This country seems to have this love affair with the military….we trust them way more than we tryst the president or the Congress…..
Our history illustrates just how deep our love affair goes with the military…
When it comes to war, less is more.
Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Martin Dempsey had genuine scholarly and combat bona fides. But consider him and a few others the exceptions that prove the rule. Which is why civilian control of the military, and of the policymaking process that goes with military action, is not just a constitutional imperative but desirable for thoroughly practical reasons. Which, in turn, is why the makeup of the current administration — with an unprecedented number of generals in key positions — raises some serious questions.
And yet the problem is so much bigger than that. Somehow — and this should be truly unnerving — Americans have gotten to a place where, it seems, they trust only soldiers. In June 2016, for instance, a Gallup poll found that 73% of Americans had “quite a lot” of confidence in the military, versus 36% for the presidency and 6% for Congress. Such disparities ought to inspire distress about the direction of our public institutions, but rarely do.
Source: The Hazards of Military Worship
A small dose of history can cure a lot of stupid.
Reblogged this on The Militant Negro™.
Trust in the military remains the same because their standards never change – yet politicians are a dime a dozen.
The military gives us pride, honor, and a wish to defend. A sense of purpose, order, and belief in chain of command but it also gives a large amount of belief in war. A small dose of history can cure a lot of stupid only if taken to heart. ~~dru~~
dru…that is why I teach conflict management and resolution…..there are better ways….chuq
Since the tendency to worship one’s military arises from a sense of nationalism, three thoughts occurred to me, beginning with the old saw about how, when given a hammer, most young humans regard everything as a nail….
As I’ve iterated in the past, I have come to believe any nationalism is a mistake, for it inevitably leads to conflict, due to the concomitant need to create a hierarchy of prejudices against ‘others’. I think Albert Einstein said it best with his statements,
“The man who enjoys marching in line and file to the strains of music falls below my contempt; he received his great brain by mistake.” — Albert Einstein
“Nationalism is an infantile sickness. It is the measles of the human race.: — Albert Einstein
It’s time for the human race to grow up…..
gigoid, the dubious
But the question is….is society ready to grow up? chuq
To answer most simply, no, it is not…. Hence our steady approach to self-immolation…. Homo idioticus, would perhaps be more accurate…
agreed….chuq
Adoration of the military, and placing high-ranking officers in positions of power in government. That sounds like the recipe for a coup to me.
Best wishes, Pete.
Me too and I have written about that possibility before…..chuq