Miltary culture is an extreme dictatorship - why is the US so in love with it ?

Question

A military is necesary so is a police force

But the US seems to have a culture that overly glorifies military culture

This is odd because in the same breath they will tell you America is the land of the free

Can anyone explain the apparent contridiction ?

There is no system more embacing of a class system or more dictatorial how does this mesh with a "free society" and it's mind state ?

zachary9…

I want to admit right away to the fact all I have to go on is the TV

Canadian's don't seem to glorify the military as the US does

Yes we repect and understand they have a tough job -

But the reactions are different - it seems

Unless the holy TV has lead me astray

James T

i agree with some of what you have said - but the military isn't dictatorial ?

Wow at what point do you recall your Sgt saying today we are going to move rocks from A to B How does everyone feel about that ?

You can not have a military that is not one of a dictatorial cultural mindset

Dictator does not mean evil - but no you don't get a choice your moving rocks from A to B that day

Answer 1

America, has a large number of contradictions. Sometimes being a force for evil and sometimes for good.

Generally I am opposed to US foriegn policy but I feel over all there has been a level of good done by the US.

But it underlies the biggest contradiction of America.

Firstly it is a democracy. But it says it is a the "leader of the free world". As a non-US member of the free world I would like to point out that I don't get to vote.

This is the problem. The military is used against people who are not part of the free.

This is not that much different from democracy in Athens, where they also kept slaves.

Such contradictions will either have to be resolved or America will tear itself apart.

But I believe America's greatest victory as in the Vietnam war. Because while the government did one thing, and said many lies, the people responded to this.

Answer 2

Whoa -- the US does not have a culture that overly glorifies or mandates its military. Look at Israel, everyone has to serve there. Look at Rome, or any ancient empire, military was a lot more important there. I think it's amazing given the size of our nation and military that it's not more important. Our military is controlled by the country, and the leader of the country can change every 4 years. That's amazing, because having one person (a king or emperor) controlling a military and using it to get their way has been a problem throughout history. We don't have that problem here...

Answer 3

I supposed it has to do with the fact that the United States gained her independence from the British Empire by fighting a long drawn war with the British red coats with an ill trained, under equipped army.

The founding fathers were not just pen pushers who framed the Constitution of the United States. They fought for the ideals they believed in and pay the price in blood to gain independence.

There is no contradiction in glorifying in military culture. Without the blood our forefathers shed, there would be no Freedom that we so cherish.

Answer 4

Your comparing our military to those of foreign countries is not quite right. The military is not dictatorial in your definition, more autocratic in the sense that our president is the commander in chief giving the "go orders", but is guided by the congress for approval. A joint chiefs. Unlike the foreign countries who simply order a qualified candidate to enlist or face prison or execution, our military is dependent on volunteers to enlist, thus the recruitment advertisements. As for the glory portion of your question, there is no better way to give thanks to a member of our military than to honor them rightfully for their personal sacrifice of their lives to protect our nation, our people and our way of life.

Answer 5

Because in America, we realize that our freedom is BECAUSE of our military, not despite it. We understand that our freedoms come from people who are willing to stand up against tyranny and fight against it and die, not from people who sit on the sidelines and hope that everything will get better.

We aren't a free country because the colonists protested the monarchy in the streets with signs. We're a free country because some civilian men picked up guns and said "No more. Give me freedom, or give me death." And those men took matters into their own hands and fought a war to save us from tyranny. And since then, there have been times when the American military is the only military who is willing and/or able to stand up against tyranny and win (Nazi Germany, for one).

We also realize that just like the old Latin motto "si vis pacem para bellum," the key to maintaining our freedoms is to be as prepared as possible to defend it when it is threatened. We build up our military and keep it strong so that when the world needs us, we're ready.

Here in America we (most of us, at least) don't hate our military like other countries do. We respect our military and the sacrifices they make for us AND the rest of the free world.

Answer 6

You are confusing glorifying with honoring. If someone came along and told you that they wanted to kill you, your family, and all your friends because they did not like the way you live or do things. How would you stop them? Would you let them go ahead and kill you and family; or would you fight them to kill them? With the military someone is willing to fight the battle for you. They do it of their own free will. They do it not for the glory.

Answer 7

It's simple; people admire sacrifice. Our military personnel voluntarily give up their time, careers, and sometimes their lives to serve the country.

Whether or not you agree with their current task, it's hard not to admire our soldiers for the very difficult choices they have made.

And as an aside, do you think our military would be held in such high regard if it were a compulsary, not voluntary force? I think not.

Answer 8

There is no contridiction. We are free and prosperous because many of us have and are willing to fight and die for for our country and our values. We have traditionally also been willing to fight and die to help other countries keep or obtain liberty from dictators, facists, and communinists. We are proud of our military because it has made it possible for us to exist.

Answer 9

Oddly enough you don't mention the "FACT" that America is the most generous nation in the entire world to the entire world.

Answer 10

I don't think you understand our country.Probably could use a History lesson on your own as well.I'm sure Canada honors it's Military just as much.