Remembrance Day 2013

[flipper]

Limiting the discussion to what can be remembered and where, is exactly how control is kept.

 

[flipper]

Veterans in the United States face ongoing economic hardship. Despite being lauded by the media and political establishment as “heroes,” they face high rates of poverty and unemployment.One in nine veterans is living at or below the poverty line, and 13 percent of homeless people in the US have been in the military.
US veterans face economic and physical hardship - World Socialist Web Site

 

[Burnt State]

It's another example of the mythos that guides society. Long have we honored the idea of the warrior. In fact we have even institutionalized the idea of remembrance. Politicians smile smugly and justify policy in the name of remembrance or honoring the warrior. But dealing with the actual human aftermath of war is something that apparently requires more of a stomach, or stronger nerves, than to sign the paper that sends young men and women off to war.

Recent suicides of Canadian vets, along with our awareness of the high incidents of depression, poverty and deep personal struggles, highlight just how life altering it is to fight in other lands, witness death, and then try to reintegrate into society.

I love that scene from The Hurt Locker where the soldier, recently back from war, is shopping in the massive, grocery box store - it's so entirely surreal. We ask soldiers to participate in a world of intense extremes and then abandon them. Simultaneously we talk about the honor of war. In many ways the common foot soldier's dilemma of life back at home is just another example of the class struggle at work, and how those on the bottom are chewed up and forgotten.

What makes it despicable is how much we mythologize war, honor, sacrifice etc. but can not meet the real needs of the real people we are using to create that myth.

 

[stonehart]

 

[flipper]

It's another example of the mythos that guides society. Long have we honored the idea of the warrior. In fact we have even institutionalized the idea of remembrance. Politicians smile smugly and justify policy in the name of remembrance or honoring the warrior. But dealing with the actual human aftermath of war is something that apparently requires more of a stomach, or stronger nerves, than to sign the paper that sends young men and women off to war.

Recent suicides of Canadian vets, along with our awareness of the high incidents of depression, poverty and deep personal struggles, highlight just how life altering it is to fight in other lands, witness death, and then try to reintegrate into society.

I love that scene from The Hurt Locker where the soldier, recently back from war, is shopping in the massive, grocery box store - it's so entirely surreal. We ask soldiers to participate in a world of intense extremes and then abandon them. Simultaneously we talk about the honor of war. In many ways the common foot soldier's dilemma of life back at home is just another example of the class struggle at work, and how those on the bottom are chewed up and forgotten.

What makes it despicable is how much we mythologize war, honor, sacrifice etc. but can not meet the real needs of the real people we are using to create that myth.

Well said

 

[Charlie Prime]

It's as if someone wants us to equate protecting ourselves, with attacking others... But who could possibly benefit from that? ;-)

They same people who benefit from wars.

The social psychology they employ is amazing. They are able to convince the sheep that personal self-defense is unfashionable and should be illegal, but carrying a gun for some banker is noble.

Sick, sick stuff.

 

[stonehart]

They same people who benefit from wars.

The social psychology they employ is amazing. They are able to convince the sheep that personal self-defense is unfashionable and should be illegal, but carrying a gun for some banker is noble.

Sick, sick stuff.

Some times a Government has the moral fortitude to admit they were wrong and make an apology.
Considering it is the John Key government that did it I expect it was a very cold day in hell that day... well the fact is this is only because the previous government set the ball in motion to do this (second vid posted).

 

[stonehart]

Bit of retrospect from a veteran:

 

[stonehart]

an interesting look at the long term effects of chemical spraying in Vietnam.

 

[Han]

Brave, Brave man.

 

[flipper]

an interesting look at the long term effects of chemical spraying in Vietnam.

Did you know that Monsantos made agent orange and that at one time it was in Lysol?

 

[flipper]

Before you fight for your country ask what your country is fighting for:
Home :: Veterans for Peace

 

[flipper]

War Criminal Donald Rumsfeld Personifies American Society
After giving the fun-loving sociopaths of fictional dramas a bad name for two hours, this real person, Donald Rumsfeld, blames war on “human nature” and expresses pretended sadness at future U.S. war deaths, as if 95% of the victims of U.S. wars (the people who live where the wars are fought) never cross his mind at all. And why should they?
War Criminal Donald Rumsfeld Personifies American Society | Global Research

 

[boomerang]

Did you know that Monsantos made agent orange and that at one time it was in Lysol?

A good friend of mine contracted a particular type of cancer about 2 years ago and had the usual diagnostic workup. The first words out of the doctor's mouth as he entered the exam room with diagnostic results in hand were "Did you ever serve in Vietnam?" Indeed, he had.

 

[Charlie Prime]

My brother-in-law suffers from Agent Orange.

When we go fishing I have to rub medicine into his back where his skin is rotting.

The parts of his body where his uniform touched his body are covered scabs and fungus; his back, feet, buttocks, and upper thighs.

He was in the 101st Airborne and spent a lot of time laying in the water.

His photo appears in this video...

 

[boomerang]

It's another example of the mythos that guides society. Long have we honored the idea of the warrior. In fact we have even institutionalized the idea of remembrance. Politicians smile smugly and justify policy in the name of remembrance or honoring the warrior. But dealing with the actual human aftermath of war is something that apparently requires more of a stomach, or stronger nerves, than to sign the paper that sends young men and women off to war.

Recent suicides of Canadian vets, along with our awareness of the high incidents of depression, poverty and deep personal struggles, highlight just how life altering it is to fight in other lands, witness death, and then try to reintegrate into society.

I love that scene from The Hurt Locker where the soldier, recently back from war, is shopping in the massive, grocery box store - it's so entirely surreal. We ask soldiers to participate in a world of intense extremes and then abandon them. Simultaneously we talk about the honor of war. In many ways the common foot soldier's dilemma of life back at home is just another example of the class struggle at work, and how those on the bottom are chewed up and forgotten.

What makes it despicable is how much we mythologize war, honor, sacrifice etc. but can not meet the real needs of the real people we are using to create that myth.

Very much on the mark. Honoring the warrior these days is too often a way of exploiting the warrior's sacrifice for political purposes.

 

[flipper]

When ever the United States goes to war with any country whether it is economic or military, it has always obtained it's purpose. Its purpose is to destroy the country's society against which it has declared war. This may mean selling off what the people of that country own to private corporations or it may mean blowing it up with a bomb.
I believe that this comment is about half way through the podcast.
Progressive Radio News Hour - John McMurtry - 4/13/14 - PRN.fm - PRN.fm