Transformers, when Optimus Prime was speaking after defeating Megatron,one will notice the tattered American flag flying the background.Was groan inducing.

The glorification of "heroism and honor" has a lot to do with the ingraining process among youth.

[Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant']

Yeah, these action movies are the worst offenders. At the end of the third Transformers, when Optimus Prime was speaking after defeating Megatron,one will notice the tattered American flag flying the background.Was groan inducing.

The glorification of "heroism and honor" has a lot to do with the ingraining process among youth.

Agreed.

Also, there are charities like 'Help for Heroes' (the language of it more than the aim of the charity), rhetoric like 'Our boys' and 'Heroes' banded about the UK tabloids and the tributes paid to dead servicemen in the House of Commons (PMQs) every week.
They are put on one hell of a pedastel.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Agreed.

Also, there are charities like 'Help for Heroes' (the language of it more than the aim of the charity), rhetoric like 'Our boys' and 'Heroes' banded about the UK tabloids and the tributes paid to dead servicemen in the House of Commons (PMQs) every week.
They are put on one hell of a pedastel.

Indeed, same in the U.S (as would be expected) as well as, I assume, other bourgeois nations. Of course, the ruling class must raise their defenders up on a pedestal otherwise the populace would grow agitated (or wise to their routine).

[Crux]

so-5IwAae2s

Thoughts? I think this is one of the most dangerous and odd things going on at the moment. Such reverence of militarism can not lead to anything positive. If anything it makes the public utterly accepting of war and makes any atrocities that happen there in vanish.

In many ways the U.S seems to be more like Sparta and less like Athens now.
This is madness.