The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.
The US Armed Forces have attracted many good people over the years.
A few random thoughts here:
Americans do not live in a free and honest society. Veterans Day is a day where some pretend that the US Dept. of Defense (established after WWII) and overseas military operations under The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (The post of a statutory and permanent Joint Chiefs of Staff chair was created by the 1949 amendments to the National Security Act of 1947.) are linked in some way to American rights and freedoms.
In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our 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.
Whatever Happened To Armistice Day
Veterans Day
One of the very most meaningful holidays for some. Stolen from Armistice Day in the 1950s. At that time, the US Dept. of Defense had started a decades long tradition of not being able to stay out of or win undeclared wars in distant lands.
Today, Armistice Day is free chow day.
Post-Vietnam Guilt
The guilt doesn’t seem to work towards staying out of undeclared/unwon wars. It’s good for head of the line parking spots over at the grocery store.
It’s good for making claims that all who did time in uniform are heroes.
Hero?
Most people do no time in the military- they don’t want to.
There seems to be a quiet guilt about this, so American popular and political culture almost worships those who do.
You don’t have to look too far to find comments that refer to the troops as “heroes.”
Some are.
No one who has done time in an average military unit would be comfortable with everyone present being called a hero. Some units would be the exception, but for most people who have done time over the years, calling everyone a hero would have no connection to reality.
Reality, and an honest understanding of why we send The Troops to far away places isn’t what we’re about though.
Reaching for an honest understanding of US foreign policy makes more sense than “Thanks for your service.”
For those ready to take a break from the social media/emoji version of the internet, there is more here from this 2012 blog:
Post-Vietnam guilt is good for replacing the meaning of Armistice Day with free meals, giveaways and discounts.
It’s good for setting up the idea that veterans are people who are most eager to show up for the next big marketing event staged by major retailers and restaurant chains.
It’s good for elementary school Veterans Day assemblies and teaching young children that The Troops are sent to distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms, as if the US Armed Forces function as some sort of giant civil rights organization.
In the 60s & 70s I never attended a Veterans Day assembly at school.
There were none.
Probably enough veterans around to remove most of the mystique, or maybe those veterans thought it was all just an average thing and did not want to be seen as a separate part of American society, or get head of the line parking spots over at the grocery store.
Each November, school teachers across America host Veterans Day assemblies– and promote the idea to children that The Troops are in distant lands-fighting for American rights and freedoms-as if the US Armed Forces function as some sort of giant civil rights organization.
In Washington State, these assemblies are mandatory.
The VA tells teachers that The Troops are Defending Liberty and Freedom.
Hey VA, can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here:
In addition to freedoms possibly enjoyed by all adults, those adults who are 18-20 years old are placed in a land of the free holding pattern.
Alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and firearms restrictions are in place for 18-20 year old adults. Is there any state where recreational marijuana laws remove prohibition for adults at age 18?
Doesn’t seem to fit with a society that can’t stop bragging about freedom, thanking the troops for freedoms, fighting wars for freedoms, staging military jet flyovers at sporting events for freedom, etc.
Both major political parties are OK with treating 18-20 year old adults as second-class citizens.
Don’t look for newspeople or school teachers at Veterans Day assemblies to question any of this. Good luck with your US Armed Forces recruiting crisis.
Maybe a few more decades of undeclared/unwon wars and the freedoms will get better. Ask the speakers at your Veterans Day assembly.
In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.
Legal marijuana, concealed carry of handguns, semi automatic rifle sales, federal minimum drinking age, federal toilet regulations, sports betting, federal gas can regulations/free enterprise system,
voting rights, bump stock ban, interracial marriage, gay marriage, tobacco sales, open container laws, etc.
Freedoms come and go. None of the above are linked in any way with The Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Troops, The Dept. of Defense or the outcome of military operations overseas.
Love to see a student ask: If The Troops fight for your right to sit, stand, kneel, etc.-why were black people still riding at the back of the bus after the big WWII victory?
Love to see a student ask: If the wars aren’t won-how can they protect our freedom?
Love to see a student ask: Whatever happened to lessons about Armistice Day?
Hey schoolteachers, here’s a lesson idea for you:
1967
Did the Joint Chiefs of Staff send The Troops to safeguard American freedoms?
Was it the Viet Cong that set up laws in 16 US states to prohibit interracial marriage?
Made For TV
Various big companies will remind us that they support veterans and The Troops. Always wonder if any of those companies advocate for less in the way of undeclared/unwon wars. Do traditional veterans organizations advocate for less in the way of undeclared/unwon wars? Would a move in this direction attract more new members? Have any newspeople ever asked about this?
The All Volunteer Force era has been a time to tell the American people that US troops are sent to distant lands to defend American freedoms. This urban legend has run its course. People have seen enough now to know this is no more than a marketing strategy. Uniparty newspeople play along by not asking questions:
Whatever happened to the formal congressional declaration of war?
Be sure to ask the speakers and teachers at your elementary school Veterans Day assembly.
The formal congressional declaration of war would be the time to hear from elected leaders and top generals Re: lessons learned on all the issues that have doomed the Department of Defense track record for winning wars since DOD was established in 1949.
Military.com | By Jake Wood
Don’t Just Thank Me for My Service. Ask Me About It
“And although you, John Doe civilian, did not personally authorize our military to enter Iraq and Afghanistan, as the citizen of a democracy, you share the burden of our wars.”
If it is a democracy, when do we vote on undeclared/unwon wars?
The US Dept. of Defense spent the last 30 years squandering prestige and credibility overseas and at home.
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the politicians, four-star officers and high level DOD civilians who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars. The DOD brand has been wrecked.
Group Identities are Tricky/What others are saying:
Enjoyed this post.
“What gets me is Veterans who get pissed when they DON’T get praised for being Vets or if a store doesn’t have a discount. I was behind a guy arguing with a cashier because company X did not offer a military discount. He Was going off on how he was deployed and gets no thanks for it. I asked him what branch he was and where he deployed to. Army National Guard, Deployed to Fairfax, VA to help with elections. What a twat.”
“I think the general problem many Vets have today with Veterans Day is that “Thanking the Troops” has become a marketing scheme and the sacrifices that you describe have been manipulated to sell used cars and mattresses. It just doesn’t feel like a sacred holiday. You’re doing it right, but as a nation, we are not.”
Should We Celebrate Veterans?
By Laurence M. Vance
November 9, 2023
“Most Americans would say we should celebrate veterans for
keeping us safe
protecting America
defending our freedoms
fighting over there so we don’t have to fight over here
protecting and defending the Constitution
But since veterans do none of these things, I ask again: Why should we celebrate veterans?”
Respect for The National Guard
The people of Minnesota need more applicants to maintain a place to live and a regular job in their hometown area when they are not doing time in foreign lands helping DOD with undeclared/unwon wars and missions completely unrelated to their home state.
A few decades back, people might think of the National Guard as one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer plus a way to support your home state by being ready to get called out for floods, fires, natural disasters, civil unrest, etc. Maybe a way to help the next state over if they needed it.
Thousands of men and women who signed up for the National Guard in the past 25 years did tours in places like Syria, Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.
Any members of the press available to show up and ask why the people of Home State, USA needed services in distant lands, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?
Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials, top Pentagon Generals and the press earned it.
For those who are ready to take a break from the social media/emoji version of the internet:
The people of Alaska need services in the Middle East
Small children are taught that The Troops are sent to distant lands to defend American freedoms at 0:40
They forgot The National Guard:
More propaganda for kids:
They forgot The National Guard again. At 1:03 kids are told that this is all about defending our freedoms.
It’s all happy and good. No need to consider the true meaning of Armistice Day or call for less in the way of undeclared/unwon wars.
School children are taught about a free enterprise system. They grow up to find out that the federal government will tell them what kind of shower head they must install in the bathroom, and what type of gas can they must buy for their generator.
Wait until they find out (at age 18) that adults in the USA are divided into groups of first and second class citizens. Uncle Sam says you are not old enough to buy a six pack of beer. Gee whiz- it wasn’t like that when the WWII generation came home from the war.
Armistice Day is Now Free Chow Day
Nov 6, 2023 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Here’s where veterans can get free meals on Veterans Day in Milwaukee
“…be prepared to show a military ID.” Trivia update: Many guys and gals who did time in the US Armed Forces, left and moved on, have no military ID of any kind.
Meet a veteran who isn’t shy about going out & grabbing a couple free meals-it’s a proud thing:
Get on down to the showroom to Salute The Troops!
KOMO News video: Nine military vets were treated to a supermarket shopping spree in Lakewood.
Is there a perception that people who did time in uniform are needy or disadvantaged? This news report gives us no hint as to how these veterans were selected. Was this a publicity stunt for the local NFL team? Newspeople play along by not asking questions.
Another story with zero information or reporting on how these families were selected:
Military families get surprise $1,300 grocery shopping spree
From comments: “Thank you for supporting our troops. More company’s need to help out our troops.”
Retail marketing strategy update: Ass Kissing & Propaganda
Veteran hassled over veteran parking spot at the grocery store.
Veteran reports incident to store manager.
Veteran returns to store to get thanks for his service, a cake and $100 in gift cards:
“This person who wrote this note on my car was given that right to be able to do that because of what I did.”
People in uniform give rights? This idea calls for more discussion.
Know that some who did time in uniform do not want head of the line privileges of any kind. They do not want discounts/freebies, and would refuse to appear in a TV news broadcast to have their ass kissed by some giant grocery store chain because of their You did time in uniform, so here’s your special parking spot scenario. Some veterans wouldn’t even use the parking spot to begin with. They might believe little old ladies should get the better parking.
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?
Glorification of military service / total nonsense:
WA Secretary of State:
“Our right to vote has always been protected by the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces.”
If a right to vote has always been protected by the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces, how come women were not allowed full voting rights at the end of WWI?
Why the need for a 1965 Voting Rights Act if overseas military operations somehow secured voting rights?
If a right to vote is protected by the US Armed Forces, what becomes of that right when the US leaves Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, etc., without a victory?
Men Died For the Right to Vote?
Right To Vote Linked To Military Operations/US Troops in Distant Lands?
May 28, 2020 WMAR
Salisbury Mayor deploying to Africa with Maryland National Guard
Several news sources published this quote. View them here.
The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.
Mayor Day,
While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.
Can elected officials of any party or any member of the press help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?
December 21st 2019 KOMO News
Legal age to buy cigarettes, vapes raised to 21 nationwide
“Signed into law by President Donald Trump Friday as part of the new $1.4 trillion spending bill, a new measure prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.”
Recruiting Crisis/Reality Check
Thousands of American families have had a loved one in the regular or reserve US Armed Forces who did one or more tours in Iraq or Afghanistan. National Guard too.
If we can just get the veterans, parents and grandparents of the USA to recommend an enlistment to the young family members in their life, things will be looking up.
Again- The US Dept. of Defense spent the last 30 years squandering prestige and credibility overseas and at home.
Some Americans may be asking:
Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?
US jet aircraft have been able to strike targets in what wars won by the US?
Currently serving four-star officers and high level DOD civilians have been associated with what wars won by the US?
Has dressing women to look like men had any positive or negative impact on recruiting?
If DOD was an NFL team, sports talk radio would feature comments like:
The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.
Again- Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the politicians, four-star officers and high level DOD civilians who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars. The DOD brand has been wrecked.
Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.
There has been a big stir over a blocked senior military promotion system. TV newspeople will avoid interviewing people who offer up a voice of dissent. Stalling the administrative steps to promote top level officers might lead to what? Decades of undeclared/unwon wars? A giant Dept. of Defense that was nowhere to be found on 911?
Why would high level promotions be awarded to people who are part of the system that allowed The Troops to live in the barracks described below?
Sept 25, 2023 MOAA
Military Barracks Blasted Over Horrid Living Conditions, Lack of Accountability
For those ready to take a break from the social media/emoji version of the internet, there is more here:
Plenty of cash for Ukraine/More DOD funding than ever
Late 2023 US Armed Forces Recruiting Crisis
The people of Alaska need services in the Middle East
Random Thoughts – Recruiting Crisis
Most And Least Meaningful Federal Holidays
Stabilizing the Region – Since Desert Shield
Hostile Forces in Distant Lands
A Draft? – DOD Brand Has Been Wrecked
The country struggles with:
Possibly of interest:
Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.
How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?
Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.
Love to see newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.
Look for newspeople and school teachers to ask zero questions in these areas.
Photo-
Something from the last century