Anecdote: at the gym this morning there was a guy at the session that I hadn’t seen in a while, not normally at the 0715, civilian, never served, finance, nice enough guy - we both used to go to the 0530 pre pandemic - and as we chatted before the start he asked “so, do you miss being over in theater? Do you miss killing some hajis?”
I was struck by the question and responded (too sharply) “do I miss killing people? No, I definitely don’t miss killing people.”
In my head I was thinking “who the fuck actually asks a question like that?”
He was taken aback by my reply, and I followed up by saying that sure I missed the camaraderie, the tight sense of team when you’re deployed…but no, I don’t miss the grind or the gore.
This guy isn’t a progressive liberal but he also isn’t MAGA…as I thought about why I was so bothered by his question, it struck me that he is representative of the people who have been and still are treating all of this like an action movie they’re watching on Netflix.
And the casual bigotry (“hajis”) that I didn’t correct but should have (the coach was shooing us into position and he left immediately after the class - still on me for not doing it).
They are dissociating from reality and they are either ignorant of that fact, or they’re aware and don’t care. They dehumanize those whom we have attacked and look at US service members as players in a Call of Duty game.
How do we get through to folks like that - who appear reasonable and decent by most outward measures - but who don’t take any of this seriously?
Rhetorical question, I know - real question is what is the effect of a large percentage of our society having those perspectives?
To be somewhat fair, we (and probably everybody else in history) have always dehumanized our opponents in a war. We did it to the Japanese and Germans in WWII and I'm sure every other war. And we do it because it makes them easier to kill. I'm not saying it's right in any way, but it is just harder to kill someone who you see as a person who's just like you. I think it's a natural consequence of war. Which is one reason why I sure would like to live in a world where there weren't ever any wars, but I doubt that will happen in my lifetime, particularly since I'm getting up there in age.
Now 15 countries in the region are at war with each other??!! And GOP and Fetterman think this is fine??!! WH has still not explained to the American people what this is all about. Death to children??!! Lining their pockets likely the best possible answer. UAE and Israel duped Trump. And now we are jointly taking military action in Ecuador? We will run out of weaponry and money. Putin and Xi loving it.
Without a doubt, 9/11 was horrific. But, as our (Canadian) prime minister said at the time, it was “the chickens coming home to roost.” The US has interfered in other countries’ elections by ousting democratically elected leaders, often in support of exploitive corporations. They’ve callously bombed non-US populations killing millions and set up blockades against nations they don’t like to stifle economic growth and exacerbate hardships for everyday people. It’s no surprise that non-Americans regard the US with suspicion and hate the hypocrisy.
An excellent analysis... Unfortunately, most of this happened in collusion with the junior partners here in Western Europe. And these, even now that they are being bullied and humiliated by their once admired Leading nation, have nothing better to do than siding with it, right or wrong.
Mark Carney's description of the demise of the already faulty international law and the need for the middle nations to get their act together is echoing in the wind.
I remember well Little Bush's statement that you are either with us or with the terrorists. I thought it was incredible then and it still is. It is a stunning example of the thinking of the right wing----black or white. There are no shades of gray in the right wing mind. This simplistic presentation of every issue is how they are able to gain so many converts. It takes effort to see nuance in situations. Many in America are too immature, uneducated or lazy to put in the work. Laying it out in black and white makes it much easier to choose sides. I am very sad at the state of this country today.
I was in southern Iraq in 1991, when US forces were still occupying a slice of Iraqi territory north of Kuwait. President George Bush senior had urged Iraqis to revolt against Saddam, but held back from intervening when Saddam sent in the Republican Guard to crush the Shia uprising in the south.
The scenes at the last American checkpoint south of Basra were heart-rending, with Iraqis coming out of the city to beg the US Rangers to save them. Against our orders, they were told.
Was it any wonder that when America next invaded Iraq, under George Bush junior, they found that most Iraqis saw it as the son’s revenge for the father’s failure to unseat Saddam? Back home, the neocons were assuring Americans that their troops would be greeted with flowers, but memories are not as short in the rest of the world.
Anecdote: at the gym this morning there was a guy at the session that I hadn’t seen in a while, not normally at the 0715, civilian, never served, finance, nice enough guy - we both used to go to the 0530 pre pandemic - and as we chatted before the start he asked “so, do you miss being over in theater? Do you miss killing some hajis?”
I was struck by the question and responded (too sharply) “do I miss killing people? No, I definitely don’t miss killing people.”
In my head I was thinking “who the fuck actually asks a question like that?”
He was taken aback by my reply, and I followed up by saying that sure I missed the camaraderie, the tight sense of team when you’re deployed…but no, I don’t miss the grind or the gore.
This guy isn’t a progressive liberal but he also isn’t MAGA…as I thought about why I was so bothered by his question, it struck me that he is representative of the people who have been and still are treating all of this like an action movie they’re watching on Netflix.
And the casual bigotry (“hajis”) that I didn’t correct but should have (the coach was shooing us into position and he left immediately after the class - still on me for not doing it).
They are dissociating from reality and they are either ignorant of that fact, or they’re aware and don’t care. They dehumanize those whom we have attacked and look at US service members as players in a Call of Duty game.
How do we get through to folks like that - who appear reasonable and decent by most outward measures - but who don’t take any of this seriously?
Rhetorical question, I know - real question is what is the effect of a large percentage of our society having those perspectives?
Morally bereft...and not a minority, either.
To be somewhat fair, we (and probably everybody else in history) have always dehumanized our opponents in a war. We did it to the Japanese and Germans in WWII and I'm sure every other war. And we do it because it makes them easier to kill. I'm not saying it's right in any way, but it is just harder to kill someone who you see as a person who's just like you. I think it's a natural consequence of war. Which is one reason why I sure would like to live in a world where there weren't ever any wars, but I doubt that will happen in my lifetime, particularly since I'm getting up there in age.
And a lot of those people claim to be good Christians.
Now 15 countries in the region are at war with each other??!! And GOP and Fetterman think this is fine??!! WH has still not explained to the American people what this is all about. Death to children??!! Lining their pockets likely the best possible answer. UAE and Israel duped Trump. And now we are jointly taking military action in Ecuador? We will run out of weaponry and money. Putin and Xi loving it.
Without a doubt, 9/11 was horrific. But, as our (Canadian) prime minister said at the time, it was “the chickens coming home to roost.” The US has interfered in other countries’ elections by ousting democratically elected leaders, often in support of exploitive corporations. They’ve callously bombed non-US populations killing millions and set up blockades against nations they don’t like to stifle economic growth and exacerbate hardships for everyday people. It’s no surprise that non-Americans regard the US with suspicion and hate the hypocrisy.
Superb, Paul.
Unfortunately, too many US folks are glued to their Tiktok feeds to care, and if they do see scenes of war, they probably think it's a video game.
PS: Yes, I'm mad and angry that my country has to also suffer the ramifications of this. We didn't even get to choose your president.
Your honesty and humility just made me a paid subscriber. Thank you.
An excellent analysis... Unfortunately, most of this happened in collusion with the junior partners here in Western Europe. And these, even now that they are being bullied and humiliated by their once admired Leading nation, have nothing better to do than siding with it, right or wrong.
Mark Carney's description of the demise of the already faulty international law and the need for the middle nations to get their act together is echoing in the wind.
Perfect pitch. Thank you.
I remember well Little Bush's statement that you are either with us or with the terrorists. I thought it was incredible then and it still is. It is a stunning example of the thinking of the right wing----black or white. There are no shades of gray in the right wing mind. This simplistic presentation of every issue is how they are able to gain so many converts. It takes effort to see nuance in situations. Many in America are too immature, uneducated or lazy to put in the work. Laying it out in black and white makes it much easier to choose sides. I am very sad at the state of this country today.
Every single word, Paul.
I was in southern Iraq in 1991, when US forces were still occupying a slice of Iraqi territory north of Kuwait. President George Bush senior had urged Iraqis to revolt against Saddam, but held back from intervening when Saddam sent in the Republican Guard to crush the Shia uprising in the south.
The scenes at the last American checkpoint south of Basra were heart-rending, with Iraqis coming out of the city to beg the US Rangers to save them. Against our orders, they were told.
Was it any wonder that when America next invaded Iraq, under George Bush junior, they found that most Iraqis saw it as the son’s revenge for the father’s failure to unseat Saddam? Back home, the neocons were assuring Americans that their troops would be greeted with flowers, but memories are not as short in the rest of the world.
This entire administration should be dropped being Iranian lines. Let Iran deal with them as they please
It felt funny revisiting that GW quote because it's clear Republicans hate our freedoms. 😕
I agree sadly.