You don’t protect my freedom: Our childish insistence on calling soldiers heroes deadens real democracy

2014-11-10T07:42:29-05:00

I found this article to be not only misinformed, but rather offensive. Curious on what others think. Anyone who takes a job that pays a fraction of what other jobs pay and comes with the possibility of death and being separated from your family for months to years = hero. Most CEOs make in 1 year what I will make over my entire military career, and they didn't have to spend time in the sand.

http://www.salon.com/2014/11/09/you_dont_protect_my_freedom_our_childish_insistence_on_calling_soldiers_heroes_deadens_real_democracy/

You don’t protect my freedom: Our childish insistence on calling soldiers heroes deadens real...

It's been 70 years since we fought a war about freedom. Forced troop worship and compulsory patriotism must end

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2014 8:00 AM

2014-11-10T08:00:59-05:00

Wow. There's a rant (RANT) from the left. The "syrup of patriotic sentimentality"? I am shocked. While we could argue about whether American freedom is, or is not, at stake in Afghanistan, this guy takes the thread way too far for me.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2014 8:14 AM

2014-11-10T08:14:36-05:00

I have seen a shift in the cultural dynamic of American culture in the last few years about how the civilian population looks upon U.S. Military personnel. This is just another example.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Nov 10 at 2014 8:13 AM

2014-11-10T08:13:38-05:00

Excuse my crassness and use of "French" in response to the author of that piece of dreck...Fuck Him!! Thank you and please don't slap me too hard admins.

Response by SSG Leonard J W. made Nov 10 at 2014 8:19 AM

2014-11-10T08:19:02-05:00

Hello, gentlemen. I also did not read the article. I must admit that I was rather put off by the headline, so there was no way that I was going to survive the load of crap beneath it. I fully agree with MAJ Dews' post. From the direct/organizational leadership level, I would never tell a Soldier that they cannot be a hero. They are doing the job that 99% of Americans would never voluntarily do. I have conversed with many civilians: friends, family, and strangers alike. Most of them have a very realistic respect for the fact that our military will fight and die for their freedom. Ask just one CEO/CFO/COO to do that, and I am sure the response would not be shocking. The wars that we are fighting are real, even if why we are there seems unclear. The terrorists that we search and destroy would attack us at home if we did not take the fight to them. They already did it on 9/11, and that wasn't the first time. So, to anyone who wears the uniform: my "hat is off" to you. To anyone who thinks they have the right to belittle what we as military members have gone through: ignorance must be bliss, and I will fight to protect it. My children have the right to not know what I've been through. However, I suggest a deeper experience before judging the book by it's cover.

Respectfully,
SSG W

Response by SSG Tim Everett made Nov 10 at 2014 8:19 AM

2014-11-10T08:19:39-05:00

Saw article URL, stopped reading at "salon.com". I tend to lean left politically on certain issues, but this is just fucking dense. About the only thing I may possibly agree on, without having read the article, is that I don't consider myself, the average soldier, to be a hero. We signed on to do a job (and some of our numbers were drafted or signed on to avoid jail time).

/run bracing_for_downvotes.exe

Response by COL Randall C. made Nov 10 at 2014 8:57 AM

2014-11-10T08:57:33-05:00

I started to read the article, but didn't get very far (the first sentence) before my 'another BS rant' detector went off. When the article opens up with "Put a man in uniform, preferably a white man, give him a gun, and Americans will worship him" I knew the article was going to be nothing but a diatribe filled with hyperbole.

I forced myself to stomach the entire article an saw (surprisingly) that there were a few points I agreed with, but he uses these points only as reactionary comments to the misinformed (at best) comment about the military. For instance, "It is undeniable that there are ... military who valiantly sacrifice themselves for the sake of others. Reviewing the research proving cruelty and mendacity ... trauma and tragedy caused by officers and soldiers .. many of them are not heroes".

His own version of "Meaning no disrespect, but ...." followed by the most offensive comments and holding out someone like Manning as a poor persecuted whistle-blower is revisionist tripe typical of his anarchists supporters.

Along the lines of what MAJ Private RallyPoint Member stated, about the only thing I can really agree on in the article is his third to last paragraph, "A social worker who commits to the care and advocacy of adults with developmental disabilities – helping them find employment, group home placement and medical care, and just treating them with love and kindness – is a hero. A hospice worker in a poor neighborhood, providing precious comfort and consolation to someone dying on the ugly edges of American healthcare, is a hero. An inner-city teacher, working hard to give essential education and meaningful affirmation to children living in neighborhoods where bullets fly and families fall apart, is a hero."

If the rant were more about the fact that there are a lot of unrecognized heroes out there, I would be in complete agreement. This comes across as another "in order to build someone up, I have to tear you down" type of article.

Response by MAJ Dallas D. made Nov 10 at 2014 9:13 AM

2014-11-10T09:13:49-05:00

To be 100% honest with you as soon as I saw it was from Salon I skipped reading it. It is what it is and it is what I would expect from them.

They love the freedom we provide while bashing those that provide it, always have and always will.

Response by CPT Richard Riley made Nov 10 at 2014 9:17 AM

2014-11-10T09:17:58-05:00

I don't have to like it, but I read the entire article. I can't say very much for the subject matter and even less about the feeble attempts to back up the comments with pseudo-fact. I'm left with the article is nothing more than an opinion and just like a few other things ... everyone has one.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2014 9:19 AM

2014-11-10T09:19:35-05:00

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member. I actually read this article and way too much of his other intellectually dishonest and completely vacuous self hating drivel vomited into our literature over so many years. Frankly, if he really hates our culture so much . . . he should go somewhere better . . . but most of the places his communist inspired ilk idolize would put a round through his brain. My sense is he wants to be provoke a national fatwa here. Warmest Regards, Sandy

http://suyts.wordpress.com/2014/11/09/its-not-the-wars-we-fought-you-moron-its-the-wars-we-didnt-have-to-salon-writer-demonstrates-his-hatred-for-armed-services-and-police/

It’s Not The Wars We Fought, You Moron, It’s The Wars We Didn’t Have To ---- Salon Writer...

So, Salon writer DAVID MASCIOTRA wrote this atrocious article. You don’t protect my freedom: Our childish insistence on calling soldiers heroes deadens real democracy It's been 70 year...

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2014 9:46 AM

2014-11-10T09:46:51-05:00

Publishing this article two days before Veterans Day shows a definite lack of class and taste, but that is no doubt what the author was going for. Journalism, less than even politics, is a profession largely vacant of morals and professionalism.

With that said, I will play the devil's advocate. MAJ Private RallyPoint Member, I agree with most of the things you share on RallyPoint, but volunteering for a low-paying job that make injury likely and separation certain does not make a hero. I think the author overstates the "epidemic" of sexual crimes in the military "dungeon," but a rapist, and we have many of them, is not a hero despite any redeeming qualities.

Is "hero worship" damaging to us? Maybe. We are supposed to be silent professionals, not praise-needy toddlers. And many of us are profesional. What is damaging is that occasional shout-outs from POTUS and other appointed and elected officials do not fix the mental health crisis we have, or the unemployment problem, or the sexual assault problem. Where the author goes wrong is that Veterans Day is not "hero worship." Is Black History Month "African-American worship"?

My point on this tired topic has always been this; we should accept the thanks and appreciation we are given, but we should never expect it. We ought not ask for it, but neither are we asking to be criticized for our service. People who think they understand should join. Wouldn't that be great investigative journalism?

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2014 9:58 AM

2014-11-10T09:58:04-05:00

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member, unfortunately that is how the mouth pieces and leaders of the "progressive" ideology think. Even hillary said in the debates she identified as progressive. It is political and always makes me feel frustrated or angry when I see people who identify as the "classical" definition of liberal follow those people.

The D party leadership was hijacked by those people just like the RINOs hijacked the tea-party movement. All it takes is for people to open their eyes to see that their leadership nor media represent them. When I listened to what they were saying about the opposing party, I agreed with them without question, self identifying as the opposition.

I've learned it's a game of paradigms, if you don't agree with them, you are one of us. It's only a game and they (D and R Leadership) have mastered the con. Have you ever researched the Delphi Technique/Method?

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Nov 10 at 2014 10:03 AM

2014-11-10T10:03:47-05:00

From reading the article, it seemed an attempt by a white guy (the author of the article was the one who brought race into the discussion) to undercut other white guys that he thinks are intellectually inferior to him but which he considered culturally superior. Mr. Masciotra seemed to be pouring out his own self-loathing and white guilt in the guise of an edgy article.
We don’t protect his freedom, but he was able to publish this rag and was not dragged out of his bed in the middle of the night and executed...either by a military junta or Islamic extremists…because someone was protecting his freedom. Not sure when, if ever, there has been an insistence on calling soldiers heroes, but it has not been during my lifetime? While people do call people who do heroic things heroes and some people may consider a person, regardless of color or gender, who risks their life and limb to protect their rights and freedoms a hero (something I consider heroic) there is no insistence in our culture that this be done.
As to the rest of the article, David we go where we are ordered you giant douchebag. We do not get to decide, which is why people who know what they are talking about think this selfless sacrifice is heroic. You do not make yourself heroic by trying to drag down the actions of others.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Nov 10 at 2014 10:14 AM

2014-11-10T10:14:00-05:00

Loving our country, our freedom, our warriors, our cops, our firemen....those who run toward the sound of gunfire....those who willingly risk their ass to save others....If that offends you, the beauty of freedom is that you are free to leave.

Go move to some other country where freedom to do pretty much anything you like is a pipe dream and get back to me.

Response by SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS made Nov 10 at 2014 10:15 AM

2014-11-10T10:15:03-05:00

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member Sir, I agree this author is misinformed and much more than rather offensive. While I pride myself on wearing the uniform of our military for over 23 years to protect our freedoms, there are times when freedom of speech should be more well thought out. My brothers and sisters have been dying since 1775 for our country, its ideals, and in support of what our elected leaders have decided. While I see the voracity in having a thought provoking discussion on the implications of the Global War on Terror and other conflicts of the 20th and 21st century, I do not abide anyone tarnishing the deaths of my brothers and sisters through baseless and brooding commentary. He seems to group all Soldiers and law enforcement into either the bad category or the worse category only recognizing a single overt act of heroism as being heroic. Contrary to this, I suggest a moment of service to our country is noble and worthy of recognizing someone as a hero. Just as I would honor teachers, medical professionals, law enforcement, and fire fighters as heroes, we should honor American service members whose choose to serve and continue to serve in our military. Protecting America's interests at home and abroad and keeping our wars out of the borders of the US seems like a win and or success to me and not a failure.

In this instance, based on his shameful commentary and since he has not walked a mile in our boots, let him pick up a rifle, travel to Afghanistan or Iraq, take up a post, and see if then the brothers and sisters he serves with are not "heroes." I know everyone I served with is.

Response by PO3 Brendan "Smitty" Smith made Nov 10 at 2014 10:25 AM

2014-11-10T10:25:33-05:00

I got as far as, "Put a man in uniform, preferably a white man, give him a gun..." and stopped reading. So, the author starts the article by ignoring every woman (14.6% of the armed forces) and every man of non-Caucasian origin (30.3% of the armed forces). I guess because it doesn't fit his narrative of angry white man with gun.

Skimming down the article I see the sentence, "No American freedom is currently at stake in Afghanistan." Really? Last time I checked, Afghanistan was full of the Taliban, who support groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS. Groups whose stated goal is the destruction of the American way of life. To kill or convert everyone to Islam. If left unchecked by the U.S. Military, what do you think these groups will do?

This person is a moron.

Response by Cpl Christopher Allen-Shinn made Nov 10 at 2014 11:02 AM

2014-11-10T11:02:24-05:00

His best points were about the VA, and the hollow support provided to it by some of the same politicians who rush to call service members heroes. Some good points were made about incidents of police brutality and military sexual assaults, but these criminal acts seemed to be overgeneralized in service of delegitimatizing the service given by most veterans & cops. The overall tone of the article was far too radical for my taste. We're far from the totalitarian / fascist state bolstered by unquestioned militarism that the article's author seems to see as the looming future of the United States. Overall, MAJ Private RallyPoint Member, I'd have to say that I disliked it.

Response by SSG Genaro Negrete made Nov 10 at 2014 11:14 AM

2014-11-10T11:14:18-05:00

I made it through the article. I'll take some aspirin for the throbbing in my head after I finish this reply.

The man speaks at length about something he doesn't know or understand. It's his right to do so. When, however, he quotes "facts" from a 12 year old study, it gets harder and harder for me to give him the benefit of the doubt.

In ten years of service, I never once felt heroic. Scared shitless, excited, nervous, exhausted, content, happy, but never heroic. It never feels right to hear the word used in my direction. I know a few soldiers who's actions I would say are heroic.

It's easy to take incidents out of context and warp them to suit once's own argument. Military service, like the men and women to partake in it, cannot be summed up in one word. I will gladly shake the hand of any man or woman that has taken the time out of their lives to wear the uniform.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2014 11:33 AM

2014-11-10T11:33:46-05:00

After reading the article I found it hard to follow. Starting with the very inflammatory comment "Put a man in uniform, preferably a white man, give him a gun, and Americans will worship him." this article quickly loses credibility. This individual goes on about how service men are committing atrocities as well as Law Enforcement to peaceful peoples who do not deserve this treatment. The reference to Michael Brown, which the autopsy has revealed was assaulting the officer at the time the shooting, as an innocent victim gunned down by maniacal cops shows this person's lack of comprehension for facts and truth. Though I quickly became biased against this individual's continued mis-informed tirade about imperialism and nation building, I get tripped up when the conversation turns to making sure all Veterans receive adequate health care and have their needs addressed. In all there was not enough real and factual argument to sway my first opinion that this person is a minion. Regurgitating filth without having the courtesy of providing relevant facts.

Response by PO3 John Jeter made Nov 10 at 2014 11:57 AM

2014-11-10T11:57:47-05:00

The man writes about what he's never experienced or defended. He sits in a chair, looking out through tinted windows making judgements on subjects, knowledge of which he has gained through reading stories from others who may or may not have real life experience. I have wasted too much time reading his drivel once. It won't happen again.

Personally I believe his parents should be prosecuted for crimes against humanity......

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2014 11:59 AM

2014-11-10T11:59:45-05:00

When I first saw the title of the article, I was upset. I hate all the military bashing from those who have no insight about what really goes on within the ranks.

However, when I finished this article, I was very disheartened. To John Q Civilian, if I am walking down the street, they may see a hero, or a sex offender. Like the article says, sex offenders in the ranks are everywhere. Videos are regularly leaked of Service Members doing some of the most depraved things. As those who are supposed to uphold the ideals of America, are we really doing that? We are obviously not all like this, but the fact that people like that still exist in the ranks will continue to change the civilian perspective of us; for the worse, no less.

Do you want the military to regain the privilege (yes, privilege) of being honored by the citizens of the USA? Start fixing the problems in the ranks.

Response by SPC James Mcneil made Nov 10 at 2014 2:29 PM

2014-11-10T14:29:07-05:00

It's an editorial, and it's a poorly written one. When it starts out with an obvious racist remark (Put a man in uniform, preferably a white man, give him a gun...) it shows me that the writer has an ax to grind and does not care who he offends in the process.

Oddly enough I'm not offended. It takes more than a blatant lie like that to offend me.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2014 6:37 PM

2014-11-10T18:37:47-05:00

I saw this on the "This Ain't Hell" blog. Let's stop feeding the attention - - - - -s so they'll hopefully go away.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2014 8:26 PM

2014-11-10T20:26:48-05:00

This sums it all up right here (see image). My OCS buddy is honoring Veteran's Day by posting about all of the service members who have died in the last few months. See his post, see my comment, and see what one of his random civilian friends wrote. BLUF: they don't get it and aren't really even paying any attention.

A civilian friend of mine posted this Salon article on FB and said he has silently felt this way for years. Several of his friends posted comments in concurrence (actually, there was no dissent). This is a person who also has posted about his disagreement with US drone strikes and his support of a mosque at Ground Zero. This time, I'm not taking the bait. I'm exhausted. I know in my heart that his motive is that he is a coward and feels the need to down play those who contribute more than he could ever hope to. I don't need to defend us and other first responders. None of us need his approval.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2014 9:19 PM

2014-11-10T21:19:21-05:00

In some very rare spots in that article, are buried some good points that I will agree with; crying shame that these [already heavily discussed] points got lost in such insidious vitriol that ruins everything.

Of course not *everyone in the military or paramilitary are true heroes, and of course that's not to say that no heroes exist among either population - the truth is somewhere in between. Of course not *all heroes even wear a uniform, for that matter. The author sure has a verbose way of regurgitating these stupidly obvious facts.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2014 11:34 PM

2014-11-10T23:34:27-05:00

I read that Montel Williams called this fool out on Twitter and the guy ended up deleting his account rather than just apologize. Coward.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 11 at 2014 5:52 PM

2014-11-11T17:52:57-05:00

I want to know what sources the author used. "According to the Pentagon..." doesn't quite cut it for me anymore. What department? Who gave the information?

"Chelsea Manning, now serving time in prison as a whistle-blower, uncovered multiple incidents of fellow soldiers laughing as they murdered civilians." Who were the "fellow soldiers"?

This author has no credibility. He lost me in his first sentence, "Put a man in uniform, preferably a white man..." Again with the infamous "race card."

I am so tired of seeing it these days. It's disappointing that this country has become so divided over race in the past few years. I am not sure I recognize my country as the one I grew up in anymore. Very sad.

Response by PO3 Heather Brown made Nov 11 at 2014 11:19 PM

2014-11-11T23:19:33-05:00

I read this today, on Veterans Day of all days... I was so outraged that I could not even read it all. I and completely offended by this!!!

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2014 7:53 AM

2014-11-13T07:53:02-05:00

The primary failing of the author of this article is an inability to grasp the concept and function of the chain of command. It seems to stem from a general lack of respect for authority figures based on his idolization of protesters.

We are not considered heroes because we stand back and weigh a given cause or event before deciding if it is worthy of our participation.

We are called heroes because we sign the contract and swear the oath; saying, "I am willing to fight and die for the Constitution, Nation, and my fellow Citizens. And I will obey orders."

If it was so easy to give up personal freedoms and choice, and go fight and die at someone else's discretion then everyone would be doing it.

That author can get back to the military community when he can demonstrate an understanding of what it truly means to obey superiors.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Dec 14 at 2014 8:06 PM

2014-12-14T20:06:32-05:00

His work of self delusional fiction is not worthy or an emotional response.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2014 11:22 AM

2014-12-15T11:22:07-05:00

Why be offended by someone that doesn't matter? It's like being offended that the wind blew in the next town over....

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 22 at 2015 2:00 PM

2015-03-22T14:00:57-04:00

In our circles, this article simply couldn't go over well. It directly counters the massively inflated sense of ego and entitlement that pervades the modern military, and to phrase it like a parent, every little boy and girl wants to feel special...

Response by PO2 Colleen Wagley made Mar 22 at 2015 5:10 PM

2015-03-22T17:10:34-04:00

Obviously anyone who thinks that our troops are not heros are misinformed and/or stupid.

Response by SGT Tyler G. made Mar 23 at 2015 3:46 AM

2015-03-23T03:46:08-04:00

The article is indeed very poorly worded, which is a shame because there is an important message buried deep inside. That being that we do need to be critical of both our military and our police, in order to keep us held to the highest standard. It also touches on the dangers of nationalism that comes from compulsory hero worship, which is an important subject. But once again, it is sadly lost beneath the poor and inflammatory writing.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 17 at 2015 7:07 PM

2015-04-17T19:07:00-04:00

The author is guilty of creating a logical fallacy. The fact that other citizens do heroic things does not diminish the achievements of others. I make it a point to go out of my way to thank teachers (particularly who work in rough schools), social workers, public attorneys, medical providers who work with the poor... really anyone who seeks helping others over their own financial enrichment. They are all heros. Everyone does not need to be a soldier but recognizing those who risk their lives attempting to defend freedom is not a bad thing.