“'What’s it like having people thanking you for your service everywhere you go, James?' I asked. 'You might think this is an exaggeration but you asked,' he said. 'It’s an act of violence.'”
Great post. I'm a veteran, albeit not a combat veteran thank the gods, but I have known those who were and every time someone says "Thank you for your service" to me, my stomach churns.
Now I just say, "I served Big Oil, not you," because in my case it was true.
Thanks for that thought provoking piece Mark. This is a huge problem on a societal level too of course. The militarisation of civil society especially your police and ‘security agencies’. The normalisation of conflict. The mindset of your political classes which has morphed over time into seeing America’s political and economic future tied to those 700 plus military outposts globally. The fact that your citizens are armed to the teeth is almost unique amongst western countries. Swearing allegiance to a flag enables young minds to imagine the glory engendered in its defense.
Some amazing paradigm shift would be required to disarm America, does anyone think that is ever going to happen given the way our world has evolved?
The corruption, lies and self-delusion is so baked in and reinforced by the corporate media I fear change can't happen until the whole tawdry, moldy casino collapses. Trump and his empire of failed casinos and business scams is the very embodiment of all that is wrong in the country. In many ways he is the perfect president for the US.
Most Tragic of ALL ~ U.S. Presidents' DoD and PENTAGON reject and disdain the WISDOM and Experience of Combat Vets, so much they pay BigTechAlgorithm coders to "BURY THEM ALIVE" on Social Media
Even the first World was were false flags. The unConstitutional wars after it have sacrificed Americans to the Beast of destruction for military industrial complex. Every movie, video game, TV programs and sports glorify war. Memorial Day and veteran day is used to glorify and encourage war and sacrifice for unConstitutional wars of aggression that are legalized murder and have had only one motive to destroy the Constitutional Rights of Free Men. A surveillance police State has been its offspring
And, as in the fall of all empires, the tactics of suppression used abroad are brought home to suppress the population that has been betrayed, abandoned and bled dry.
"It’s an easy out for the rest of us. It lets civilians like me off the hook when it comes to taking any responsibility for what we have allowed political and military leaders to do in our name. It allows us to wash our hands of any culpability for how they, and we, have used our troops."
Excellent advice. I've always been leery of thanking vets "for their service" especially since I don't know what exactly they did in the military and how they feel about it. I can see why this could be painful for the vet.
Great post. I'm a veteran, albeit not a combat veteran thank the gods, but I have known those who were and every time someone says "Thank you for your service" to me, my stomach churns.
Now I just say, "I served Big Oil, not you," because in my case it was true.
Thanks for that thought provoking piece Mark. This is a huge problem on a societal level too of course. The militarisation of civil society especially your police and ‘security agencies’. The normalisation of conflict. The mindset of your political classes which has morphed over time into seeing America’s political and economic future tied to those 700 plus military outposts globally. The fact that your citizens are armed to the teeth is almost unique amongst western countries. Swearing allegiance to a flag enables young minds to imagine the glory engendered in its defense.
Some amazing paradigm shift would be required to disarm America, does anyone think that is ever going to happen given the way our world has evolved?
The corruption, lies and self-delusion is so baked in and reinforced by the corporate media I fear change can't happen until the whole tawdry, moldy casino collapses. Trump and his empire of failed casinos and business scams is the very embodiment of all that is wrong in the country. In many ways he is the perfect president for the US.
That a figure of Trump‘s ilk could rise to the top of the political system says it all really.
Yes, he was pooped out by the system. You might enjoy this cartoon I did during Trump's first fiasco...
https://demockracy.ink/gallery-trump/
Excellent, You can draw too! 😍
That must’ve been SO cathartic for you.
Most Tragic of ALL ~ U.S. Presidents' DoD and PENTAGON reject and disdain the WISDOM and Experience of Combat Vets, so much they pay BigTechAlgorithm coders to "BURY THEM ALIVE" on Social Media
Even the first World was were false flags. The unConstitutional wars after it have sacrificed Americans to the Beast of destruction for military industrial complex. Every movie, video game, TV programs and sports glorify war. Memorial Day and veteran day is used to glorify and encourage war and sacrifice for unConstitutional wars of aggression that are legalized murder and have had only one motive to destroy the Constitutional Rights of Free Men. A surveillance police State has been its offspring
And, as in the fall of all empires, the tactics of suppression used abroad are brought home to suppress the population that has been betrayed, abandoned and bled dry.
"It’s an easy out for the rest of us. It lets civilians like me off the hook when it comes to taking any responsibility for what we have allowed political and military leaders to do in our name. It allows us to wash our hands of any culpability for how they, and we, have used our troops."
Excellent advice. I've always been leery of thanking vets "for their service" especially since I don't know what exactly they did in the military and how they feel about it. I can see why this could be painful for the vet.
Thanks for t his Mark ❣️
Glad I found it. Feel free to pass along!
Definitely. I also used one of your drawings again in a post. It's tagged and linked to you.
Great, thanks! Feel free to use what you wish.