Current Events > Why do Americans idolize* soldiers?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Just turned on an episode of Judge Judy (excellent show; well done) and the opener referenced a woman's "hero" husband serving in Iraq (eye-RACK) and it got me thinking: what makes him, or indeed any soldier, an automatic hero? It's an attitude I've seen many times that seems almost exclusive to Americans so I was hoping for an insight from my CE brothers about why soldiers are just such a great bunch of lads.

Cheers.

*idolise

The U.S. Military Propaganda Machine.

That's it.

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Truth? It keeps the poors obedient without giving them any actual societal benefits.

Yep, here come the edgelords.

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The US Military is the greatest most powerful in the entire Human history

OP you do know that right?

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Orlando_Jordan posted...

Yep, here come the edgelords.

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Thank you for the replies thus far however I feel like nobody has given me much of a detailed response.

Because they're risking their lives in their job. Who should we idolize instead? Logan Paul?

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Squall28 posted...

Because they're risking their lives in their job. Who should we idolize instead? Logan Paul?

Oh absolutely not!

But did anyone ask them to risk their lives?

Did anybody else read that really quick and think it said Why do Americans idolize *spoilers?

>_>

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Banterrific8 posted...

Oh absolutely not!

But did anyone ask them to risk their lives?

their promoter did

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I respect them for sure, but I would never idolise anyone thag would just follow orders because orders and do what they're told just because someone told then too. To me, idolising someone means wanting to be like them, and I don't want to be that type of person. This is why military service was never an option for me and I would have been kickdd out within a week if I had tried it. Again though, I do respect them and appreciate what they do in general.
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I never have or will.

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It's an all volunteer military that would implement some sort of draft in the event of a true emergency. They're fighting in the middle east, a war that a lot of us are against in the first place, so that the average person doesn't have to be drafted into it.

We honor them for doing what we don't want to so that we don't have to.

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We dont, it just a certain group of people that do.

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theyre risking their lives for are freedoms
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Phantom36 posted...

It's an all volunteer military that would implement some sort of draft in the event of a true emergency. They're fighting in the middle east, a war that a lot of us are against in the first place, so that the average person doesn't have to be drafted into it.

We honor them for doing what we don't want to so that we don't have to.

This is a decent reply; thank you.

Most of them never see combat though. Many of them take advantage of that. Then there is also the fact that the US Military is sometimes even the villain in some cases. So does that make the soldiers evil?

Its just a weird propaganda thing that happened since WW2.

The volunteers in beat-down third world countries should get that title, more often.

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Philoktetes posted...

theyre risking their lives for are freedoms

Lmao @ "are"
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I would sooner idolise logan Paul than a soldier. Most soldiers are just uneducated underachievers that want to murder with government backing.

Because we've been told to.

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Do they really though? I'm pretty sure it's only older generations that do this.

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Gurifisu posted...

Do they really though? I'm pretty sure it's only older generations that do this.

A few of your comrades earlier in this topic seem to!

I respect them for serving but when they start acting like they deserve all the special treatment in the world and are giant assholes about everything with the Im a veteran excuse, that respect goes away.

Like yeah, thanks for your service, but we dont offer military discounts here so stop screaming at me because corporate made that decision.

but its mostly propaganda anyway.

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Banterrific8 posted...

A few of your comrades earlier in this topic seem to!

I wouldn't wanna use the topic as a sample size considering they're in the minority when you look at everybody's post. I hope you didn't think you made a point. Plus we have no idea how old they are or how heavily ingrained older generations cultural beliefs and values are in them.

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the image of power the American military projects is a source of great pride for many Americans, I mean it is the planet's most powerful armed forces and maybe the strongest source of the United State's image as a superpower. hey

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To their credit at least in my life, I've never heard of those who have served making demands of the kind that other users are referring to. Most of them have been more than respectful when dealing with the public.

I tend to find it in relatives of those who served more.

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https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G7DdWmWUa_8

It's part of the propaganda that asserts that anyone who doesn't "support the troops" or even mildly criticizes the US for constant war mongering is anti-American. It was much more effective 10+ years ago before public opinion turned against US intervention in the middle east.

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coolboy11 posted...

I mean it is the planet's most powerful armed forces

I always hear this but our track record the last 75 years is uh... pretty poor to say the least.

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MorbidFaithless posted...

I always hear this but our track record the last 75 years is uh... pretty poor to say the least.

Because we live in a time where success on the world stage is not about power, it's about careful application of that power.

We live in a time where we can see the real results of our actions, because we're more connected than ever before. People on the ground, through social media, and embedded news media can give us the near-instant human outcome of the actions of the US military.

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Early in 2002 it became heroic to kill brown people just trying to live their lives to further line the pockets of the elite.

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IMNOTRAGED posted...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G7DdWmWUa_8

>mobile link
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To incentivize people to become soldiers, should be obvious. How else do you persuade someone to risk their life for a pointless cause without promising them loads of benefits, social approval, and sexual access?

No US solider has fought for good since 1945. Theyre not heroes. I dont think every soldier is a bad person or guilty of the US war-hungry foreign policy, but youre not a hero just because you agreed to maybe die for a bad cause. Frankly, its one of the least heroic jobs there is. The benefits are immense and the requirements are really not all that much, for the average member anyway.


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Ill take this topic wasnt made in good faith for $500 Alex

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Nothing makes them (or few to no professions) automatic heroes and most people in said professions don't call themselves heroes either. Their actions in said professions determine if they are, or aren't.

Outright adulation is dangerous though and what lets many get away with horrific crimes, and the army of any country has a list so long you'd likely never get through it all. They are people like the rest of us and actions shouldn't be excused.

Of course they are brave going off to risk their lives, but being brave doesn't make one a hero. Nor are many soldiers these days "fighting for our freedom" but more serving the interest of the government under the guise of freedom. Security/anti terrorism certainly could fall under the umbrella of freedom, as stopping terrorists being able to work so easily helps us all, but often feels like this is secondary to many conflicts.

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CyricZ posted...

Because we live in a time where success on the world stage is not about power, it's about careful application of that power.

We live in a time where we can see the real results of our actions, because we're more connected than ever before. People on the ground, through social media, and embedded news media can give us the near-instant human outcome of the actions of the US military.

Yes so why do some people insist on the overinflated budget that could instead go to people and programs that make life better for Americans? Our military is worthless.

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Because they believed in a cause and realized it's not the same cause they signed in for.

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Americans seem susceptible to brain washing, studies suggests theyre some of the most uneducated people, especially middle America

Theres a very....particular group of americans who worship the military. I'll just leave it at that

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Banterrific8 posted...

*idolise

lmao

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Cuz dey fightin for freedurms

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no I don't think being in uniform automatically makes you a "hero". I guess it's nice to serve your country but there are many ways of doing that. Plus not everyone in the military is dodging bullets and dragging wounded out of harm's way.