For some reason, the majority of American soldiers I’ve spoken to are pacifists. Which seems like a contradiction I know, but they tend to be way more against war than anyone else I know.
Well being at war for extended lengths of time and seeing shit hit the fan first hand will no doubt shake ones brain of any “kill shit, get some” brainwashing the military instills in it’s soldiers. And besides the American Government can’t seem to do anything right, especially when it comes to foreign policy. No doubt because they put their needs and the needs of the lobbyests before anything else.
Ah bad analogy. There can be no wars without people willing to go to war but there can be fires even if no one is willing to put them out.
And as you said below, most soldiers you know do such and such so you’re well aware pacifist soldiers aren’t the norm. I also know European soldiers who are similar to what you described, though it’s not something the aforementioned American soldiers seem to think/ do. This has been just my experience, I’m not saying it’s a general rule but even on this very site there is an extraordinarily kind American who used to serve and is now opposed to the idea.
Not just collateral damage… but the fact that most wars are unjustifiable. Most places that require military service are more peaceful it seems. Something about not being able to sit back and watch other people do the dirty work makes you think twice.
this honestly brings a tear to my eye. i have often found on this site that people love guns, war and boobs. suggestions of peace or spirituality are usually shot down by ‘realists’ who think pacifism is a sign of weakness, war is just a reality and no amount of spirituality will change this. I am glad that so many of the comments here are in support of peace and have positive votes. Thanks for that video. This is one step closer to the planetary awakening when we realize we are all part of the same whole and stop murdering each other for oil and sport.
All of the above and numerous tours. My BIL is back in Iraq for his 4th tour. It’s insane, he’s so tired and his family is falling apart. He practically begged not to do this last tour. Stay there long enough and you see the clusterfuck that war always is.
B-but Saddam was funding Al-Qaeda! Oh wait, he wasn’t.
B-but Saddam was a direct threat to the US! Oh wait, he didn’t have any of the nuclear or biological weapons they said he did.
B-but Saddam was a bad man! Ok, I’ll give you that, but now that we’ve lost 4000+ troops’ lives and countless more have had their lives ruined, and Iraq and Syria are newly emboldened by the US wiping out their biggest competition in the region, I’d say it wasn’t quite worth it.
Most of the soldiers that I know don’t care who they are killing, as long as something is getting getting shot or blown up – all is good. Two people I know re-enlisted only for the opportunity to actively kill others.
The only gripes I have heard (from them) is that the location is uncomfortable and exceedingly boring and that someone is always looking over your shoulder to blame you for doing what soldiers are supposed to do. Kill and stay alive. So you have to be constantly watching your back to keep your buds from screwing you.
But hey. That’s second hand and talk is very, very cheap.
That’s not a new image. I don’t remember where I saw it, but apparently the soldier holding the flag works at a recruiting office and this flag was left by protesters. He was merely holding it up to be photographed for police and military records. Makes sense, there appears to be a recruitment poster in the window and the table the TV is on looks to have a stars & stripes themed covering. Nice try, though.
I’m sure soldiers are happy to be soldiers as long as they get free college tuition, don’t have to fight in any battles and can train one week a month and chill the rest of the time and get a fatty paycheck. Suddenly they have to go fight for their country and they hate it… go figure.
This argument is said so often, I almost feel bad using it, but it is so true.
There is no draft, you know we are engaged in two prolonged conflicts that are unlike anything the army has ever fought before. I joined with this mindset and have loved every minute of my time. Like sickminedone, it’s as if there was an “Oh Shit!” moment when orders came down to gear up, train up and deploy out.
Except it’s the military breaking its own rules. Soldiers aren’t supposed to be put in the same arena 4 times. There supposed to serve their time, get a certain amount of time off before serving again, none of that is happening.
That’s only a guideline for PEACEFUL times. My dad did six tours in Vietnam. Any time there’s a real sustained conflict, those guidelines get tossed out the window.
Seriously? That sux. I wonder how many soldiers knew it was only a guideline for peace time? Wait, that doesn’t even make sense for peacetime. I’m pretty sure that they’re not supposed to keep sending you back to the same arena where there’s active fighting.
Yeah, but it still sucks. My BIL has 19 years in and they keep holding that over him. They know he won’t jeopardize his pension. I’m betting they won’t let him go when his time is up either.
those in america are great at setting blanket rules to cover entire groups of people
al sharpton considers it evil to be white
the american people in general consider it evil to be arabic
democrats considers any other political power truly evil
This soldier – a very decent man! It is a pity there is not enough in America. Will be a time when God will punish you for not resemblance to him.. P.S. capitalists – thieves and murderers. Death to Capitalism!!!
Ouch.
For some reason, the majority of American soldiers I’ve spoken to are pacifists. Which seems like a contradiction I know, but they tend to be way more against war than anyone else I know.
Well being at war for extended lengths of time and seeing shit hit the fan first hand will no doubt shake ones brain of any “kill shit, get some” brainwashing the military instills in it’s soldiers. And besides the American Government can’t seem to do anything right, especially when it comes to foreign policy. No doubt because they put their needs and the needs of the lobbyests before anything else.
Funny.
Most fire fighters that I have talked to don’t really want to be putting out fires either.
Most were happy sitting at the fire station, playing cards and sleeping.
I wonder if this is some kind of pattern… 😉
“MAN I LOVE SCRAPING BITS OF MANGLED FLESH AND SKULL OFF THE HIGHWAY”
“MAN I LOVE THE SMELL OF SAIGON IN THE MORNING”
“MAN I LOVE SAWING THROUGH BREASTPLATES AND PLACING A PACEMAKER IN A PATIENT”
The pattern is most people hate their jobs, i believe..
Ah bad analogy. There can be no wars without people willing to go to war but there can be fires even if no one is willing to put them out.
And as you said below, most soldiers you know do such and such so you’re well aware pacifist soldiers aren’t the norm. I also know European soldiers who are similar to what you described, though it’s not something the aforementioned American soldiers seem to think/ do. This has been just my experience, I’m not saying it’s a general rule but even on this very site there is an extraordinarily kind American who used to serve and is now opposed to the idea.
Thats because they’ve seen war firsthand.
But thats the thing about war. Collateral damage, whether accident or purposeful, is unavoidable on neither sides.
Not just collateral damage… but the fact that most wars are unjustifiable. Most places that require military service are more peaceful it seems. Something about not being able to sit back and watch other people do the dirty work makes you think twice.
probably, but i’d really rather not risk getting blown up, shot at, or tortured. I’d much rather stay here in my safe little college world.
Even the troops are waking up
Posted on ID, good find.
With all the bullshit in the world, eventually there is truth.
this honestly brings a tear to my eye. i have often found on this site that people love guns, war and boobs. suggestions of peace or spirituality are usually shot down by ‘realists’ who think pacifism is a sign of weakness, war is just a reality and no amount of spirituality will change this. I am glad that so many of the comments here are in support of peace and have positive votes. Thanks for that video. This is one step closer to the planetary awakening when we realize we are all part of the same whole and stop murdering each other for oil and sport.
since when are boobs anti pacifism? I don’t want to stop liking boobs.
lol boobs are ok
All of the above and numerous tours. My BIL is back in Iraq for his 4th tour. It’s insane, he’s so tired and his family is falling apart. He practically begged not to do this last tour. Stay there long enough and you see the clusterfuck that war always is.
B-but Saddam was funding Al-Qaeda! Oh wait, he wasn’t.
B-but Saddam was a direct threat to the US! Oh wait, he didn’t have any of the nuclear or biological weapons they said he did.
B-but Saddam was a bad man! Ok, I’ll give you that, but now that we’ve lost 4000+ troops’ lives and countless more have had their lives ruined, and Iraq and Syria are newly emboldened by the US wiping out their biggest competition in the region, I’d say it wasn’t quite worth it.
*Iran, not Iraq. DERP
This is an interesting idea.
Most of the soldiers that I know don’t care who they are killing, as long as something is getting getting shot or blown up – all is good. Two people I know re-enlisted only for the opportunity to actively kill others.
The only gripes I have heard (from them) is that the location is uncomfortable and exceedingly boring and that someone is always looking over your shoulder to blame you for doing what soldiers are supposed to do. Kill and stay alive. So you have to be constantly watching your back to keep your buds from screwing you.
But hey. That’s second hand and talk is very, very cheap.
Man I was honestly expecting a lot more out of this thread
This was the reason I opened the comments.
We are the new empire builders… it’s funny how you become what you loath….
Loath is an adjective meaning “unwilling.” It ends with a hard th and rhymes with growth or both.
Loathe is a verb meaning “to hate intensely.” It ends with a soft th like the sound in smooth or breathe.
That’s not a new image. I don’t remember where I saw it, but apparently the soldier holding the flag works at a recruiting office and this flag was left by protesters. He was merely holding it up to be photographed for police and military records. Makes sense, there appears to be a recruitment poster in the window and the table the TV is on looks to have a stars & stripes themed covering. Nice try, though.
But ooops! Devoid of context, the picture works in favour of their opponents.
I just realized the flag is upside-down. I am not the most observant person in the world.
All keep this in mind, those who are unable or willing to kill, will always be subject to those who can.
You mean “will always be subject to those that can afford to get other people to do their killing for them” right?
Man, there is so much affected high thought in this thread I can’t even
I’m sure soldiers are happy to be soldiers as long as they get free college tuition, don’t have to fight in any battles and can train one week a month and chill the rest of the time and get a fatty paycheck. Suddenly they have to go fight for their country and they hate it… go figure.
This argument is said so often, I almost feel bad using it, but it is so true.
There is no draft, you know we are engaged in two prolonged conflicts that are unlike anything the army has ever fought before. I joined with this mindset and have loved every minute of my time. Like sickminedone, it’s as if there was an “Oh Shit!” moment when orders came down to gear up, train up and deploy out.
Except it’s the military breaking its own rules. Soldiers aren’t supposed to be put in the same arena 4 times. There supposed to serve their time, get a certain amount of time off before serving again, none of that is happening.
That’s only a guideline for PEACEFUL times. My dad did six tours in Vietnam. Any time there’s a real sustained conflict, those guidelines get tossed out the window.
Seriously? That sux. I wonder how many soldiers knew it was only a guideline for peace time? Wait, that doesn’t even make sense for peacetime. I’m pretty sure that they’re not supposed to keep sending you back to the same arena where there’s active fighting.
OH NOES THE FRENCH HAVE INFILTRATED THE US ARMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RUN FOR YOUR POOPERS!!!!11!
Cool, now you try to redeem yourself but when you signed up for it, you were oh-so giddy about the big paychecks, fucking hypocrite.
As a military wife, I tell my sailor to stfu because he signed up for it so stop being a baby.
jesus is a woman?
Of course. Did someone lie to everyone… [i]again[/i]?
I’m kicking Pope Benedict’s ass again.
fuck italics
and you’re a dragon?
fuck athiesm, i want a zombie dragon chick god
Yeah, but it still sucks. My BIL has 19 years in and they keep holding that over him. They know he won’t jeopardize his pension. I’m betting they won’t let him go when his time is up either.
…but if you have enough tiny little flags.
those in america are great at setting blanket rules to cover entire groups of people
al sharpton considers it evil to be white
the american people in general consider it evil to be arabic
democrats considers any other political power truly evil
etc etc
pot, kettle, etc etc
This soldier – a very decent man! It is a pity there is not enough in America. Will be a time when God will punish you for not resemblance to him.. P.S. capitalists – thieves and murderers. Death to Capitalism!!!