Re: Soldiers are Heroes...

[nk4e]

right, but watching this I understand why some people hate USA, it was involved in many conflicts and in some cases United States supported dictators and collaborated in coup d'état.

I would of thought that people hated USA because our soldiers only go for our interest.

 

[Public'sTwin]

I never killed anyone.
But I've never personally had to lift a weapon in anger.
I was also trained as a fire-fighter.
The US military has not attacked anyone that has not first attacked us in well over 100 years.
Keep that in mind, when you call soldiers "killers".

With all due respect, you would "properly" be referred to as a sailor by the "soldiers" I know, but that's them.

These soldiers have seen time in Afghanistan - 2 snipers (1 special forces), 1 gunner, and 2 light infantry soldiers - and they have all killed in their line of work. All of these men, too, have secondary skills: one is a heavy equipment mechanic and another specializes in aero engineering, yet at least one of them has brain damage & PTSD. However, they are still killers.

When something happens, their natural instinct is to duck, find cover, etc - not reflexively grab the nearest wrench for mechanical repair.

Similarly, a medic's training may instill a natural inclination to perform some other duty pertinent to that field of work by reflex in a situation that calls for it.

The fact remains that military training is meant to produce someone who will be absolutely dependable under the widest variety of predictable situations to eliminate or neutralize by lethal force any immediate threats, should they arise. This is at odds with an assertion that soldiers are not killers, as well as the general public who have no such training.

It is not a reflection of whether or not a soldier has killed, but rather they have been taught - contrary to the vast majority of the public - how to kill, and to do so with deadly efficiency when necessary. If it's never necessary, the fact remains that you are still a deadly and skilled weapon.

Ardius's point remains: there is a definite expectation that, once signed up, you are to fulfill what many view as an ugly duty; it doesn't necessarily mean you are always called upon to fulfill the role to its' greatest potential.

I believe that when he says "soldiers are killers", he's not saying soldiers are baby-murdering scum, but rather a soldier - someone trained to kill (and, perhaps, fight fires or cut hair or play the tuba)- is an instrument that sovereign states wield with deadly consequences from time to time.

. . . just as nature will wield grizzly bears upon campers from time to time.

 

[Gil]

I agree with you to a point.
I have ALWAYS believed that an armed society is a polite society.
I gained this belief as an African American in the early 1970's when it was "fashionable" to mistreat African Americans.
I was also "cursed" to be a glasses wearing, nose-in-a-book, somewhat intellectual, chubby kid.
As a result, I OFTEN had to either fight or take a lot of crap.
My father taught me to ONLY fight when I had no other choice.
My Mother taught me to grab the largest of my tormenters and, win or lose, beat him like a brand new drum.
After I gained a reputation as a "Pointdexter" that would fight back, and effectively, I didn't have to fight much. (see where I'm going here?)

Yeah, military may be "thugs" in some folks eyes.
However, our thugs keep the thugs from other countries from messing with us at will.

 

[Public'sTwin]

I agree with you to a point.
I have ALWAYS believed that an armed society is a polite society.
I gained this belief as an African American in the early 1970's when it was "fashionable" to mistreat African Americans.
I was also "cursed" to be a glasses wearing, nose-in-a-book, somewhat intellectual, chubby kid.
As a result, I OFTEN had to either fight or take a lot of crap.
My father taught me to ONLY fight when I had no other choice.
My Mother taught me to grab the largest of my tormenters and, win or lose, beat him like a brand new drum.
After I gained a reputation as a "Pointdexter" that would fight back, and effectively, I didn't have to fight much. (see where I'm going here?)

Yeah, military may be "thugs" in some folks eyes.
However, our thugs keep the thugs from other countries from messing with us at will.

I believe you're reading too much into the role of the US's army from my comments - I was speaking of all countries - they share the same responsibilities, though may be carried out to different effect.