Sometimes, I just feel like writing a post I know will get people to stop reading my blog. I don’t do it for this purpose, rather, I generally keep thoughts like this bottled up until it gets to a point where I can’t stand it and I have to say something.
If you’re in a hurry, and you don’t want to read the whole of this post, you can basically get the idea from one simple phrase: fuck the military.
A lot of our budget problems derive from the military and it’s overly-generous compensation program. I have sat politely while I watched teachers get maligned in the media for months over their cushy government jobs and benefit packages. Teachers used to be off-limits for criticism, because they have a tough job and they really are not compensated enough for what they put up with and how important they are to our society.
On the other hand, the military does nothing for us. Zero. Zip. Zilch. Not a single fucking thing the military has done in my entire lifetime has been justified or been for the betterment of the country. In fact, I would extend that and add that nothing the military has done in my baby boomer parents’ lifetime was worth doing.
The American military doesn’t protect America, they endanger it. The military is full of a bunch of scum bags who wouldn’t get a real job, so they took a cushy government paycheck to go play GI Joe in countries where they don’t belong. I won’t even get into the fact that rape is a grossly ignored crime near US military bases around the world, but that’s a fact worth at least mentioning, because it really puts the “America’s finest” in the proper light for the rest of the discussion.
Ultimately, the military is all about rape. It’s about seeing something we want and just taking it, regardless of the feelings of others.
And don’t try feeding me any of this “patriotism” bullshit. I was 17 on 9/11. I knew kids who enlisted and went off to fight. They were idiots before 9/11, they were idiots after 9/11, and they were idiots for going off to fight Bush’s wars. I have zero sympathy for idiots. I was not a particularly bright kid, but I and many people I knew were plainly able to see through the propaganda.
The people who go off to fight are violent assholes who just want to be paid to kill people, or they’re jerk-offs who want to use the military to provide them with something the rest of us deserve for not being vile murderers, like a free college education and training.
Republicans always bitch and moan about how America is being turned into a communist country, but the main organization that is socialized in the US is the military. They get everything provided for them at tax payer expense, including medical care, despite a complete lack of need for such a large military. These socialized soldiers, military mooches, and communist killers are bleeding this country dry.
In these tough budgetary times, I think we need to gut the entire military. We don’t need a standing army that costs hundreds of billions of dollars a year, and that’s the cost when we aren’t even at war. The trillions in debt Bush and Obama have run up while playing terrorist hide-and-seek for the last 10 years is money spent on killing innocent people that could have been used to rebuild our crumbling nation.
I’m sick and tired of everyone kissing the ass of the military. If you’re in the military, here’s what I want you to do: put a bullet in your head. And do it right, so you die, because I won’t want to be paying for a damned vegetable on life-support. And if you have a problem with my views or my tone, maybe it’s because you have no clue what’s going on.
The enemy is within. The military isn’t here to protect us, it’s here to protect itself. The military fights in order to fight forever, not to bring peace. The military has no interest in bringing peace, because peace is bad for business. Militaries don’t go to war against each other, they go to war with each other, because every military in the world is allied together against the rest of us, working solely to convince peace-loving individuals that their hard-earned money should go towards a bunch of violent murderers.
This is the reality of the military: it is America’s biggest gang of thugs, and they deserve nothing from anyone except contempt.
I look forward to anonymous disapproval. I would expect nothing less from cowards.
ReplyDeleteYour such an asshole. Fuck you. Those soldiers give you the freedom to say bullshit hate like that. They fight for YOU yes you a looser with no hold on reality that absolutely hates them for risking their life for you. Go to hell because thats what they do for work. They go to hell for you and because they love their country.
DeleteNo body asked anybody to go to hell.
DeleteYou are to Atheism what The Westboro Baptist Church is to Christianity...mindless ass clowns starving for attention. I am thoroughly amazed you have time to run such a productive website, for I am confident you and your wife are pillars of society. I can only imagine that you are both physicians, traveling the world providing humanitarian aid to those in need (or something of the like).
DeleteAll sarcasm aside...good luck to you and your wife in Community College. I am sure you will work your way up to middle management at your local Wal Mart...you will only be a door greeter for a little while longer...keep your chin up, champ.
Have you read Company K? There's a passage called the "The Unknown Soldier" that I think you'd like. My 11th grade history teacher read it to us in the months that followed 9/11. You've just reminded me of it.
ReplyDeleteWhile I wouldn't say I hope anyone commits suicide, I do think the military is problematic in many different ways. I also think you're right to point out how ridiculous it is to expect the military to limit itself. That's just not gonna happen. There's big business in war. And like prisons, that means more warm bodies (and tax dollars) will always be needed. I don't really hold it against individual soldiers though. It's not like they have the power to change the system. The original GI bill disproportionally helped white soldiers and can be considered the largest affirmative action program this country has ever created so there are definitely reasons for it to be criticized, but I have a hard time judging people who use the military to get out of poverty.
I have written about how the military is not brave and altruistic for accepting the job the government offered.
ReplyDeleteMy audience was not amused.
I don't really hold it against individual soldiers though. It's not like they have the power to change the system.
ReplyDeleteHow can you not hold individuals accountable for the actions they take? To me, this would be tantamount to saying, "Well, I don't blame police officers/prison guards/any profession for the abuse individuals perpetrate." I do not accept the Nuremberg excuse. Just because someone was "following orders" does not excuse any individual involved from blame, and they should be ashamed of what they do, even those who are merely accomplices and do not engage in direct conflict.
I have a hard time judging people who use the military to get out of poverty.
I guess I don't. I also blame people who use other forms of crime to get out of poverty. In fact, I would rather most of these soldiers robbed others at gunpoint, because less people die in robberies than war. Also, statistics indicate that the military is not disproportionately poor.
I have written about how the military is not brave and altruistic for accepting the job the government offered.
Tell me about it. I will never forget the hypocrisy that ran rampant after 9/11, where the terrorists were "cowards" for what they did, while our airmen who dropped bombs high above danger or launched missiles from miles away were "heroes" for their method of slaughtering innocent people.
if individuals aren't held accountable no one will ever be, They are a million personal choices that made this how it is now.
DeleteI'm curious as to how you think other countries, particularly those with Realist foreign policies, would react to the shutdown of our military. Or are white Americans the only people in the world capable of imperialism?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that we need to stop using war as a means of maintaining economic stability, but come the fuck on. What you've said here is horribly wrong.
He just exampled US military.
DeleteCouldn't all the military thing be stopped ??
What you've said here is horribly wrong.
ReplyDeleteWhat part in particular?
Everything you sick bastered.
DeleteWow, you almost spelled that correctly... almost.
DeleteListen, the military protects you. Remember all those terrorist attacks? On top of that, they are willing to lay down their lives for you. You find it easy to rant about the military while you're in your nice apartment typing on your keyboard. Guess what? Without the military that wouldn't be there. Before you tell a soldier to die because he is fighting to protect you, remember he is already willing to die for you no matter how many insults you threw at him. I bet you failed your ASVAB, or couldn't make it in to West Point.
DeleteA future Army Officer.
I suspected this post was coming when you commented on my post about the DoD's proposal to pull a bait-and-switch on veterans and those serving. You may be surprised I'm not offended by your position at all. I don't agree with all of it, but I do much of it.
ReplyDeleteOne thing you don't seem to be taking into account is that some didn't choose to serve but were drafted. You can argue drafted individuals had a moral responsibility to dodge the draft or accept prison for refusing to serve. I like to think it's what I would've done ... I'm glad I never had to find out. I imagine though that there were many who would have liked to skip off to Canada during the Vietnam era, but didn't have the means. I think it's also likely many felt it was their duty to serve based on the propaganda of the era. If unsophisticated citizens were duped into serving by government misinformation and a complicit corporate media, would you consider them as culpable as the scumbag who signed up because they wanted to get paid to kill the yellow or the brown man?
I'm also reluctant to dismiss all who serve as being morally bankrupt because I think there's participatory guilt for crimes committed by the military that can be ascribed just as fully to every citizen of the society that votes for politicians who don't actively oppose unjust wars, and guilt enough to go around for every citizen who pays the taxes that fund the military exercises. Whose fault is it Bush and Cheney have not been charged with war crimes yet? Surely congress and the justice department should have acted by now, and they represent us. If we're not calling for accountability for war crimes, if we're even not voting for any politician (if there is one) who promises to hold them accountable, thereby facilitating the election and actions of the traitors who don't enforce our laws, then we all share in that blame equally.
Many members of my family serve. Many of my friends have served or are serving. I recognize there is a conflict between my love for them and my abhorrence of violence, imperialism, injustice, and murder. I can't, I won't, say "fuck them" because I understand, in most cases, how they got where they are, yet I do not support any of our military interventions of my lifetime. But, I don't blame anyone either for saying many in the military do not deserve our support because they are actively, knowingly participating in what is, IMO, transaparently evil action.
I suspected this post was coming when you commented on my post
ReplyDeleteIt was probably a bit of that and this post I did. I was basically still in a vicious place mentally when I wrote this.
Is there societal guilt here? Without a doubt. There's plenty of blame to be spread around, though to be fair, I am not sure what I could have done when I wasn't even 18 and able to vote when Bush was elected. Still, it's money I paid in taxes funding it all.
Part of my hostility comes from a place where I see near universal support for something that is wrong. When I see that, it drives me, it angers me, and I find myself unable to pretend by peppering my criticism with lip service for a bunch of murderers who kill people with my money in my name.
If someone isn't a murderer, if they didn't do it for the reasons I said, they have no reason to feel insulted. But maybe, just maybe, if what I have to say offends someone, it's because there's still a shred of humanity in that individual that is hurt by the truth of what I said. Otherwise, they can just write me off as a hippie who has no clue and go back to enjoying all the benefits they still get for no reason.
The truth is, we should be able to respect the military. I just don't respect ours at all. This is sort of my feeling on a lot of authority in this country, from the police to politicians. There is a severe lack of respect being earned compared to the respect being demanded.
Just because someone was "following orders" does not excuse any individual involved from blame, and they should be ashamed of what they do, even those who are merely accomplices and do not engage in direct conflict.
ReplyDeleteYou totally misrepresented what I meant. I never said people weren't responsible for their actions. It's a bit silly to even jump to that conclusion. I'm not talking about individual soldiers at all because they aren't the problem. The problem lies with the military industrial complex and the people who perpetuate the system. To focus on soldiers is missing the forest for the trees. This is not to say that soldiers who commit terrible acts are wonderful people, but I shouldn't even have to clarify that point. I'm only saying that getting rid of the "violent assholes" isn't gonna solve any of the problems you mentioned.
Also, I never claimed the military was disproportionately poor.
I'm not talking about individual soldiers at all because they aren't the problem
ReplyDeleteWhy? It's not actual soldiers who kill and rape? If anything, that's the one thing the top brass can be absolved of: committing the actual crimes. They're the Charles Mansons in all of this.
So here's a non-anonymous disapproval.
ReplyDeleteYour broad-stroke generalizations read like the ramblings of an uninformed individual carelessly embracing their privilege.
You're certainly entitled to your opinion and you're correct, to some extent, about the military budget (I'm in favor of lowering it). That said, you made number of statements that are nothing more than bald assertions and some of them so ridiculously misrepresent the facts that they simply have to be corrected.
"On the other hand, the military does nothing for us. Zero. Zip, Zilch. Not a single fucking thing the military has done in my entire lifetime has been justified or been for the betterment of the country. In fact, I would extend that and add that nothing the military has done in my baby boomer parents’ lifetime was worth doing."
I have no idea what you consider justified, but I'd argue that not only does the mere presence of a strong military serve to protect the country (which should be justification enough), but the actual actions the military take (some that you wouldn't be aware of, even if you cared to educate yourself) serve this purpose, as well.
Your case is roughly akin to someone claiming that the police don't actually do anything to protect us, and then trying to support this by pointing to selected cases of abuse.
"The military is full of a bunch of scum bags who wouldn’t get a real job, so they took a cushy government paycheck to go play GI Joe in countries where they don’t belong."
Do you have some data to back this up? Can you cite any studios about the competence or character of military members? Have you actually served in a capacity where you had the opportunity to meet and evaluate these individuals to determine if they're scum bags?
I have. There are most definitely some scum bags in the military. There are, most definitely, some people who couldn't or wouldn't get another job. There are also intelligent, educated, committed people who serve for any number of reasons.
Incidentally, not only is the job not normally "cushy" but neither is the paycheck - and do you know what the military tends to do to the real scum bags? They get discharged.
"Ultimately, the military is all about rape. It’s about seeing something we want and just taking it, regardless of the feelings of others."
This myopic and skewed assessment of the military is absurd. While there's certainly a case to be made that some military decisions have been empire-building in their nature, that's hardly the case for all of them.
It may interest you to know that many of us who served in the past are unhappy with many of the decisions made with respect to recent military engagements - but few of us would resort to the sort of ridiculous generalizations you've made here.
Additionally, it's pretty ridiculous for you to presume to sufficiently understand the complexities of the situations to reach an informed decision when it's very likely that even those who are best informed most probably cannot glean more than a rough estimate.
"The people who go off to fight are violent assholes who just want to be paid to kill people, or they’re jerk-offs who want to use the military to provide them with something the rest of us deserve for not being vile murderers, like a free college education and training."
So, not being a vile murderer means you deserve a free college education and training? How did you reach that conclusion?
Also, how do you conclude that the education compensation that one receives for actually doing a job, especially a job that may put your life at risk, qualifies as "free"?
Continued...
ReplyDelete"These socialized soldiers, military mooches, and communist killers are bleeding this country dry."
I'm getting really close to just ending my response here...because every few lines that I re-read makes me more convinced that you're simply not worth responding to.
Which categories am I in? Am I scum bag, a socialized mooch, a communist killer, a violent asshole who wants to be paid to kill people, a jerk-off looking for "free" college or someone who couldn't get a real job?
Hopefully you'll eventually recognize that you're talking about real people who don't necessarily fit ANY of the libelous labels that you toss around.
"In these tough budgetary times, I think we need to gut the entire military."
Of course! What a brilliant idea! I had forgotten that we lived in a Utopian wonderland where we had no need to protect ourselves and our allies from aggressors. How did I miss that change? It's so simple! Let's just get rid of the military that we clearly don't need, and everything will be peachy.
"If you’re in the military, here’s what I want you to do: put a bullet in your head."
Fuck you. No, seriously, that's about the only response that such a statement deserves.
Every now and the, for the sake of fairness (and because some people make it necessary) we do an episode of our show on "stupid atheists". We highlight people who are engaging in particularly stupid lawsuits or who are demonstrating that they don't really understand how to think critically or rationally. We point out conspiracy theory nutjobs and hate mongers and people who are advocating particularly stupid positions - either under the guise of atheism or while linking those actions to an ostensibly atheist/rational platform.
I'd add you to the list for the next show, except that it's unlikely that your remarks here could have enough impact to make it worth mentioning.
On that note, I'll request that you remove any links to the ACA or our show. You, of course, don't have to...you're free to link to whatever you like. But it'd be nice if you did.
You are completely right.
DeleteThanks for defending the people who give this asshole the right to say such bullshit he should be ashamed.
DeleteI have liked reading this blog for a while now. As of today that has chnaged due to this comment.
ReplyDelete"I’m sick and tired of everyone kissing the ass of the military. If you’re in the military, here’s what I want you to do: put a bullet in your head. And do it right, so you die, because I won’t want to be paying for a damned vegetable on life-support. And if you have a problem with my views or my tone, maybe it’s because you have no clue what’s going on."
The men and women who serve do so at their own choice. They risk their lives to make sure your right to free speech is not abridged, no matter how heinous.. If the world catered to your hateful wants and we gutted or ended our military do you think your ability to spout such hate would be free for long?
If the world catered to your hateful wants and we gutted or ended our military do you think your ability to spout such hate would be free for long?
ReplyDeleteAre you seriously trying to tell me that the wars we are in now or in the last 30 years were to "make sure [my] right to free speech is not abridged?" I want to know if you honestly expect me to believe that tripe.
Costa Rica seems to be doing just fine without a military. So either we don't really need a military to avoid having to learn our foreign masters' language, or "American exceptionalism" is entirely a fraud since a small unremarkable country like Costa Rica can pull off what we consider a pie-in-the-sky fantasy.
DeleteI'm more inclined to believe the former.
Have you ever looked at an atlas? Costa Rica is fucking tiny compared to the USA and their population? It's as small as your brain. A country without a military works for a smaller country. A larger country, especially a world power, has a gigantic need for a military.
DeleteMy question is if the USA had no military to defend it self do you think you would be able to order the death of the brave men and women who protect your rights?
ReplyDeleteBetter yet do not answer as I am done here. Your self loathing shows through too much any more in your posts to make it an enjoyable few min of my time to read your rants any longer.
do you think you would be able to order the death of the brave men and women who protect your rights?
ReplyDeleteThere's a bit of a difference between telling someone they should kill themselves and "order[ing] the death of" someone. I say this not because I defend my comment, but because you are exaggerating an already regrettable comment.
And like I said, soldiers aren't "defending my rights," they're fighting wars for rich men who care nothing for them and who think nothing of sending them off to die for fun and profit.
Maybe I would feel like soldiers were working to protect my rights if they didn't passive-aggressively suggest I don't have the freedom to criticize the military.
You do dumbass you just did. They protect your right to say shit like that. Nobody says passivly aggressively that you cant. You have the 1st amendement and can say what ever you damn well please. BUT so does everyone else. You evidently have no compassion or care for others less fourtunate than you if you criticise people willing to die for you. You can be a selfish un-greatfull asshole all you want there's no one telling you you can't.
DeleteThey aren't protecting me, my freedoms, or really anything but the bottom-line of the rich.
DeleteCry more.
Haha, while I think you went a bit overboard on some things, your post was refreshing. Our military hasn't protected us in almost 70 years now, and yet I always hear about what they've done to protect our freedom. I'm pretty sure all these defenders of the free world are now dead, or pretty damn old. Imagine if the debt we've accumulated had been used for research, how much better off would we all be? Spend a trillion on cancer research, alternative energy, drill some wells for thirsty people in Africa. I'd feel better if we spent our money on something that alleviated suffering or helped society in some way instead of funding an organization that's sole purpose is to kill other people.
ReplyDeleteI think you went a bit overboard on some things
ReplyDeleteI think you win the award for saying I had a public tantrum in the most polite (and perhaps understated) way.
I commend you. I was in the Army in 1981-1982 but got out as soon as I could. The only reason I ever went in was due to my asshole father demanding I go in. He was a terrible father (lots of abuse by his hand).
ReplyDeleteI remember being told on one of our "alerts" (that's when the Army wakes you out of a sound sleep and tells you what could happen) that we could all be going to the Persian Gulf any day. That was in 1982. And people actually try to say it's not about oil.
I hate the fuckin military as is. I agree completely that they are an organization out of control. I especially despise the robots throughout the military that insist they are keeping us safe through invading countries. Nothing pisses me off more than those idiots.
The only thing I ask is you have a little patience for the Private (beginning soldier) as many times there just aren't any other financial options available. That was certainly my case. My father literally told me as soon as I turned 18 I was out his door. I had no other choice but the military.
Bret "Ginx" Alan, I can relate to your level of frustration on the military. I really can. And you probably never saw the military from the insider perspective. I have and I can positively tell you there is plenty of hypocrisy starting from basic training.
Drugs and violence were pervasive in my short-lived stay. I never did drugs but did witness a Sergeant selling to a fellow Private.
The Army CID (police unit) told me to let it go when my locker was broken into and goods stolen. Basically, there was no integrity whatsoever in the Army when I was in. Which makes sense considering the things they are involved in since WWII.
I can't bear to see naive young fools gearing up for the military any more. It frustrates me greatly because I KNOW their life can only get worse...MUCH WORSE... from there on out. Especially nowadays with wars going on. The costs that society pays when these gun-ho dumbasses (yes, there are folks who join the military because they literally want to kill people)come home with combat related PTSD is staggering. There are so many losses involved when a young person chooses killing as a profession (soldier) over whatever sane career choice he eschews in the States.
Enough of my ranting. It's all true unfortunately.
Don't forget about the ones who liberally (and with the full approval of their officers) use racial slurs (rag-this, sand-that, camel-this) against the people they kill, and the way they laugh at dead Iraqi women and children (the videos can be found all over the Web if you have the stomach for it).
DeleteAmerican soldiers have a very different reputation from British, Canadian, and other western soldiers. You can blame American gun culture, Southern/redneck war culture, whatever. But there's a very ugly phenomenon there that nobody is addressing.
Oh man... You are quite the confused little guy, aren't you?
ReplyDeleteThe truth is a soldier has courage, respect, and honor. It seems these are qualities you're lacking. Love your country and the soldiers that lay down their lives for you to have the freedom to hate them.
I lay down my life consecutively in the states with my career, and I'm not a part of the military or government ,just a simple hard working individual. The world is just very hard to understand and not many people will admit how corrupt the power from above really is! I have military friends. I am more use-full and commendable then they will ever be. I fix everything they break, put them on the floor when their wrong! and still stand by them while their minds waste away!
DeleteYes, they do lay down their lives, and yes they do fight for our freedom, but the military also has a dark side. Where there is light, there will be shadows. Not all of them have respect or honor, but I do agree that they have courage.
DeleteYou didn't read my blog post, did you?
ReplyDeleteHow did I miss this post? You should have posted it at SE, would have fit right in!
ReplyDeleteTimothyL.7, you are a moron.
i couldnt agree more. i was raised in a military family any my dad was one of those trigger happy assholes. i always felt that i lost him for no reason.now im grown, i have psychological issues because of it, i cant get a job, im sick and poor. the hardest thing is to watch people piss and moan about the quality of toilet paper used to wipe a veterans ass while i never got so uch as a thank you for giving my dad.
ReplyDeleteI thank you for the sacrifice you had to endure, by no choice of your own.
ReplyDeleteSo it's OK to allow illegal immigrants into this country who use up our resources without bothering to get licenses or insurance or pay taxes. Maybe drug trafficking really is cool. Oh and all those guys who risk their lives (whom the military protects) to fish the very food that the people in this country eat are just reckless, huh? If a boat capsizes in the middle of the ocean - we should just wish them good luck! The military is responsible for A LOT more than serving in unjust wars! Sadly, it is only those wars and those deaths that the media in this country deem fit to share with the public.
ReplyDeleteYou're entitled to your opinion...something is country ALLOWS its citizens to do. However, you go too far when you tell a military member to put a bullet into his/her head. Seems military-members aren't the only "trigger happy assholes", huh?
It's absurd to expect that EVERY member of the military be a perfect, model citizen. Yes, they are held to a certain standard but there are bad service members - just like there are bad cops, bad lawyers, etc. We're all human regardless of our profession. However, every single one of them is in fact held accountable for their actions! You don't agree with war, take it up with your congressman....but don't judge the people who are paid to do a job they chose and that they do willingly & lovingly and are burdened with sacrifices that you'll probably never know about (this coming from someone who knows!).
Your just sad. Read a little history, and leave the country. You don't deserve to live here. Have a bad day!
ReplyDeleteAh, no one whines like fans of the military.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the links to this post, by the way.
You sir, are an idiot.
ReplyDeleteI disagree.
DeleteLOL Love it!
DeleteAnon,
ReplyDeleteI see why you posted as anonymous. Your argument it weaker than weak. Only an idiot would make the argument that someone else is an idiot and stop there. Do you have any rebuttal or is that it?
Meh. I see his point, I just also see beyond it.
DeleteOnly an idiot would call a post consisting of "You sir, are an idiot" an argument.
DeleteI thought you made a strong case.
DeleteAnon,
ReplyDeleteI concede that you understand idiocy better than I.
I've been in the Army for two years now, I agree with everything you say, except for how you categorize soldiers. They're not blood thirsty killing assholes. They're the same people you went to high school with. There's people who talk like your blog in the army. Most of the military is fuelers, medics, mechanics, supply, finance, water specialists, chaplin assistants, electronic repair, communications, engineers, paper pushers, etc, people who do their 6am-5pm job and go home. You make us sound like crazy terrorists. I joined the army for adventure, and I've been in Korea the last year. There's few places in the world I believe we should wage wars, and the middle east is definitely not one of them. I wish the military would withdraw from all the countries outside the U.S., and just use us to help build our infrastructure. But the government would never allow that. And I have no clue where you got that rape statistic. There were two rapes here by soldiers this year in korea, which made a new policy that puts a strict curfew on the entire peninsula. Those soldiers are facing 15+ years in korean jail. Korea is known for its soldier rape incidents, which about 1-2 every few years. But you make it sound like it's going on everyday. But ya, almost everyone in the army is against the war, we just have no choice of going or not, unless you want a dishonorable discharge, which screws you for life.
ReplyDeleteWhy should my taxes be paying the accomplices as well as the criminals themselves? It is of little difference to me why someone joined the military, or what they do once they're in it, suffice to say they are touring around on my dime doing things I would rather they not do.
DeleteJust as an example: I had a neighbor growing up who did midair refueling of planes. He never killed anyone... but he sure helped people who did. Should I be okay with his huge Air Force paychecks being doled out for aiding and abetting war crimes?
The rape statistic is wrong. First I've never heard any statistic like that either, and after conducting a cursory google search I couldn’t find anything supporting that. If you are going to make a claim like that I think it should be cited. So if you have the link I would love to see it. But I don’t really need to.
DeleteWhen you look at statistics there is always an issue with causation versus correlation. You are implying that the increased number of rapes around military bases is caused by the fact that military people are rapists. But you are ignoring demographics. For example, I found the following from an FBI profile of a "typical" rapist:
a. Typically males (approximately 99%)
b. 75% of rapists are under the age of 25
c. Typically a high school graduate with some college possible
Now compare that to typical demographics from someone in the military included below:
a. 85% Male
b. 47% of the military is under the age of 30
c. Typically (93%) high school graduates with some college
As you can see there is a strong correlation between the demographics. Therefore, the conclusion should not be that all military people are rapists; rather the conclusion should be that there is an increased incident of rapes near military bases due to the fact that the demographics overlap to such a large degree. If you were to find another industry with similar demographics that tended to be isolated geographically, you would most certainly see an increased number of rapes in that area as well. This would not be due to the fact that those in the industry were rapists, but rather due to the strong correlation between the demographics.
As my old statistics professor used to say, use statistics for good, but never for evil. In this case you have used statistics for evil. You have brought great shame upon my chosen profession.
That's weird, because my ethics professor would say it's wrong to blame your demographics for your actions. I say that military bases bring with them increased crime, you say "boys will be boys."
DeleteNoted.
You either didn’t bother reading my post, or didn’t understand it. In no way did I imply that you could blame demographics on your actions, or say "boys will be boys".
DeleteI said that any study sighting an increased rate of rapes near military bases was most likely flawed because it didn’t take demographics into account. It is therefore misleading to draw conclusions from such a study.
I also asked you provide a link or cite your source. If you do that, I would gladly read the study and point out the logical flaws with its execution.
You failed to respond to both my request and my point. You should have taken fewer ethics classes and more statistics.
Also, as a side note, I have noticed while reading your blog, that you frequently reply to posters offering points of view that don’t align with yours by misrepresenting their argument. I find this very hypocritical.
DeleteI read your initial reply on my phone and the link didn't show, so I apologize for saying you didn't meet my request for a link to the study. I will read it in a few days and post a reply.
DeleteI took a look at the first few paragraphs and noticed the author actually said the demographics was most likely the cause, so I'm not sure there is much to argue about there.
Your conclusion is still invalid.
It's so strange... other organizations with young people like universities don't have the problem the military has... maybe because college doesn't attract killers.
DeleteThere are studies showing that military personnel, both during service and after, are more likely to be criminals than their peers. These studies take into account demographics, and if you knew anything about peer-reviewed studies, you'd know that they cover such elementary aspects of statistics.
Your argument is no argument at all, it's merely an appeal to pseudo-intellectualism. The military is full of criminals, get over it.
Actually, the study's author in the article you linked cited an increased rate of crime near universities as an example of why there was most likely a demographics influence on the study and as a reason why you would not want to draw the conclusions you have from that study.
DeleteIf you have these studies showing that military people are more likely to be criminals than their peers then feel free to link those as well. Although, after further reading your blog, I am very sceptical that you could produce anything of intellectual value. But I would love to review as much information as you can provide.
I know quite a bit about peer reviewed studies, and you are right they do cover issues like demographics bias. My issue with your cited study is that it does not. My other issue is that you clearly do not understand demographics bias.
I'm not sure why my argument is no argument at all and thus an appeal to pseudo-intellectualism. I pointed out the logical flaws with your conclusions. If you knew anything about peer reviewed studies you would know that anyone drawing the conclusions in the way that you have from this study would be laughed out of the room.
1. The study's author admits a demographics bias
2. The study's author admits that other areas with similar demographics also demonstrate heightened levels of crime
3. The article you linked states that military neighbourhoods as a whole tend to be considerably safer than most of the country
I think you need to get over yourself here. You are just flat out wrong. There is no way that you can logically defend your conclusions to anyone who has even a high school level understanding of how statistics works. Also, implying that you are the true intellectual here is laughable.
For further reading I have decided to include a few quotes from the article you linked.
DeleteQuote 1: According to Andrew Schiller, founder and president of NeighborhoodScout, the answer may lie in the demographics of the American military. Military bases tend to have high concentrations of young, single men living together in very close quarters. Schiller has also found similar property crime spikes in other areas -- like college student neighbourhoods.
Quote 2: Ironically, NeighborhoodScout reports that military neighborhoods as a whole tend to be considerably safer than most of the country. America has 300 neighborhoods in which at least 20% of the population is in the military. In these areas, the median property crime rate is 32 per 1,000 residents, which is 7% below the national average. The violent crime rate is even more striking: at 1.55 crimes per 1,000 residents, it is an impressive 67% lower than the average.
I'm sure you will disregard these since they do not support your small minded view of the world.
My "small minded view of the world" is based on looking outside of the military cocksuckers like yourself. You ignore international protests against the criminals being harbored on US bases around the world. You ignore the fact that military bases are hotbeds of crime. You explain it away to your satisfaction, but those of us living here in reality don't buy your bullshit.
DeleteSo this is becoming a theme with you, replying to posts by misrepresenting what is written in them. I'm not sure why you are assuming I'm in the military, for what it's worth I am not, I also don’t think it should matter. I am not ignoring any of these supposed facts that you are citing. I am asking for you to support your outrageous claims with proof, a burden which you are apparently incapable of surmounting. This is how science works, you make a hypothesis, and then you support that hypothesis with a study.
DeleteFind a study that shows a statistically significant increase in crime near military bases that has been adjusted for demographic bias and I will concede that people in the military are statistically more likely to be criminals. If you are incapable of doing that, then you need to concede that you are incorrect and people in the military are not statistically more likely to become criminals. It's really that simple.
All you have done so far is make an outrageous claim, fail to support it, and then fall back on childish name calling.
How much are you paying me for the privilege of doing your research for you? I've been convinced, you're the clueless one here, and I frankly don't give a shit if some random moron agrees with me or not.
DeleteWhy are you doing the research for me? Because that is how the grownup world works. When someone decides to make an outrageous inflammatory claim the burden of proof falls on them.
DeleteAt this point it’s pretty clear what happened here. You made an outrageous and clearly unsubstantiated claim. I called you out on it, you tried to google some type of support for your idiotic assertions and in what one can only describe as a hilariously ill fated attempt to support your claim you posted a link to a study in which the author of the study actually agreed that you could not make the claim that military people are more likely to be criminals due to the clearly obvious demographic bias.
I feel I should point out that the quote was a mere three paragraphs into the article, indicating that you had not even taken the time to read the article you decided to post as proof.
But you have been “convinced” that I am the clueless one. How, may I ask, have you been convinced of this? Was it my request that you support your assumption with (gasp) facts? Or perhaps it was my clearly advanced understanding of the applications of statistics?
I will present you with two options:
DeleteOption 1: Post some type of proof that the military is statistically more likely to commit a crime. Unfortunately for you, this study must actually be logically consistent with the applications of statistics. If you are able to do that I will stop bothering you.
Option 2: Just admit that you made the entire thing up, and have based your assumptions on nothing more than your own insignificant opinion of how the world works. If you choose to pursue this option, you should probably post an apology for your lack of journalistic integrity. I suppose journalistic integrity was not a concept covered in the advanced ethics course that you attended at what no doubt was a highly prestigious university.
Either way I will be satisfied.
Are you seriously still here?
DeleteI’m not going anywhere, this is my new favorite blog. I showed it to a group of my friends last night and we all laughed. It was really fun.
DeleteBut the offer still stands, either admit you made these compelling “statistics” you mentioned up, or post legitimate proof to support your idiotic assertions and Ill leave.
Since it appears you are incapable of either, I will plan on being here for a while.
I don't believe you have friends.
DeleteSimilarly, I don’t believe that you have any evidence to support your idiotic assertions, which begs the question, how can you be so certain you are right?
DeleteSimilarly, why don't you talk to women in the military? Ask them if they think rape is a problem on military bases.
DeleteOk, I asked my female friends who were in the military, neither of them think rape is a problem in the military. Neither know of any women who were raped while they were in the military. Are you ready to admit you are wrong yet? I think it's hilarious that you pretend to be this intellectual, and at the same time you so fervently defend your argument with absolutely no proof. A true intellectual will admit when they are wrong.
DeleteOh my god, two women say there's no rape problem? Alert high command, they can end their investigations.
DeleteOh my God, Bret Alan, spectacular internet moron, thinks rape is a problem in the military. He cant prove his claim, at this point we should all assume his opinion is based on nothing more than his gut feeling. Alert high command, disband the military!
DeleteYeah, I'm just making this up...
DeleteAnd what military bases have you visited? And "big" air force checks? I don't know anyone in the military that gets a big check, unless they're officer or E7+
ReplyDeleteWell, I remember a visiting Grissom in Indiana and seeing a board with pictures of all the drunk-driving accidents caused by those on the base, not that anecdotal evidence is all that important.
DeleteAnd of course he's an officer. That matters because... staying in the military a long time means you're entitled to huge rewards for cowardly dropping bombs on people you can't even see tens of thousands of feet below you?
I have to say that I completely agree with you that every military in the world is allied together, working to justify their continual existence in a world that would otherwise have no need whatsoever for them. Clearly, throughout history, the military leadership of natural adversaries have been secretly meeting and orchestrating events to raise global tensions and create an artificial need for armies. It’s perfectly plausible that a cabal such as this could exist for hundreds of years without its existence ever becoming public knowledge. It would only require them to swear thousands of people, all over the world, to lifelong secrecy. And I’m sure that this could be done with such confidence that they wouldn’t need to worry at all about the fact that if they were ever discovered it would almost certainly result in the loss of their jobs and most likely going to jail. What we have here is an airtight global conspiracy at the highest levels of national leadership. Although I think their one concern must be that this looks too much like a conspiracy. Brave individuals such as yourself were bound to recognize this for what it is. So keep up the good work, I’m sure we can crack this one.
ReplyDeleteYeah, and the Jews. Don't forget the Jews.
DeleteI agree. I'm not a fan of the military. One of my oldest and best friends/roommate was in the army. Before the army, we were both anarchists. We hated the gov't and anything it provided.
ReplyDeleteOne day shortly after high school, he randomly decides to join the army (couldn't find a job). I begged him not to go, but he went anyways. He was gone for 4 or 5 years, and we didn't really talk too often.
Since he has come back, he is totally different. He is 100% pro america (even though he can't even define what that means), loves our government, thinks might equals right, is very very proud that he killed Iraqis, hates ideas like "helping" and "community", and thinks I'm lame for valuing human life and equality.
We argue (friendly) about these kinds of issues all the time, and all I can ever think is that they brainwashed him. He is very adamant that they don't do that kind of thing. "Trust me dude, I was looking for it." So despite his complete 180 on these issues, he denies any sort of conditioning or propaganda brainwashing tactics. He claims that he switched sides because he was "there" and felt the "brotherhood" and that the "enemy" was near. I say they all got brainwashed. He disagrees. He still holds true that he was defending my rights and freedom. From who or what has never been answered.
Our debates get a little less friendly every time. Our argument points get a little more personal each time. I'm afraid that if we truly said what we think, no holds barred, that we would stop being friends. I've essentially told him that I think the military is a bunch of baby killers, and he has essentially told me that anyone non-military is a pussy. There is definitely a two-way loss of respect.
So if I hate the military (which I totally do) then its mostly because they took my friend away. The military turns awesome, rad people into assholes that are proud that they've killed people and that look down on you for not having done so. Assholes that feel entitled. Assholes that feel superior. My friend is an asshole!
So essentially, I see this kind of thing happening a lot in the military, where its not so much that psychopaths join, but that they turn you into one. After several years of being told that the "enemy" is worth shooting, you probably just accept it and start to believe it. After being told that what you are doing is super-duper right, its hard to disagree. After years of waking up at the butt-crack of dawn, anyone that doesn't do that is a scumbag. We are all part of the problem, according to them. If only we weren't such pussies, they wouldn't have to be such assholes.
I hate the secrecy, I hate the violence, I hate the attitude, I hate being taxed for it, I hate the retaliation we are gonna get, I hate the creation of two sides of our american life (military vs. non-military), I hate the propaganda, I hate the conspiracy, I hate their stupid haircuts and their matching uniforms, I hate the gung ho mentality, and I hate their life style.
I am not a fan of the military.
that guy talking about rape statistics an whatnot burned you dude, lol
ReplyDeleteRight, there's no rape problem in the military...
DeleteThere's always going to be rape, whether it be civilian or military, you make it sound like its 10 times worse in the military.
DeleteIm in the army and i agreeeeeee....no problems with the law, lived on my own b4 this, now im just counting down my time and trying to stay out of any trouble(you can fry for petty things)
ReplyDeleteAwesome comment Frank Jones. You're your own person, but if it was me I would say a douche like that is not worth calling a friend. That whole argument of "your too much of a pussy to ever join the military" pisses me the fuck off. How "brave" are you when your shooting at people with bullets that travel around 5000 mph? If your such a tough guy, than fight the enemy like a real man with nothing but your fists.
ReplyDeleteAnd to the author, thank you for seeing through the propaganda. It is truly depressing to see how many people fall for imperialism hook, line and sinker. At least a few people aren't blinded by the bullshit.
I'm a former Marine. You hate me and want me to die. Ok. That's not exactly the first time I've encountered someone with that position; nothing new. I'd be insulted, but there isn't any real, thorough criticism in your post. What it comes down to is that you hate the military because you think that they are hateful human beings who want people to die. You hate it so much that you are a hateful human being who wants people to die. I hope that you are able to overcome your hate, because it can only harm you.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure if this thread is still open, but I am interested in the demographic of the poster. I think it would be interesting to know what education you have, what kind of work you do and where you are from. I do not blog at all that why my comment is anonymous but my name is Matthew Sefton and I am currently a member of the United States Army.
ReplyDeleteI'm 28, male, born in the Midwest (Missouri, then moved to Michigan, then spent a long time in Indiana). I went to college in Philadelphia where I got my Bachelor's of Science, worked as a writing tutor and for the 2010 Census, and have been unemployed (though not on Unemployment) since. I currently live in the South, near many military bases.
DeleteThanks for commenting, Matthew. My threads never close, and if you have any further questions, you can always ask here or send me an e-mail at AnythingButTheist@gmail.com
This is Matthew Sefton again. I forgot to mention that I find it interesting that you never commented on Matt D. responce to your claims.
ReplyDeleteI made a full reply here. Don't worry, I don't expect you to have read my entire blog after stumbling upon this one post.
DeleteI also should post the links to the above response and this one at the bottom of this post in order to provide some of my thoughts after writing this (which I keep up largely for the sake of posterity).
DeletePatriotism sucks
ReplyDeleteI fucking hate the military! My husband is there and he wants out for those reasons. They are taking their sweet ass time signing paper work and making him do Their dirty work for example cleaning clean shit and swiping dirt off the ground! Plus they waste money come on now
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderul way to put it & I agree completely. Go American, but screw the piece of shits who think we should kiss at their feet for holding guns.
ReplyDeleteWhoever wrote this is clearly a huge faggot/pussy to scared to join the military
ReplyDeleteWhoever wrote this comment is clearly a huge faggot/pussy too scared to post as someone other than anonymous, and too retarded to know when to use the word "too."
DeleteLol "too scared to post as someone other than anon" yeah I'm so scared of some pussy bloger please don't hurt me. I dare you to say "go put a bullet in your head" to someone in the military face to face..... But I know you wont
DeleteI don't want you to be scared. It must be tough being a loser who thinks I give a shit what he thinks. I don't mean to pile on, I'm sure life is tough for someone as pathetic as you.
DeleteGood luck.
I am actually a US Marine who was born to kill, whereas clearly you seam to have mistaken me for some sort of wine sipping, communist **** suck. And although peace probably appeals to tree hugging bi-sexuals like you and your parents, I happen to be a death-dealing, blood-crazed warrior who wakes up every day just hoping for the chance to dismember my enemies and defile their god.Peace sucks a hairy *******, . War is the mother-******* answer."
ReplyDelete- Generation Kill
Apparently Generation Kill is still too much of a pussy to spell out curse words.
DeleteYou want to kill people, but you make sure your language is clean... talk about fucked up priorities.
Generation Kill is an HBO series that featured that quote, not the name of the person who posted it. Anyway, I am a recently retired United States Marine and I sure as hell am not nearly as hateful and blood thirsty as you. You say that you wish I would kill myself but I do not have the slightest amount of hate for you or anyone else. I signed up not to kill people but to cover the backs of my fellow Marines who are willing to lay down their lives in defense of you, a man who wants us dead, and the other citizens of this country. What you fail to understand is that we don't work to protect the politicians, we work to protect you, the citizen. If the moment came where our government ordered us to kill you that would be the moment we stopped taking orders. If you think money is why we do it, you should really do some research. I was a Lance Corporal making $1,500 a month. I made twice that when I enlisted, the last thing I was thinking about was money. Oh and in my entire career there wasn't a single Marine who raped anyone or was raped on my base. Try to be more open minded and less generalizing, you'll sleep easier if you hate less
ReplyDeleteYou are a stupid fuck
ReplyDeleteEloquently stated. Allow me to retort: you're an inbred military cocksucker.
DeleteAnd you're a piece of shit. Not for your opinion of the military but because you have the balls to call members of the military violent and then say "If you’re in the military, here’s what I want you to do: put a bullet in your head." BTW, I saw your pic on facebook. Not surprised at what you look like. It's not the military's fault that you're a fucking mutant. The only disability keeping you out of the military is a lack of balls (except for the pair in your mouth). I feel sick even giving you this much attention but I swear I would love to meet you face to face. You wouldn't love it though. I promise.
DeleteGaayyyyyy
DeleteIndiana huh? I'm about hr south of Grissom which is a reserve Air Force base I may add and isn't that large. Would you honestly feel safer without a military!? Would you say these things face to face to a member of the US military?
ReplyDeleteNo. He couldn't say anything to a service member's face. He's a piece of shit coward who is looking for attention.
DeleteI hated "being in" the military, but do not hate the folks in it. Most of the folks in the military today are probably the finest who ever served. But back in the time when I served, decades ago, it sucked, just sucked. But military service may always be a pain in the ass, day to day. Just the way it is.
ReplyDeleteThis article is right on point. Entitled assholes... I live in Colorado Springs and have to deal with some military asshole every day, not to mention all the "50% off for military" deals at every fucking store in this shit-hole town.
ReplyDeleteAlso- Stop your bitching. Nobody drafted your stupid asses. Waahhh.
And what, you want a 50% discount for wiping your ass in the morning? Look whos bitching now.
DeleteInstead of blaming the military for this bad economy, you could also throw in the crooked-@zz politicians. I remember a story a few months back about how a state senator was complaining because he couldn't live on $120,000 per year and wanted a raise. I can't cite the source but I guess if you did a little search on the internet you can find it.
ReplyDeleteAlso they are already cutting down the amount of people serving, but its causing more problems than solving in that its also increasing our national unemployment, and don't say "Oh that's because they're too lazy" because that isnt the reason, its numerous reasons ranging from biased employers to the (surprise) news media.
I agree with OP.
ReplyDeleteyes, because it was teachers who killed Osama Bin Laden, wasn't it?
ReplyDeletelisten you useless idiot,the men out there risking their lives so you can sit your ungrateful ass and write this shit of a blog are heroes, there are bad apples everywhere, the same is for teachers, but they have done more to help people than an ungrateful dickhead like you. What you should be crying about is the industrial complex that is buying politicians to continue wars and feed themselves evermore war supply contracts that entail billions of dollars, not patriots who joined the military to defend their loved ones from foreign threats.
Why can't one criticize both?
DeleteYou truly do not know how great of a person you are! I only personally know one person who doesn't like the military, and now I know there is at least one more! I find it outrageous how everyone wants to give these people so much credit for doing a job that few people even die from now.
ReplyDeleteThese people either go into for a few reasons: 1) They have no other way to get money, 2) They want to be real life "GI Joes", and 3) They want all the fame and respect people will shower them with. None of these reasons is a good reason for someone to join the military.
Yes, I'm sure there are a few people out there who truly join because they think that they are "bettering" their country, but I'm also sure that they comprise a very very small amount. But then again, I am going off of what I see in the South.
I love how everyone says that soldiers are "unsung heroes" and they are the most "unappreciated people on the earth". I've literally never heard one person have a bad opinion of anyone in the military and everyone wants to give them all of these entitlements that they DON'T deserve. So I'm not sure how these people's praise is unsung, but maybe I'm just another "unpatriotic, stupid, ignorant ass", huh? To me, they get WAY WAY too much credit for what they "do".
Well I didn't read every post word for word but some interesting things I wantto comment on. 2010 19000 rapes within the military. You 86.5% chance it won't even be reported and 92% chance if it is reported it won't reach court martial. One story female marine raped by a superior she reports it to the boss and she is the one under investigation. She was discharged. The man who raped her is still in good standing with the marines. How can any of you say military in general doesn't wipes there ass with $100 bills. Just one example of that a good friend of mine made almost 5000 a month doing nothing. These are words from his mouth. He would sit around play xbox and drive new recruits to and from things they needed to do. That's just one case. I understand it isn't just the military putting us in debt this country is well on it's way coming completely undone. I will cite my info. So you all can see the stats. Oh I haven't even covered the part I hate most of military folks drug addicted alcoholics that think there tough cause they learned how to wrestle. Not all but most refuse to work. But they make the max amount from unemployment. I will bring actuall stats for that I dont know off the top of my head. I really wish I could have just jerked off and been adouche growing up. Uncle Sam will take care of me all I have to do is go kill for him. And I am a great shot. But to sum it up our four fathers would be turning in there graves if they saw werethis country is today. Not just military but all of it. Yeah it is one thing to sit on the Internet and bitch aboutthings and to actually do something. My big plan get the hell out of here ,saving money to move to Canada.
ReplyDeleteYou got guts man. I guess I cannot blame the Vietnam Vets who got duped into joining. But I dont pity the ones who knew exactly what they were getting into. I dont think there has been a legitimate war since WWII. And the veterans from that war are not total douches. Cause they knew what they were fighting for, and knew well they were fighting our freedoms. Now in the past 70 years, the Military has been nothing but some oppressive bureaucracy out to dominate. I cant tell if people are just brainwashed, with patriotic propaganda. But some people act like such self righteous douches about being in the military. Vietnam, the Gulf War, the War on Terror, all purely illigitiment wars centered around Govt propaganda, not the people. I took a psychology class on this, and many of the militarists have what appears to be Authoritarian Personality disorder, or Narcissistic Personality disorder. Either way, the thought process goes in this hierarchy, of the people in authority, the obedient and the disobedient. So the people in power are whom all service goes to, and the obedient are entitled to glory, while the disobedient ought to be shunned and put down. I cant tell if people get brainwashed, or are just using patriotism the same way the Fundie uses religion to justify their vicious narcissism.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you. America is brainwashing children and making people think killing others is honorable. Hell no.
ReplyDeleteHmm. I'm in the Navy. I'm not violent, I get paid barely enough to live, I only get 350 a month to help out with college, which doesn't really help at all. You can think what you want about the military, and sure, there are things wrong with it, but hell, you can say that about anything.
ReplyDeleteHave you watched the news? People right here, in the US, with no ties to the military, are doing horrible things every single day. Of course there are scumbags in the military, there are scumbags everywhere! But you can't judge a whole group based on the actions of a few. That's just like saying that all african americans are thugs (which is bullshit) or that every southern citizen is a racist (also bullshit) or that every jack ass that posts bullshit like this is a fat ass holed up in is basement stuffing his face with a bag of cheetoes while ranting because he's too much of a chicken shit to do something for the greater good. Have you saved any lives lately? What have you sacrificed for others? If you disagree with the military, get off your ass and do something to change it.
Dumb ass.
Congrats, OP! Love your blog. I am really surprised there aren't more people our there who voice these thoughts. Cowards.
ReplyDeleteHi, just saw your blog, and thought it was interesting, to say in the least. There's just one thing that bothers me. America is not the only nation with a military, and not the only nation in the Middle East( although we may have caused others to join). Also, the military is not a new concept; plenty if ancient civilizations had military forces or even militias, because they knew that the nation or state would have a need to use force in certain situations; those that didn't were either subjugated, and thus provides with the ruler's security, colonized and less protected, or had no strategic value to anyone. The US has many enemies by screwing others in their lands and pissing off a lot of people, but we must still defend ourselves anyways.
ReplyDelete(Cont'd) There is a practical need for a military; it's purpose doesn't always have to be some abstract, idealistic concept. For instance, a majority of our commerce relies on safe sea lanes, which our navy contributes to. Is it 100% reliable? No, but the pirate risk, with the cooperation of a few other countries, is minimized. Anyways, this is just the opinion of some random dude on the Internet, may the 1st amendment stay with you!
ReplyDeleteP.S. On a side note, I get really pissed when I hear people arguing for a mandatory inscription in the US. Seriously!? Lol, have a good New Years
I have a question? do you believe in world peace?
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice.
Deletefirst...I don't want anybody to put a bullet in their head. I'd rather have them wake up. Second, the military fights for my right of free speech...no, they don't. not since ww2, the last time we had a legit threat that we used the military to fight.
ReplyDeleteYou join the military, you're agreeing to be a mindless pawn of the new world order that wants you dead. is it about freedom and the constitution when we fight 3 unconstitutional wars in the last 10 years? wars in countries that have NOTHING to do with any real problems we have? sorry folks, if you're in the military, you're just a puppet ball of meat. I think that's essentially in the contract you signed.
I honestly hate how every sports event has an official military suck-off. Come to think of it, I hate sports as much as the military. People wonder why we our country is melting down when every grown man in the country religiously tunes in to watch people throw a ball around that has no impact on anything important at all.
I'm glad someone posted a blog about a taboo subject that just has to be said.
while we're at it...
I hate how we all just stupidly buy products that perpetuate chinese slave labor. in some places workers are chained to their desks. in others, there's suicide nets to catch people jumping out of the windows.
Also. I hate the fucking lottery. imagine how much money the lottery sucks right out of our economy that could be much better spent than all the fucking mind numbed morons that march endlessly to waste their own money and hand it right off to the government as a voluntary tax. Obviously, the title of the blog is anything but theist, but there has to be a better chance of there being a higher power than there as any of these fucking clueless imbeciles who play the lottery are ever going to win a net amount.
you would not believe how long i've been waiting to get that off my chest, thanks.
Bret,
ReplyDeleteYou have several good points. Unfortunately, they are obscured behind a wall of filthy, hateful language. I too, have seen members of the military try to coax favors or discounts due to their service. It is abhorrent, but certainly not to the extent of suggesting that service members commit suicide in a manner that would inflict the smallest expense of your tax dollars. I doubt that anything you have ever written fulfills any productive purpose. If you were looking to incite a reaction, you succeeded. If your intent was to open real discussion that could help create a better situation, you failed miserably. I truly hope that you can learn to look beyond your limited experiences and reach a better understanding of the world.
shutt the fuck up...until you've been in dont say a fucking thing about it. you wouldnt even begin to understand what the fuck we go through. i fucking hate civilians
ReplyDeleteThis is complete insanity.
Delete'I fucking hate civilians', clearly you are a military man, so if you hate civilians what exactly are you fighting for? Fun? The only possible reason I can think of for people to accept military action is to protect civilians from wrong doing, and obviously you don't care all that much.
Think about your life.
Wow! Just awed by how much you hate the Military. If you don't like it, why don't you move to another country? I think the Military is put in a hard place because the job they do is what The President tells them to do, He is their boss. So Why not hate the President too? But what shocks me is how your wanting to have these men kill themselves because their in the Military. Why can't people have a discussion without having to use bodily harm or cuss words. Sorry to hear you think they do nothing for you.
ReplyDeleteA Marine Wife.
I couldn't agree more with this post. Thank you for taking the words right out of my head. At least I'm not the only one to be thinking the same thing.
ReplyDeleteAnd this is what happens when human garbage gets hold of the Internet.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right, and most people commenting are just brainwashed people. America obviously spends way too much money on war, and doesn't help anyone but the richest. As someone said before me you are too hateful and don't give actual reasons. Still, good to know some people still hold some kind of brain inside their skull.
ReplyDeleteOh stop fear mongering, dumbass.
DeleteI served seven years as a Navy Corpsman saving lives never taking. Your comments are offensive to anyone who has ever given their lives in service, in the past or present. I don't wish to attack you personally. I only want you to understand that there is tons of good that goes on in the military. Humanitarian relief when a natural disaster occurs, Volunteer opportunities at home and all over the world. Most of us are decent people who truly love country and wish to make it safe for you and for the people we love.
ReplyDeleteI am happy to see that some people do have the same opinion of the military as I do. I love your blog, however I don't believe that anybody should be shooting themselves.
ReplyDeleteI am currently dating an ex marine. I love him to death , but wish every day that he had never signed up. He has told me many stories about the "morality " of the soldiers who are "supposedly" protecting our rights. Everything that I have heard makes me sick to my stomach. I don't believe that everybody in the military is a scumbag that only wants to kill, but I do believe that's what they turn into. Not to mention everyone who "serves" have this giant chip on their shoulder, like when they walk by we should kiss the ground that they wAlk on. I am tired of watching immature boys sign up for the military so they can become "bad ass " warriors who can fuck who ever they want. Im sorry but it's not impressive that you have killed, tortured and can laugh about it. You are not a man, you are sick .
Im going to stop not because this Ian going in a completely different direction and I could rant for days on he subject.