comment by thenewgreen

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thenewgreen · 4457 days ago · link · · parent · post: In Germany, soldiers are viewed with contempt and mistrust

I can't speak for whether or not German soldiers are or are not supported. I can say that I see increasing support for soldiers in the US, which is great. I was flying the other day and I love the fact that soldiers in uniform get to board first. Before first class. -Awesome!! As it should be. Also, I've been on flights when they've announced the names of the soldiers on board and the entire plane applauds their service. -Great stuff. I think its right that we separate our disagreements with the policies that send them to war with the soldiers themselves.

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scarp · 4457 days ago · link ·

The worrying thing is that not everyone separates those policy disagreements from the soldiers, so there's a divide there: one the one side you have people cheering the soldiers because they support the war and the vague notion of "defending our freedoms." On the other side you have people accusing every soldier of being a simple-minded, doggedly patriotic lemming willing to fight in any war that protects "American interests" (a term which in many cases is used as a perverse euphemism for morally objectionable acts -- but that's another discussion).

RE: treatment of soldiers. I've always been uncomfortable with the unconditionally glowing praise we give them. The attitude our country takes towards soldiers takes for granted the fact that morality is not black and white. Sometimes our soldiers do bad things, but we always downplay that like it's a non-issue. I'm not saying that we should assume that every soldier is guilty; I'm saying that we shouldn't assume anything. Doctors and scientists have a direct, positive effect on our daily lives, but we don't automatically assume that all of them are imperfect and worthy of praise -- nor should we.

+discuss+discuss

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thenewgreen · 4456 days ago · link ·

I think there is a difference between unconditionally glowing praise and appreciation. They're human beings and as such are fallible just like any of us. Unlike me, they choose to potentially put themselves in harms way to defend our nation. Now, we both know that "defend our nation" is a broad stroke and it's more often than not, not what the military is used for. Still, I would not feel safer or more secure without them there. I appreciate them being there and if they are willing to risk their lives, even when the end game isn't always a clear "black and white" morality, I still applaud that. I take issue with the policy makers that put us all not just them in precarious moral positions.

So, if a soldier is returning or going to active duty and is allowed to board my plane before I do, I'm okay with that. If the people on the plane applaud their choice to defend us, I'm okay with that too. I honestly don't know anyone that thinks that just because someone is a soldier, they get a moral pass though. Wrong is wrong but service is service too.

+discuss+discuss

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scarp · 4456 days ago · link ·

> I think there is a difference between unconditionally glowing praise and appreciation.

I do too -- but I certainly think that our cultural attitude toward soldiers is above and beyond just appreciation. We appreciate a good teacher. We appreciate a Thanksgiving meal. What we show for soldiers is more akin to adulation and applause.