In the news: Mayor Severns is headed to DC in March to support NAS Whidbey. A local petition tells us that “maintaining freedom” is part of what the base is about.
Maintaining freedom?
I’m not interested in shutting down the Navy on Whidbey, but it’s time to stop glorifying military service.
In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our physical security. That’s as good as it gets.
In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.
When we return from an undeclared war or military conflict without a victory- what becomes of American rights and freedoms?
If The Troops were an NFL team, sports talk radio would feature comments like:
DOD was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.
The Department of Defense track record for winning undeclared wars goes back to 1949.
Why the constant support for The Troops defending American rights & freedoms when the reality is that the US is involved in failed wars that never end?
Many veterans claim to have served to protect American rights & freedoms.
How does this work?
Do the US Armed Forces function as some sort of giant civil rights organization?
Black people were still riding at the back of the bus after the big WWII victory.
Were US troops sent to Vietnam so that Americans could be free to send letters to the editor?
Is there any case in which the US Armed Forces have been sent to distant lands on a mission to protect freedom of speech?
Is protecting freedom of speech even part of training scenarios?
A Land of Make Believe
Veterans love to get in on the self-promotion: Veterans, not politicians, ‘give us the right to vote,’ observers at Amherst Veterans Day ceremonies told
It turns out The Troops were in no hurry to enable all adults to act on their right to vote.
US Military operations conducted in the 1940s, 50s & 60s didn’t get the job done.
It wasn’t until July of 1971 that 18 year old adults could take delivery on one of the freedoms we hear so much about.
Why the need for a 1965 Voting Rights Act if overseas military operations somehow secured voting rights?
If veterans fought for our right to vote- how come women were not allowed full voting rights at the end of WWI?
Does all this fighting for freedom mean it would be OK to grow a marijuana plant in the back yard?
Can I take my 20 year old girlfriend (a responsible adult) down to the bar to order up a few beers for freedom?
Should we check with the Joint Chiefs of Staff first?
More here: Ongoing Militarization of American Culture
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Photo- Hill Road