How we CELEBRATE people killing & getting killed in pursuit of EMPIRE (Memorial Day)

a reply to: IgnoranceIsntBlisss

Yeah it is an odd one, we celebrate the death of others, as long as its not us or our families. Either side, does this and really what for. For the presidents and global elite to make its citizens feel they are somewhat respected when all that is really happening is they are begging its citizens to get behind them by promising them freedoms. However we all know that freedoms are a foolish way to think we have.

originally posted by: CoBaZ
As a Vet I may not like what your implication is here, But I do appreciate you having the right to say it and if my time in service proudly sworn to the Constitution and unfortunately following lawful orders of those who were put over me in any way shape or form helped allow you to say what is on your mind, then it was time well spent.

I respect you. But the historical record shows most wars in the last 60 or so years were not for our freedom, global democracy, nor safety. They were actually wars of aggression and empire. The US was often the aggressor. In fact, in many instances the Us was violating other people's human rights and freedom.

Stop the blind rejection of truth and repeat of propaganda about "protecting our freedom." It's simply false.

a reply to: Quetzalcoatl14

Not most wars, ALL wars, and certainly not in any way whatsoever limited to this empire and its brief existence. Ottomans were an empire for well over 500 years. The Brits got what like 350?? We have not even reached 250 years. There were no shortage of people in every empire that has ever existed that disapprove of the actions of their leaders .

No, America does not fight 'for' freedom when it engages in our resource acquisition or market control. But IMO, we have the better record of freedom and more democratic principles that pop up in the populations AFTER we have overthrown the leaders directly examples like Afghanistan, South Korea, Japan, even Iraq to a degree.

The horrors usually come when we utilize a proxy or fund revolutions from the sidelines. Then we get Libya, Chile, Cambodia, Argentina, Guatemala, El Salvador, Somalia, and countless other historically documented tragedies.

I feel like that just means we should always be directly involved when it comes to taking over the resources and market control of another state. It tends to be more expensive than simply blackmailing/bribing the current leaders, but the acts of genocide and outright mass executions tend to be mitigated to a degree. Also, the population itself tends to benefit with expanded civil liberties. Such as females actually being allowed an education and role in the advancement of their country's future like Afghanistan. Or having equal representation in the government like Iraq before Obama abandoned our commitment to that population allowing Al-Maliki to fall back to sectarian persecutions which is the flashpoint that gave ISIS its power.

One thing that is common throughout time in all empires is the men and women with the courage to fight, usually against their own free will. In the past rarely did empires elicit voluntary armies. Generals would simply march from town to town city to city calling all able bodied men to arms. This typically was never a choice, just what was expected.

Is it not better then that this Empire has removed the mandatory service and moved to a volunteer basis? This ensures the most skilled, professional, and determined individuals will fight on our behalf.

There will always be a fight no matter how much we dream of pacifism and utopia. So long as free will exists, populations of humans will disagree with other populations of humans, many times with violence. if we had no one to step up and fight for the rest of the population who cower at the mere thought of violence, what would all our fates be? Destined to simply be huddled away in train cars with a promise of fortune and wealth at the end of the line no doubt.

originally posted by: AmericanRealist
a reply to: Quetzalcoatl14

Not most wars, ALL wars, and certainly not in any way whatsoever limited to this empire and its brief existence. Ottomans were an empire for well over 500 years. The Brits got what like 350?? We have not even reached 250 years. There were no shortage of people in every empire that has ever existed that disapprove of the actions of their leaders .

No, America does not fight 'for' freedom when it engages in our resource acquisition or market control. But IMO, we have the better record of freedom and more democratic principles that pop up in the populations AFTER we have overthrown the leaders directly examples like Afghanistan, South Korea, Japan, even Iraq to a degree.

The horrors usually come when we utilize a proxy or fund revolutions from the sidelines. Then we get Libya, Chile, Cambodia, Argentina, Guatemala, El Salvador, Somalia, and countless other historically documented tragedies.

I feel like that just means we should always be directly involved when it comes to taking over the resources and market control of another state. It tends to be more expensive than simply blackmailing/bribing the current leaders, but the acts of genocide and outright mass executions tend to be mitigated to a degree. Also, the population itself tends to benefit with expanded civil liberties. Such as females actually being allowed an education and role in the advancement of their country's future like Afghanistan. Or having equal representation in the government like Iraq before Obama abandoned our commitment to that population allowing Al-Maliki to fall back to sectarian persecutions which is the flashpoint that gave ISIS its power.

One thing that is common throughout time in all empires is the men and women with the courage to fight, usually against their own free will. In the past rarely did empires elicit voluntary armies. Generals would simply march from town to town city to city calling all able bodied men to arms. This typically was never a choice, just what was expected.

Is it not better then that this Empire has removed the mandatory service and moved to a volunteer basis? This ensures the most skilled, professional, and determined individuals will fight on our behalf.

There will always be a fight no matter how much we dream of pacifism and utopia. So long as free will exists, populations of humans will disagree with other populations of humans, many times with violence. if we had no one to step up and fight for the rest of the population who cower at the mere thought of violence, what would all our fates be? Destined to simply be huddled away in train cars with a promise of fortune and wealth at the end of the line no doubt.

You see, I respect honesty. The reality is that, as you are noting, we are the newest iteration of Empire. It's nothing new, and is as ancient as salt. There is nothing unique or worse about US empire.

HOWEVER, the media, politicians, and powers that be consistently lie and say we are engaged in actions abroad for freedom, democracy, justice, and nothing else. Your common American is totally brainwashed. Moreover, many people either join the military or support actions based on their own propagandized viewpoint to this effect.

This is a problem. I almost respect more those like yourself who acknowledge that this is about geo-political power and resources.

Having said that though, I do still find it immoral to invade, regime change, or otherwise manipulate other countries and peoples for our own gain, and vice versa. There are a host of international treaties and laws we have signed on to that state the same.

These illustrate my premise of 'everybody' taking Independence Day for granted:

Poll: Many Teens Don't Know July 4 History
For 14 percent of U.S. teens, the Fourth of July will mark the historic day we declared independence from France.

Another 5 percent think we rose up against the tyrannous Canadians on July 4, 1776.

That's according to a new study, which finds a sizable percentage of high school-age Americans don't really know what all the fuss is about today. More than a fifth of the survey respondents didn't know which country we declared our independence from, including 14 percent who thought it was France, not Britain.

The survey reported that 15 percent of U.S. teens didn't know the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. Nine percent thought we ratified the Constitution that day. (That didn't happen for another 13 years.)

How one in four Americans don't know who their forefathers declared independence from

Something tells me the figures for how many take "celebrating" Memorial Day for granted like they take Independence Day wouldn't be much better. Call it a hunch.

July 4 fireworks brought to you by China
On Independence Day, celebrations across the United States depend on China.

The sparklers, bottle rockets and Roman candles you’ll be using this Fourth of July almost certainly came from there. So did the professional-grade pyrotechnics that’ll be launched above the Washington Monument on Friday night.
...
But fireworks? No change there. Over the past 35 years, China has grabbed nearly the entire U.S. market — with 98 to 99 percent of what consumers will buy this year being made there, as well as 75 percent of the “display” fireworks, which are used in big, public shows.

Fireworks are a big business, with $675 million in sales just to consumers who will shoot off their own products expected this year, said Julie Heckman, the American Pyrotechnics Association’s executive director. Chinese imports are necessary, she said, because it’s “very, very labor-intensive to make fireworks. Basically everything is still made by hand.”