If my cellphone ever goes off at a military funeral, I might as well go ahead and answer it. Because if I repeat some mindless pap afterwards about guns, God, and country that will evidently make everything all right.
Your issue is with the government, not the soldiers. They are ordered to do a job, whether they like it or agree with it is not taken into account. 'not going' as you suggest is considered desertion and is an offense punishable by court-martial and imprisonment. Dishonorably discharged soldiers have a status similar to convicted felons in many states. "Not going" is not an option.
Yes it is. Lemmie present a couple cases to you.
Solider number one thinks to himself, "man, this war is bullshit, I don't agree with a goddamn thing we are doing here, but I'm gonna keep up with it because that's my job and what I've been ordered to do."
Many people die as a result. Some of whom had no part in this fight.
Solider number two says "man, this war is bullshit, I could no longer live with myself if I continue to carry out orders that are contrary to fundamental principles of humanity. Although it entails a great personal sacrifice, I shall no longer enable this unjust war, because some principles are more important than any individual. Although it may cost me my standing in society, I will no longer take part in the madness."
Which one of these people is the more courageous? The more honorable? The answer is obvious, but if you need a hint, going along to get along is rarely a sign of courage.
Why the misdirected anger? The vast majority of military personnel I have known choose the career because of the pay cheque.
* Smacking forehead* that's exactly why I am so angry at them.
"Hey, go kill that guy and I'll pay for your college tuition"
That's honorable? Really? Because if it is I will happily choose the path of dishonor.
I'm curious as to whether you would apply these same arguments to the soldiers who carried out the Tienanmen Square massacre or the policeman who broke up the Iranian Green Revolution of 2009. I hope you wouldn't. Repression is repression, injustice is injustice, and those who carry it out are wrong. The wars being fought in our name are unjust, and those carrying them out should not be supported.
Having said that though, there really are times you should let the call go to voice mail.
26 comments:
Achtung! Follow orders!!
Once again you nail it. For every loud-mouthed small-minded jerk who is offended by your position there are a thousand of us who quietly agree. And we're smart enough NOT to join the military.
“The less secure a man is, the more likely he is to have extreme prejudices.”
Clint Eastwood
the argument that "they don't have a choice" is about the most hilarious thing i've heard in a long time. as was stated above, every soldier has plenty of choice; they have the choice to not become a soldier. to me, it's not very much different than saying you hate mcdonalds but support the people that work there.
Yeah, the touchy, feely, sensitive stuff is great and it all makes complete sense. After all, if we refuse to fight, we'll have peace, right?
Well, maybe you should have thought of that before you joined the army. You could have written into your contract that in the event of disagreeable war you could reimburse the government for all expenses incurred in paying, training, feeding, clothing, housing and entertaining you for whatever period of time you were under their care and that would get you out of your commitment to kill the enemy. Hoorah.
As far as what's right or wrong, the winners write the history books.
The part in your equation that's missing is indoctrination... Many of them are kids, and they are given a hard sell. I'm not saying it's right. Not many people tell them the truth, especially while they are there. It's a nasty atmosphere and it's not a crash course in ethics they're getting. Sigh. George Bush & Dick Chaney. Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin? Yeah.
Was1... As someone who literally supports one troop who is state-side reserve after serving in Iraq: Bullshit that there is a debt owed to the US government either way... They've done him no favors... they treat soldiers & veterans like dogs after they've sucked them in and brainwashed them. Seen the suicide figures?
I agree 100% I was engaged but broke it off when my fiancee decided to join the Marines. Although I loved him dearly, that choice was a deal breaker for me. I just could not be with someone who was willing to kill for some college money. And this was BEFORE 9/11 and all the subsequent bullshit. Thank you Drugmonkey, for being brave enough to voice such an unpopular but important opinion.
Food for thought:
Pharmacist No. 1 sees an uninsured patient/customer who has a prescription for a drug that will keep her alive but costs $1000.00 per month. She cannot afford this. He sends her on her way. She dies shortly thereafter.
Pharmacist No. 2 sees a similar patient/customer who has a prescription for a drug that will keep her alive but similarly costs $1000.00 per month. She cannot afford this. He says, "Man, this is bullshit. I could no longer live with myself if I continue to allow these pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies to rip people off like this for money. Although it may cost me my standing in society, I will no longer take part in the madness." He gives her the medications she needs to continue to live.
Which one of these people is the more courageous? The more honorable?
We are fans, DrugMonkey. Bought several of your books. And while I appreciate and to a lesser extent agree with what you wrote, your anger at individual troops would be better directed at our cowardly, greedy politicians.
No doubt we have a long history of abusing our military..the latest father son psycho-drama no exception but please "Achtung follow orders"? WW-II Germans? I can't think of another "profession" that hops faster..follows more orders..is subservient to the average office girl and all for that big pay-check. The average Rph would last 5 seconds in a face off with the average Sgt. in courage..leadership..motivation..confidence...(special ops? forget it) and all for that small pay-check. Have 911 loaded in the cellular..car alarm on and doors locked...someone will come running for you
L. Garrou
Merry Christmas! Got your book! ; )
I agree, people who join the military just to get a paycheck are doing a great disservice, both to themselves and the military, not to mention the people they may need to fight someday. There's a reason we have a military, and that's to defend the country, and sometimes that means killing other human beings; sometimes, it means killing them face-to-face. If you can't handle that reality, then you should never have become a soldier in the first place.
On the other hand, once you join, you swear an oath to defend this country against all enemies. It's not for you to decide who the enemy is, at that point, but rather to let someone else (namely the president of the United States, your Commander-in-Chief) tell you who that enemy is. If you disagree with him, too-frickin'-bad. You should have thought of that before you enlisted. Your oath means you may need to be personally responsible for one or one million human beings dying some day; there is no oath that matters more.
As for whether this particular war is just or unjust, forget it. Both Presidents Bush and Obama have perpetuated it, so that pretty much rules out partisan blindness; apparently, they both know something about the "enemy" that we don't, which is one of those things soldiers are supposed to take on faith. If a president (two presidents, in this case) orders you to kill someone, and you don't do it, then you are guilty of far more than just breaking a promise; you have just betrayed the entire country you swore to defend. The military doesn't send deserters to prison over hurt feelings; they send them there for placing the country in danger. When you order someone to lay down his life (or someone else's) for America, you can't be constantly thinking to yourself "Is he going to do it?"
NJames nailed it. I too enjoy your blog and liked most of your book, but I find your political postings pretty annoying. I'm not offended by them, it's just not what I come here for. It's your blog and you can write whatever your simian heart desires. But if you stray too far off topic, I'd bet that many of your regular viewers begin to stray. And where will that leave you in the next pharmablog study?
Craig,
It pisses me off how it is that you can read here for any length of time and think that politics has absolutely nothing to do with DrugMonkey's work .
From Big Pharma Lobbyists to "please sign for codeine here", politics (a lot of it bs) has everything to do with his work and is far from off-topic.
As for where that will put him in the next pharm-blog study, I honestly don't think he gives a shit.
I recently dated a nice Marine, opposed to the war. Hmm, strange. So, the gov't paid for undergrad, is currently putting him through grad school, paid for his flight training, etc & at EVERY single major step in his career, he has had the option to get out or go on the take in exchange for benefits. I believe for completing grad school, he'll owe 6 more years of military service. He's retirement eligible. I had to ask, why? His answer? $1M retirement. What a fucking sellout.
DrugMonkey's work...? Is he now some sort of Artist? Yes, there is some politics inextricably intertwined with healthcare. Politics determines the way healthcare is delivered (or not) in this country. In the end, politics has a major impact on how we do anything. Lobbyists and the implementation of the controlled substances act have a major bearing on the practice of pharmacy. The reflections on the current wars and encouraging soldiers' insubordination.... not so much.
And where did I say the politics has nothing to do with pharma? Learn how to read.
Craig said>: ...I find your political postings pretty annoying. I'm not offended by them, it's just not what I come here for. It's your blog and you can write whatever your simian heart desires. But if you stray too far off topic, I'd bet that many of your regular viewers begin to stray
(Takes a deep breath before pimp slapping the piss out of Craig.)
If I had said "The Works of the Artist formerly known as DrugMonkey" then yes, I could see how you could construe my statement as describing his employ as artistry. However I said "his work" which means his job as a Pharmacy and all things related. Get the stick outcha butt.
Look dude: Reading your quote it seems to me that you're saying politics is "off topic" and that Drug Monkey should strictly stick to posting about Pharmacy related material.
It also seems to me that you're saying any political views Drugmonkey may have that aren't related to Pharmacy are also off topic.
That may not be what you "meant" but it certainly appears to be what you said.
And I patently disagree. I find DrugMonkey's political views, pharmacy related or no, to be a driving factor in how he views, not only his work (ie. profession) but particularly the American political scene and I, for one, enjoy reading what he has to say.
Then by all means, read on. And you don't have to get all snippy. It's not my fault your reading comprehension is below par...
There is nothing wrong with my reading comprehension. I did however type the word 'Pharmacy' rather than "Pharmacist" earlier but I will chalk that up to rapid typing due to pisstivity.
But by all means, please explain how I misconstrued your saying that "political" posts here are off topic as meaning exactly that, rather than insulting me as lacking reading comprehension skills.
I'm sorry, but you're a pharmacist. That means that you're intelligent enough and good enough at school to get a degree for a career that actually pays something, and you currently make enough money that you probably have never felt you had to choose a shitty job or food stamps.
The military is literally the BEST option for young men who have few options, who did poorly in school and come from a poor background and have nothing, really, to recommend them. As intelligent, educated people who learned well in school you and I can go to college, get a degree, and hopefully do something better than shoot people in the desert. These guys have to choose between the military-- great benefits, decent pay, opportunities for raises and promotions, free job training and a HUGE resume boost when they get out-- or spending 10 years working shit retail seasonal jobs, unemployed on welfare, or something like nurse assisting (shitty jobs with no prospects where instead of just shooting people they have to deal with the people who a merciful person would kill). They don't know about the consequences, the PTSD and shit treatment they get when they sign up. They look at the military and see a chance to actually get out of their crap cattle towns and not die at 35 because they have no insurance in their $7.25/hr retail job.
You are privileged, Drugmonkey, not because you are white or male or whatever, but because you are SMART. Are you really telling me you hold it against a person to choose a job that we are all told is AWESOME and GREAT and RIGHTEOUS over dying of diabetes in some cattle town in their mother's basement because there is no economy there and they can't leave? And remember, once they are in the military and realize what they're doing, they CAN'T leave. It's not a job you just quit, not in the middle of the war when you signed up for a tour.
Please consider what the alternative is for the average soldier-- it's not "military or another career" it's "military or NO career, NO future." That's powerful coercion on the part of the government-- they take advantage of young men who are desperate.
"The military is literally the BEST option for young men who have few options, who did poorly in school and come from a poor background and have nothing."
Yeah -- this is who I want defending MY country... people too stupid to get into college, and scumbags so poor that they qualify for food stamps. I feel safe now!
There's more than one kind of "smart" and anyone of intelligence should know this. The scholarly life of books is not for everyone and there's definitely more than one way to learn.
Hey, dumbass, I'm on food stamps. Because I just graduated college, the economy sucks, and my partner is severely disabled so I can't risk taking a slightly better paying job without benefits. I also know a lot of scumbags who ARE poor but DON'T get food stamps because to get food stamps you have to be honest and respectful to the office (or have it for your kids) and show that you're trying to get a better job (though apparently my few hundred resumes a week is overkill?).
The military, ground work anyway, does not require you understand calculus. It does not require straight A's and the ability to memorize facts by rote. It requires, however, a degree of street smarts and common sense that one does not always find in college graduates. It accepts people who had a rough home life and couldn't study, who had a learning disability that was never diagnosed but would have been easy to get around if it had, whose parents discouraged good grades, who had to work full-time in high school and maybe even middle school in addition to class and had no time to work. Good grades in high school are NOT indicative of intelligence or competency and the things they ARE indicative of (rote memorization, supportive home life, time to work on homework) are not needed to succeed in the military and get out of it both intact and with as few deaths as possible.
Seriosuly, Drugmonkey, for someone who blogs so much about how the country is screwing the hard-working young poor in favor of the shitty stupid drug-addicted poor and the elderly poor, you sure missed this one huge massive way that the government screws over poor young men and women who are desperate.
Wow. Mike. Everyone.
I'm sooo happy DM has moved on to a different topic. I have too, really. Just...
These comments and other observations of people on both side of the counter seem to show that a college degree doesn't equal compassion or ethics any more than being frontline military equals stupidity.
Kathleen, you were dating a con. He'll be thinking of himself first no matter what...
Mike, seriously? "EVERYONE is disabled these days -- including every 19-year-old, with shiny new Medicare Part D card in hand..." Did you get your degree at Asshat U? I wonder how many 19 year olds who were trying to decide between McDonald's/community college or "what the recruiter said" joined the military based largely on your condescending sneer and the 70 year old Medicare B fart with a pension and a the latest Glenn Beck book who was stuck in line behind them while they counted out change muttered "get a job..."
The poor disadvantged and wrong color argument worked when there was a draft. In the Vietnam war these were the people they used as cannon fodder who didn't have a choice as to whether they went.
Now it's all volunteer so there has to be a thought process of what's in it for me.
We didn't invade Irag when Saddam killed the Kurds en masse...I guess that just a simple internal matter so it was hands off.
WMD and of course oil were the real moral principles that counted.
We have a society that perpetually preys upon the poor. They are under-educated, intellectually and morally mistreated, and conditioned to believe a corrupt system is acceptable since it offers them a means of advancement. I don't think the war(s) is(are) right, but I don't think it's appropriate to put blame upon the people who have been born in a society that provides this as essentially the only means of upward mobility. Not all the soldiers fit this rubric, of course, but it's undeniable that the current system makes military service exceptionally attractive to the economically and socially disadvantaged.
I'm fortunate enough to have a boring "regular" job, but if I try to imagine myself in the position many recruits find themselves in, I think my response to you would be this: "Who are you to tell me I can't work to start a family, or get an education? I've got no other options, who are you to tell me to stay poor and miserable in the furtherance of your morality?"
It's easy to condemn selfishness when you're not in a position that effectively prohibits selflessness.
I am mixed on this... but I will say that the number of friends I have in the Army went solely because they saw no other way out of a shit life. They pay for school. If I wasn't a total wuss I might have considered it. Trying to get through college with the issue of not being able to afford it is a total bitch. I could have served four years and finished school by now. But I'm still stuck 3/4 of the way through my Bachelor with a Masters (at least) still to come.
It really effing sucks. I'm closer to 30 than I am 20 and still working poorly paid jobs. Trust me, I'm no idiot. I just can't afford it. The longer this takes me the more that decision seems like an okay idea.
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