Why are those who never serve the most patriotic of us all?

Question

good point. make that served.

Answer 1

I would agree that about half of them(soldiers) are rather quiet and don't have tons of flags on their stuff but active duty soldiers aren't allowed to have torn up flags parading from their cars. I don't think they're allowed to have flags on their casual clothes either because of the uniformed soldier code of conduct booklet. Many war veterans are very quiet about their patriotism because they take it so seriously. They are so aware of the price of war. Soldiers are the biggest peaceniks in the world! The army actively gets rid of people who like to go to war--they consider them psychologically unfit--for example Timothy McVeigh. It constantly amazes me how willing they are to serve when they believe in a cause. It's a bunch of crap when people claim that those guys in Iraq are just there under orders and that they don't believe in what they're doing. At least in my experience. My husband was in the Gulf War and now serves stateside. He is getting ready to retire after 20 years of service and doesn't feel like he has to wear his patriotism on his sleeve. In fact he talks about it very little. My nephew is about to go to Iraq for a second time. He has to leave one month before his wife gives birth to their second child. He doesn't "want" to go but he feels that it's important that he does.

I guess I am confused by what your definition of "patriotism" is. I just don't think there is anything more patriotic than a soldier.

Answer 2

I'm currently serving in the military and consider myself patriotic, but I kind of know what you are getting at. My theory is that people that are overly patriotic that never served are usually just showing their support because a part of them wishes that they could have enlisted.

Answer 3

This question is a little one-sided. Maybe what you should ask is "why are so many vets unhappy with current military policy?" Many of us have been screwed around by the country that we swore to protect. Many of us have had shots fired in anger at us, only to come home with medical problems that supposedly noone knows the cause of, and deny us any help. Many Vietnam vets came home to have people whom have never served spit in their face. The reasons are too vast and numerous to answer without writing an essay on the subject.

Answer 4

Patriotism, is at least partially, a sentimental concept invoked by the government and industry leaders to get the average folks to fight and die to protect business interests.

It's interesting to note that even many of our founding father's were patriots, per se. They only wanted independence from England because they felt the monarchy was exploting them and that their grievences weren't being addressed. They didn't think of themselves as "Americans" and would have been just as happy to remain part of England if not for the mistreatment.

also note that many of them, such as thomas paine felt that government and borders served to divide people and foster false pride and seperation. Paine, for example said, "the world is my country, all men are my brothers, and to do good is my religion."

Sure, flag-waving has it's place but as often as not is a psychological tool that we use to convince ourselves that we are somehow inherently better than other people.

Answer 5

Because usually we're the ones with the money. If we weren't patriotic the general populace may see "patriotism" for what it really is, a means of subduing the masses...

Answer 6

Because the one's who did serve have nothing to prove.

Answer 7

They are not. They are the cowards who enjoy their freedom and disapprove judge what it takes to keep it.
By the way you should have put a "d" on serve.

Answer 8

that is not true I served and I am very patriotic.

Answer 9

In the words of Phil Ochs, "It's always the old who lead us into war, it's always the young who fall. Now look at what you've won with a sabre and a gun, tell me was it worth it all?"

Answer 10

Yeah, we are governed by chicken hawks who smear real heroes. The public believes these fools for some reason.