This is a false dichotomy, as though you can either be productive or learn to march. Obviously you could do both.
It’s very important for soldiers to focus on doing “important work to defend our nation” (murdering brown kids) and that they’re “productive at their jobs” (bombing hospitals)
I think it was probably in protest. However they can, I guess.
When has the US military defended the nation? I got the impression that they’re mostly used for invading foreign countries for financial gain, cf Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Sudan, Panama, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Cuba, Guatemala, Korea.
Yeah. That’s kind of America’s whole thing. Making money. Exploiting everything. Americans are the Ferengi.
Defending America = defending capitalism = doing whatever they can to make American, capitalist companies more profitable.
I don’t hate capitalism. Don’t get me wrong, but I generally don’t like capitalists.
This is what Americans call “defending the nation”; making war in other countries than their own, believing themselves to be the world police.
I think America has only ever been attacked… Twice… In all of history (Pearl Harbour and 9/11), and both times the defense was pretty piss poor.
I’m not sure either of these events can even be counted as an attack. Pearl Harbour is roughly 3800km from the mainland. It’s basically an overseas territory. An attack there is like saying the Falkland War was an attack on the UK.
And 9/11 was a terrorist attack, not a war. While it was a big attack, it was still only carried out by a handful of non-state-actors. That’s quite a different thing than an actual military attack by a country.
Afaik, the last war on US soil was the civil war.
America was attacked hundreds of times. The native people lost.
Russians be like “they can’t march, maybe they can’t even clean a toilet bowl with their fork or fuck and tortue a child, we totally win”
“A serious problem in planning against American doctrine is that the Americans do not read their manuals, nor do they feel any obligation to follow their doctrine.”
– Soviet observation during the Cold WarOn a fucking Saturday too. They wanted to be with their loved one probably.
I woulda filed a chit for gastro or something.
These soldiers spend their days doing important work to defend our nation.
The U.S. military has done nothing to defend their “nation” for over 100 years. They ONLY defend the corporate oligarchs’ ability to steal resources and use slave labor in third world countries.
Lmao yet Ukraine still stands thanks to American intelligence and military apparatus.
I’m not even an American but this kindergarten sentiment on Lemmy is so exhausting.
Are you suggesting that kindergarten political thought is somehow less valid? You must hate children!
Lmao yet Ukraine still stands thanks to American intelligence and military apparatus.
Which they provide exactly as long as they profit exponentially from it. Dont pretend like the US would provide foreign aid out of generosity.
And then promptly fucked right out of peace negotiations immediately after signing the resources deal. Fits perfectly well with
They ONLY defend the corporate oligarchs’ ability to steal resources and use slave labor in third world countries.
Yeah you get a lot of these ‘moral purity absolutists’ with all the nuance of an edgy teen. Some of them, or course, are edgy teens, but 100 years is a super odd choice even so. You’d think by the time they were 13 they’d have heard of at least one war that came pretty close to defense against a malign hegemonic power with ambitions of global domination…
It really reminds me how I felt when I was an edgy 16-year old but luckily for me social media wasn’t really a thing yet so it didn’t bother anyone.
It’s possible that you’re overestimating the US contribution
Looking at the conflicts they have been explictly or covertly involved in, it does seem like they are attempting to create a hegemony. That’s not to say that some good doesn’t get done along the way but it is more of a byproduct than the intent.
Must have forgotten that Ukraine became a US state, these edgy kids
gotta stroke shitler’s ego.
The band played “Fortunate Son”. They all knew exactly what they were doing.
If shit ever does hit the fan full send (I very much doubt it) he doesn’t have the army.
Imperial March would have been dope
Got a video link? Sounds amazing.
Beautiful.
They didn’t want to attract the worm.
No need, trump was already there.
Trump physically resembles Baron Harkonen from the old film.
“The Spice must flow”
From what I’m hearing from coordinators and people inside its not that they can’t march. It’s that nobody wanted to. They had to be there. So they phoned it in. Malicious compliance.
Like the squeaky tanks. That was a choice made in the motor pool. They could have greased them up and tested to make sure they were smooth. But they made a different call.
I’m not saying you’re wrong, but i do find it hard to believe. I think most people that take pride in their jobs won’t half ass it.
100%. I’m the most uncoordinated guy I know and even I learned (French army but the cadence/the mere act of marching is similar enough), like not even that far into basic either. Maybe not everything is lost for the common American!
Lmao I didn’t think about that. Probably didn’t think it would be quiet enough to hear it squeak either.
Same, considering its age that thing is in mint condition and barely made any noise, really highlighted how much crowd noise wasn’t there
If I could march in a brass band after very limited practice, these guys can. They just didn’t want to.
And marching in band is even harder, since you are playing an instrument at the same time.
They deliberately half-assed the parade because they don’t like the way Trump treats them. Trump calls them “suckers and losers.” He cuts their benefits Why would you show any loyalty (or enthusiasm) to someone who treats you like that?
More Trump quotes: “You fucking generals. Why can’t you be more like Hitler’s generals?” 2017
On the burial of US Army private Vanessa Guillén: “It doesn’t cost 60,000 bucks to bury a fucking Mexican!” December 4, 2020. Trump has denied having made the remark.
“We’re not going to support that loser’s funeral.” August, 2018. Trump has denied having made this remark.
re: John McCain, who was captured and tortured for five years: “He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren’t captured, okay? I hate to tell you.” July 18, 2015.
“But, you know, during the Vietnam War, I got very lucky. I had a very high lottery number.” November 9, 1995.
On the 1,800 US Marines who died at Belleau Wood in France during World War I “Suckers.” November 11, 2018. Trump denies having made this remark.
On US soldiers in World War I “Who were the good guys in this war?” November 11, 2018. Trump denies having asked this question.
“I don’t get it. What was in it for them?” November 11, 2018. Trump denies having made this remark.
On disabled veterans “Why do you bring people like that here? No one wants to see that, the wounded.” September 30, 2019.
“Look, I don’t want any wounded guys in the parade. This doesn’t look good for me.” Summer 2017.
I can understand why someone would ask who the good guys were in WW1.
It’s a question that shows a childlike understanding of war in general, but that’s how war is often sold. A team sport with body bags.
That said, WW1 is hard to pick a “good” side. It was a mess of a war, but no side was particularly vile when compared to the others…
But for a US president, there’s only one valid answer.
A US president can admit that Vietnam was not a shining moment is US history, but the world wars? No.
I had a very high lottery number
ah yes. that’s how lottery works
During the Vietnam War there was a draft, so you could end up being conscripted and shipped halfway around the world to fight it. One way to avoid getting drafted was a lottery where, if you picked a high enough random number, you could avoid being drafted.
The thing is, Trump never picked a lottery number. Instead, he got five draft deferments, 1 medical and 4 educational. A lot of rich people at the time were able to avoid military service alltogether by getting a doctor to sign off that you had a sketchy illness. In Trump’s case, it was bone spurs, which apparently healed right up after the Vietnam War ended. Trump kept his 1-Y deferments until after 1972, when he was reclassified 4-F (permanently ineligible for service). By claiming he got a “high lottery number” Trump makes it sound like staying out of Vietnam was an amazing stroke of luck. That was just another lie. Trump had powerful friends and family intervene for him. Luck had nothing to do with it.
Dodging the draft was the most moral action, after fragging your officer and joining the PAVN. Of course Trump only did it because it coincidentally happened to line up with what served him, but at least he didnt use his connections to pilot a bomber or something.
🏅"Could have committed more atrocities"
I’m a PATRIOTIC Republican who PROUDLY wears the American Flag on my Shorts and Truck and TRUMPS RIGHT! Our Soldiers are LOSERS AND SUCKERS!
Ok, but 1. fuck John McCain that ghoulish piece of shit is in hell lmao. 2. Trump’s point about soldiers who die on the other side of the planet, fighting for the profits of people like Trump, is absolutely valid. I have no idea what that thought is even doing in an imperialist’s brain.
Yeah! They need to do important stuff!
Like point guns at me while I’m going to the grocery store!
Military doesn’t do that, that’s for cops after they get out of the military.
Yeah, the military’s job is to point guns at people when they’re going to the grocery store in other countries, primarily.
Oh, so who was the guy in digital camo standing next to the grey armored vehicle doing that?
Because im pretty sure that wasn’t a cop; he looked like he might’ve actually know how to use his gun.
Edit: did not see crayons, but it was a few hours after lunch and there was a pretty nice art supply store nearby.
Cops have camo and rifles. I genuinely don’t think the army has vehicles any color other than green, tan, and woodland camo.
Did it look like this?
More sidewalk colored. Different hat? I think?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenco_BearCat
Those were cops.
He’s about to get out and become a cop.
No. Like i said; he was holding his gun properly.
National Guard maybe? Officially they are not military though. Edit: Yes they are I was wrong sorry
National Guard ARE part of the military, they wear U.S. military uniforms and are deployed to U.S. invaded and occupied countries like Iraq.
They are officially civilians, no? I know they can be called up into active service but outside of that…
Marines have also been deployed
Except when deployed when the police are “overran”.
