The right to an unpopular opinion.

[galador42]

This annual attempt to cram nationalism "patriotism" down my throat really unnerves me. Every time I get one of those e-mails or read one of those LJ messages that talks about how our thoughts should be with soldiers, I cringe. How can I possibly respect someone who believes violence and murder is sometimes okay? that war is an acceptable

Comments

[ladyortyger]

*quiet applause*

[hgm]

Interesting. I am going to agree with you, and also play devil's advocate for a moment.

And, if you believe in God, in freedom, or whatever it is that drives people to support and spread this kind of blatant propaganda, then go back and read the words that uphold your faith. I challenge you to find the language that truly resonates throughout your body, mind, heart, and soul with the message: "in this case, it's okay to kill."Don't kid yourself here. The religious folk want a war just as much as the government does. Fear makes people more willing to listen to their poison. How many people since 9/11 have found a new faith in God...much to the glee of the monsters behind the pulpit

[jayspec]

There's a reason that the English language has the two different and distinct words: "murder" and "kill." You can't murder someone in self-defense. I could never envision murdering someone, but if someone threatened Paula or Benjamin or anyone else I love with deadly force, you can bet that I would use deadly force right back

[home_grown_cl]

I'm not saying you need to love America, or that you need to support the troops...both of those are completely your prerogative. Making a blanket statement about soldiers believing in war and "volunteering" to pick up a rifle and potentially kill people is extremely narrowminded. I'm sure there are some soldiers who have that attitude, and that is pathetic, but there are just as many who joined the armed forces because they had no family support and wanted to better their life by going to college, or some who had attention and behavior difficulties growing up and wanted to get their act together. Many of the soldiers currently employed joined before there was an active war going on, do you really think they enjoy being away from their families and living in those conditions? I agree with Jason, if you have a problem with the war you need to aim that concern a little higher.

[galador42]

I originally included a paragraph that would have referenced those who joined for reasons like you said, as well as those who had to go to war in order to learn the follies of it, but I deleted it. I believe these soldiers are the minority, really. And to aim higher is too easy to do with such an obvious target. Individuals are as accountable as the masters they pledge themselves to, and when someone tells me I should spend time thinking about them as though they are poor unfortunate mental weaklings caught up in something they never expected, I am offended. It took 9/11 for me to learn what a sham American patriotism is.