Does the US have a cult of the soldier and uniform?

[Let's Get Free]

Developments within the last 20 years or so have brought what some consider an unwholesome cult of the military, the soldier, and the uniform. There are a number examples of this, some subtle, some more obvious. As recently as in Vietnam, fatalities were referenced as "killed in action," a dignified factual term recognizing the gravity of the event. Fatalities are now referenced as "the fallen." This term is far more evocative of emotion than the former term, and more manipulative. There is now a glow of sanctity emanating from "the fallen."

Somebody in the Defense Department decided that the flag covered caskets containing the remains of dead soldiers being flown into Dover AF base should not be photographed because it would violate the dignity of the fallen. Dead soldiers from Vietnam returned in body bags. They did return in body bags and their bagged return was so referenced.

What is more pernicious, however, is the rhetorical use of soldiers as justification for a war's continuation. Once started (however misbegotten the start-up may have been) either the war has to continue to protect the noble soldiers that are there, or it has to continue to protect the memory of "the fallen" who "fell" there. So, once started, apparently the only satisfactory way the war can be ended is the total annihilation of the designated enemy.

I think these developments are the result of cynical manipulation by Public Relations Seals working for the Military Industrial Complex to make resistance to the war economy (trillions of dollars on Iraq and Afghanistan) more difficult.

[Red Banana]

I'd say there's absolutely a cult of the military. Soldiers and their commanding officers are always glorified in films and television series, civilians casually wear military camo, no one can seriously criticize the actions of (almost) any soldier without being labeled an "anti american" or an "un-American" and publicly disowned. "Every soldier is a hero who aims to spread 'American-style freedom' to the rest of the world out of their humanitarian compassion"- that's the image portrayed in the media and what a lot of people actually think, that's why people idolize those in the military and more importantly, why they enlist.

[Ostrinski]

I agree with your analysis. In the United States, if one does not tread cautiously, they may very well end up being castigated for being disrespectful, unpatriotic, what have you. It's all very disgustingly reactionary and certainly capitalizes on the strong nationalistic fervor that exists in this country now as much as ever.

Also, this should be in politics.