As another "holiday" weekend draws to a close, Americans have again been bombarded with exhortations to thank the U.S. military establishment for their supposed freedom. This theme pervades all aspects of American culture. Uniformed military personnel are granted privileges on airlines, discounts at restaurants, hotels, and other business establishments. This past summer, I attended my daughter's dance recital at the Tampa Performing Arts Center. At the midpoint of the performance, men in uniform were rolled out onto the stage and a long tribute followed, including patriotic-sounding music and a special dance routine, with a pair of army boots spotlighted at the front of the stage. The militarization of American culture is inescapable. That no one seems to recognize the similarity between this cultural worship of the military and the same by another militarized society of not so long ago is truly horrifying.
It may not be fashionable to say so, but I am sick and tired of being told to thank the military. The idea that thanks is owed grows out of the inability of most Americans to recognize simple cause and effect relationships. As I've said before, Americans seem to be unwilling to ask themselves the most basic questions about precisely how U.S. wars have made them freer. What are the specific results that the U.S. military has either achieved or prevented in the past 70 years that have led to this supposed increase in freedom? How would we be less free if the U.S. government did not fight one or more of those wars? While I have dealt with this at length before, let me summarize briefly:
- U.S. citizens are not freer because the U.S. military invaded Korea.
- U.S. citizens are not freer because the U.S. military invaded Viet Nam.
- U.S. citizens are not freer because the U.S. military invaded Grenada (does anyone really take this one seriously?).
- U.S. citizens are not freer because the U.S. military invaded Somalia.
- U.S. citizens are not freer because the U.S. military invaded Kuwait.
- U.S. citizens are not freer because the U.S. military invaded Iraq.
- U.S. citizens are not freer because the U.S. military invaded Afghanistan.