I’ve been thinking about this amped up conservative rhetoric that liberals and leftists hate America. We all know that’s BS. Right? Except it’s not, and we should respond to it for what it is.
“I love an America I grew up in. I love an America I believe in, that I lived most of my life in. Now, the idea of America that you’re fighting and “winning” for is killing that America I live in, that I love. So you’re right. I hate what you imagine America to be… because it is trying to murder the America that I love. And I don’t use the word “murder” lightly, and I apply it to you. And if that means to you that I hate America… then you’re right! The America you believe in isn’t lovable.”
That’s all.
I love America. I joined the army to serve. … Well, if I’m being honest I joined for the GI Bill and vocational training, but I wouldn’t have if I didn’t believe in and love my country.
But sometimes love means having to stage an intervention when the object of your love is on a self-destructive path. And fuck, are we ever. Self destructive because we are embracing hate of everything that made this country great to begin with.
I love what this country has achieved, but now it’s run by entitled pricks who never had to bear the cost of that greatness. And so, painfully and wasteful, we will have to shoulder the burden of becoming great again. Really great, not the MAGA/Temu version.
But I love America enough to be part of that process.
How does it feel to have helped been a part of an effort to blow browns up in foreign lands for vocational training? Was it worth it to help your fellow soldiers invade another country and murder hundreds of people? What war did you fight in? Can you sleep at night? Fascist piece of shit.
Nothing I did supported any effort like that. The things I worked on might have helped to reduce the mines in brown or foreign lands though.
The world isn’t black and white. To participate in any society is to participate in things you disagree with. If I manufactured car engines or computer chips I’d have contributed more to those efforts. The important thing is I fight to change the parts I disagree with.
I never deployed so none.
Like a baby.
Said to someone who has said, “I am antifa, come at me bro.”
Welp, people gonna people.
Yeah you are a fascist because you are currently proud of joining a fascist genocidal army to help with its continued existence. The mines were probably in the ground in the first place because of your shit hole country and the army your proudly served in either directly or indirectly causing the conflict. If you truly want to be anti fascist you need to come to terms with this and the fact that your country is an evil genocidal settler nation, and then decide what to do from there. One things for sure you definitely won’t be so proud about “serving” anymore.
I can love my country and want it to be better. I can be proud to serve my people and fight for better leadership.
You served your ruling class and shareholders by helping clean the floors of the SS headquarters. You fought for suffering and genocide in the third world.
Every time the violence of the American empire is turned inwards (unless it’s only on marginalized people), its privileged citizens say it’s not who they are and liken it to Russia, or China, or whoever the enemy of the day is. What do you think you participated in as a soldier? This IS America, you’re just part of the group that experiences it this time - and it would have to become much worse than it is now to be a fraction of what black people (or indigenous people, or many other groups) have experienced in your own country or Iraqi people have experienced at the hands of your soldiers and sanctions.
You imagine I thought America was wonderful before Trump? No. I love America and will fight to make it better, not because I’m suddenly shocked to discover it’s not what I always thought it was, but because I’ve always fought for it to be better.
Mostly, cleaning things.
This is a weak deflection. You were part of a system whose purpose is to destroy the lives people around the world who might harm US hegemony. Some members of the British navy at the height of their colonial power only cleaned warehouses, they still maintained a system that enslaved and massacred hundreds of millions. You should be ashamed of having been an American soldier, not proud to have served your country.
Hmm… sorry, no. I was no more a part of that situation than any other citizen. And I’m not ashamed in the least. Not. In. The. Least.
Other than being part of the army, lmao. Didn’t know all of the citizens of the US served in the military, you learn something new every day.
“I’m not ashamed I contributed to and participated in the oppression and domination of most of the world” is not the good reply you think it is. The American military just weeks ago finished helping Israel strike their neighbors to allow them to more easily continue their genocide. Rethink your pride.
I had literally nothing to do with that. I haven’t been in the army in almost 30 years. But also, oppression and domination isn’t all the army does. Or even mostly. I fixed mine detectors, and mines are a particularly horrific form of warfare, particularly to civilians. And you have the whole corps of engineers. Plenty of jobs in the army are just jobs.
But insofar as I was part of the big stick that enabled speaking softly to succeed, yeah I’m proud of that.
…
“I was proud to be part of the vast apparatus of violence that America threatens everyone with to get their way”
If it means diplomacy over war? Yep.
“Speak softly and carry a big stick” is a reference to Teddy Roosevelt and his military-backed coups, invasions, and threats to control and disrupt Caribbean, Central American, and South American countries and people. Teddy Roosevelt himself was deeply racist and did his best to finalize anti-indigenous American genocide campaigns.
The kind of things you helped with, just not written about correctly in the history books yet.
So, which wars did you assist by “cleaning”?
For a brief shining second I thought you had said “not proud”. Was Fallujah “speaking softly”?
Voted against that administration.
“Listen I wasn’t the one doing the oppression! I was just fixing stuff used to oppress people.” Is not exactly a flex homie
Ah yes. Mine detectors. A famously oppressive tool.
This is quite possibly the dumbest thing I’ve ever read, so congrats on that
You need to read more. Fuck, I’ve said dumber things than that.
Hitler’s chauffeur: “I only drove a car”.
I’m imagining “God Bless the U.S.A.” playing over a supercut of foreign and domestic state violence over the last 50 years, while you stand saluting the flag waving over millions of corpses.
I mean I can’t stand religion so I’d hate that for completely different reasons.
Just imagine a “good patriotic” song that you enjoy then, doesn’t change anything else though.
I’m not really what would traditionally be considered a patriot. Look I don’t know what you hexbears are trying to do here, but I really don’t think it’s working. I, at least, am left with the impression you have more rage than good sense. Good luck with your hate. I’m not really about that.
being proud of global empire is not exactly peaceful intent, but I guess you don’t really care
What is more hateful, you being proud to have served in a genocidal fascist force of white supremacy, or pointing out that you have done so?
I’m proud of serving my country. I’m also proud to fight to make it better because we have a long way to go. That’s what we do. I kinda hope everyone in every country is fighting to make it better.
Disgusting. Your first sentence negates the rest.
By serving your country you contributed to genocide and hate crimes. That is not something to be proud of.