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The holiday today brings to mind a question I've had for quite a while now, yet can never seem to get an answer to. How is the current US military "protecting our freedoms?" I hear variations of the statement often, yet I feel it is rarely elaborated upon.
What "freedoms" specifically, are in question today? How does the job of each military branch actually serve to fight for freedom?
Please understand that I'm only asking out of genuine curiosity and that I mean absolutely no disrespect. I'd love to hear everyone's viewpoints on this, especially since we have a significant population of military brides here on the Bee. I work very closely with military families as a part of my job, so I think a discussion about this subject would really help my understanding of their chosen lifestyle. Has anyone else been confused by the "defending freedom" mentality?
My answer is really a bumper stick that I have on my truck:
If you can read this thank a teacher,
If you can read this in English - Thank a Veteran
I do think that on some level, protecting us from outside invaders is also a form of protecting our freedom, because with the threat of terrorism we loose some of our security as Americans. Our 'freedom' is to be in our own country and live as we are given the right to live with our freedoms given to us in the Declaration of Independane, Constitution, and Bill of Rights without worry of persecution from outsiders with different views of 'freedom'.
I think that it is also defending the freedoms for those of people who do not have the same freedoms we have (right to vote, capitalism, etc) in other countries.
I actually saw this on a shirt today: Thank you for protecting our freedom by distroying the lives of others with disredard.
Made me stop and think a bit.
@WifeofBath: I would not have been able to hold my tounge if I had seen that shirt.
Every male in my family has fought and served our country and has been in every conflict since the Revolution where my great (cannot remember how many greats) grandfather blocked the English so that Washington could cross the Deleware. One of my gf's fought on Omaha Beach, the other at Corregidor, their younger brothers in Korea. My father and all of my older uncles, in Vietnam. My younger uncles in Iraq I and several others. My brother, cousins, and several neices and nephews in Iraq II and Afghanistan.
The military does a lot more than just fight in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fighting to prevent terrorist attacks on US soil is just one aspect.
The US navy is essentially the police force of the world's oceans. Though I think it should be in international hands, the truth is that neither the UN or any other country has that capability.
South Korea has been defended for 60 years by american service members, which has benefited our country as well.
The military, especially the Army, does a lot to prevent foreign disease from entering this country and keep our food supply safe.
Military funding for medical research has greatly advanced our knowledge and skills.
Emerging nations are supported by medical, veterinary and agricultural specialists from multiple branches. Improving their situation reduces violence and grows goodwill.
Besides all of that, the military provides a great deterent to any rouge nation wanting to attack this country or our allies, military or economic.
There are other reasons, these are just a few.
@Opus: GREAT points
Additionally, the Army Corp of Engineers has been a part of thousands of public works projects around not only our country, but foreign countries as well
The tradition of a standing military force has been around since the ancient Egyptians. They are our front line of defense- both to REACT to threats and events and to PROACTIVELY defend and deter from such events.
Military personnel choose to serve their country and it is because of them that we have many of the freedoms that we have today.
On the first Tuesday of November, every few years, each one of us can safely and without fear of harm, go to a poll and vote for whomever we want. Men, women, minorities, all of us, can particpate in our government and it is because veterans who fought to defend our rights, that we can do this.
Voting is just one example.
I think many Americans take our Bill of Rights for granted. We are so incredibly fortunate in this country to have those rights that we forget that most places in the world, people do not. We can thank our Veterans for defending those.
I think you are taking the word "freedom" too literally and expecting a list of things out of the Bill of Rights or something.
Freedom is not a tangible thing sometimes--it's not always freedom of speech or the right to carry a gun--but the military indirectly supports that by making sure someone isn't gonna f with the Nation as a whole. Could you imagine 9/11 happening over and over again? Every other week?
No.
There are processes in place that try their best to make sure these things don't happen. We're more proactive than reactive than you would think.
If a terrorist situation or some kind of threat were happening to the Nation consistently - how comfortable would you feel? Would you want to leave your house? Would you want your children going to school?
How free would you feel then?
I'm sorry but I was offended by the question, I'm prior military, and I think it came out the wrong way on the wrong day and sounded pretty thankless.
I think it's just an ignorant question (ignorant meaning as you don't know any better or could know what the military does day in and day out) and there is a lot going on I think the regular civilian would never dream of.
But they're doing it! Guarantee you!
One more thought...
My grandfather served in WWII and to me, when I was little, Veteran's Day was also a day to thank and appreciate individuals who were placed in extraordinary circumstances and who stood up and served their country.
I think the best answer to your question originates from when we originally fought off British control and became our own nation with our own 'freedoms'. Keeping other nations from taking us over and instilling their rules is protecting our freedom.
I don't think the OP meant to take away from honoring those who have served in the past, the question was about the role of the military today. As such, isn't it better to discuss that than to make this about not honoring the veterans of the past?
As someone soon to enter the military lifestyle, I would rather educate and provide information than accuse.
@WifeofBath:Except for ending Slavery, Fascism, Nazism and Communism, war has never solved anything
I can't believe anyone would be offended by the OP's question. She could not have framed it more respectfully if she tried. What is the purpose of having freedom if you have to be afraid to ask a question like that?
I think it is unfortunate that wifeofbath is being criticized so strongly. She didn't say the shirt was correct, just something to think about. All of the things that PinkPinStripes and others have listed are true, but there have been some ugly marks on the American military too. When we question the actions of our military, we are not disrespecting those who serve. We are engaging in the democratic process that makes our nation great and that they fight to protect. I think we can all agree that the sacrifices that those who serve make are tremendous and we can all agree that they should be honored.
I think it's unfortunate that people who say they stand for freedom by supporting the military have so much hate and anger for those who ask questions about it.
@littlemissmango: I was wondering the same thing. And people keep saying the military is protecting us from terrorist attacks...isn't that the job of the federal government/homeland security?
I wouldn't expect for you to understand why I felt it was a bit dismissive, and I really think saying that anyone is being hateful is misconstruing any conversation here. The military is a government entity. Obama, I assure you, does not do his own intelligence, it's provided by the military. *shrug* I'm not trying to get into an argument and I know how things get turned around here. If you're looking for more information, perhaps that's left better for a History or Government book...maybe even Google.
@deetroitwhat: Okay seriously. The OP said "Please understand that I'm only asking out of genuine curiosity and that I mean absolutely no disrespect."
Exactly what else do you think she should have said to be more respectful? Also, I agree with what @eholden: said. I support our military but think it's healthy to ask questions and have debate about what the military's role is in today's society. I think it's wrong to support anything 100 percent without asking questions
@littlemissmango: they keep our country safe in times of war. They keep war from coming too close to home. They aid other countries in times of war. Thats the simplest way to put it. And right now, they are in the middle east for various reasons but one of the reasons is so that they can help to end terrorism (hence the reasons its been called "the war on terror"). The military also does a LOT of humanitarian missions. They were there in Haiti after tradgedy struck. They were bringing medical aid and food and water, ect. If it weren't for our veterans, American history would be completely different. Im so proud of all our veterans out there!
Because if nobody is fighting for us--trust me, other countries would take advantage of us somehow.
@kate, there are TONS of people directly in the military protecting our nation in ways most people don't even have a clue about. They are not always part of homeland security. There are units doing work such as Geospatial Intelligence--that's definitely a big one for protecting our nation. I guarantee you a chunk of that is military.
@wifeofbath, i hope it made you stop and think about hitting the person wearing it, haha.
In my line of work, we get called "baby killers" sometimes and it's unfortunate that "mission capable" equates to such negative connotations...
Plus--our military protects the freedoms of other less fortunate people. That's never a bad thing
The military constantly protects, assists, and otherwise engages civilians. Not only do they fight wars, they also provide humanitarian relief in the face of disaster (Hurricane Katrina, Gulf Oil Spill, Tsunami 2006); they respond to distress calls from those in danger on the high seas and on foreign soil (cruise ship without power, kidnapped Americans); they prevent the wanton take-over of America by foreign superpowers (if you ever have the priveledge to meet a veteran of WWII, THANK THEM!); they provide community services in every country they visit as well as at home; they provide monitary support to countless charities across the country every year through the CFC program. Oh, and they go wherever they are ordered, by whatever idiot ordered them there, and accomplish whatever mission they are told to accomplish WITHOUT asking "Why?"
@WifeofBath: I find that t-shirt saying offensive. Doesn't make me think, it makes me want to punch whoever is wearing it.
I don't mind people questioning the thought policy of POLITICIANS and their use of the military. But I find it incredibly disrespectful when people question the military itself, as if the Department of Defense has any say in where troops are deployed and for what cause. The only people who have the right to bitch and moan about why we're fighting a war are the civilians who aren't fighting it. The military doesn't have that option. They do what they are told by the politicians elected by the people. I wish that more focus would be placed on the people actually making these decisions and less on the people forced to carry the decisions out.
@MightySapphire: Last time I checked, we didn't elect generals. It may be up to congress to declare "war", but entrie battle fronts in the middle east have been fought without that declaration. The Department of Defense does in fact determine strategy.
@WifeofBath: Also that Tshirt just is not true. The U.S. Military goes out of its way to protect civilians as well as it possibly can, even putting our own soldiers in harms way to make sure we can avoid inflicting civilian casualties. The same cannot be said for our enemies, who seek to kill as many innocent civilians as possible.
@crayfish: Generals serve at the pleasure of the President, they still have to follow orders just like any other soldier.
@crayfish: Yes, but wars (or military operations) cannot happen without Presidential order and Congressional funding. It is the politicians, not the Department of Defense, who control troop deployments.
@kate169: It's the job of the military also. The federal government and homeland security can't monitor overseas training camp. They can't intercept written plans of terrorists in Afghanistan. Protecting our own soil is one thing, but we need the military to dismantle terrorists abroad as well.
@crayfish: When politicians determine a political objective, they then use whatever means at their disposal to achieve it. The military is a means to a political end. The military is told WHAT they must achieve, then plans a strategy to achieve it. That strategy still must be approved by the policy makers. Somalia is a PERFECT example. If the military was allowed to deploy its preferred strategy, "BLACKHAWK DOWN" never would have happened. But instead they were restricted in their strategy and means, and, well, you see what happened as a result.
Thank you to those who have done their best to provide some education here, as well as to those who understood the motive behind my asking the question.
Kate169 mentioned: "I think it's wrong to support anything 100 percent without asking questions."
This is precisely what I'm getting at. It's not that I don't wish to support the efforts of the military, but rather, I feel that I don't fully understand what it is that my culture has determined I ought to be supporting.
I think there is a lot of confusion with the general public as to what exactly has been going on in Iraq and Afghanistan for the past decade, and perhaps more importantly, why the wars are continuing on. Since these wars are the most prominently reported military efforts today, and since the "fighting for freedom" expression is still so frequently used, I think it causes people to question how the two remain connected.
I can understand the point that since the military is defending our country as a whole from attack, and engaging in a war on our country's behalf, that this would equate to protecting our freedom to live our lives.
Maybe what lies beneath my questions is that I wonder why other professions which can also be considered heroic freedom-fighters aren't always as societally revered as members of the military are. I think for instance that the police force has an equally measurable hand in protecting the American public today, yet, not many feel obligated to thank an officer passing by for risking his life every day on their behalf.
These are just some of the things that come to mind when I think about the military's role in society today. Like I said, I welcome discussion from all sides, and as was mentioned, I think it's important to exercise our freedom to even have the conversation.
I don't know anybody who doesn't support the police, ambulatory, and fire forces in the same breath as the military. I think most people realize they involve the same sort of sacrifices, aside from regular deployments. At least in my mind, they all serve noble causes. The military is far more stringent about things--moving you around, deploying you, that sort of stuff.
I think the whole "fight for freedom" discussion overseas has a lot to do with what a PP said earlier--that wars aren't necessarily fought on our soil anymore. They are quelling any uprisings that, if they got grand enough, would be large enough to really hurt us. I know i'm not exactly eloquent at 10pm, but I feel like if we just allowed the terrorists to do their thing without actively trying to squash those rebellions and seek out their leaders, they'd gain a lot of strength, continue to terrorize their people, and come after us. A lot of them are fighting for the freedom of those people. I never really "got it" until my husband explained it to me, though
"I think it's wrong to support anything 100 percent without asking questions."
I think I feel the opposite. I think we should support our all volunteer military members 100%, without question. I do think it is our responsibility to question the politicians who make the decisions. A service persons job is like no other, they cannot say "NO" (under very rare circumstances). Unlike the rest of us, they cannot quit a job just because they don't like it.
I have a lot of problems with the government policies and decisions that brought us to Iraq, etc., but I still supoprt the troops and appreciate their service. I don't think the two are mutually exclusive.
"Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America nor, for that matter, in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship. ... [V]oice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."
(I'm not comparing US policy to Nazism, I just think the quote is fitting)
@tksjewelry: Members of the military don't have the freedom to leave the military?
@littlemissmango: I think she means a police officer could quit tomorrow if they had a bad experience tonight. A soldier can't until their enlistment is up.
Only when your term of service is over, but you sign up for a committment. You can also be stop lossed. The paperwork is a bitch, too!!!
@MissDallasCowboy: I was completely unaware of this. That is downright shocking to me...
ETA: How long is a standard "enlistment?" At what point is there no turning back?
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