Vietnam War Veterans, Marijuana, US Soldiers’ Military Discipline Are These Related?
Question by Mary Magdalene is my mom: Vietnam War Veterans, Marijuana, US soldiers’ military discipline are these related?
I received a mail from a Vietnam War Veteran:
“Two US marines raped a Filipina[sic] in the Philippines. Is that military discipline?”
It looks like I need to explain myself … and you sounded so bright at first.
Statement 1: Two US marines raped a Filipina[sic] in the Philippines.
Statement 2: Is that military discipline?
Please tell me how how these two statements are related.
Please tell me how there is a logical progression from Stmt 1 > Stmt 2.
Please tell me the ‘fact’ you forgot to tell us about that joined the two together; cos I am aware of the story and ‘the fact’.
As for “Is Iraq another Vietnam”?
I fear so.
It was built on lies as was the Vietnam ‘conflict’.
The elites are making Buku dollars.
Soldiers are used as fodder for the machine.
The only difference I can see is that most ‘allied’ soldiers are volunteers this time.
See if you can get hold of a film called Stop-Loss (2008); you might learn something about reality.
If you don’t scream or cry like I did you have no heart and that’s a shame.
Unlike most USian movies it is NOT filled with faux heroism.
Thanks for taking an interest in the subject.
Oh, you accused me of hating ‘god’.
Kid, I don’t believe that any such invisible sky critter exists.
The premise is illogical and total nonsense.
UNQUOTE
Many thanks Sir. Vietnam Veterans are my heroes. Sad thing too many body bags blinded them on the nature of God. The fact that you are spared Sir Everard G is a miracle enough I love you Sir. Welcome back alive. My dad died there.
Best answer:
Answer by Astray A
Throughout the history of the United States, everywhere U.S. soldiers have waged wars or occupations, or been stationed, local women have been treated as the victims and spoils of war. From the bloody frontier wars that began this country, where U.S. soldiers made trophies and souvenirs from the mutilated body parts of Native American women,2 to the rings of brothels and strip clubs surrounding every U.S. overseas base, to the rapes of women in places like the Philippines, South Korea, and Japan, where U.S. soldiers are often immune from prosecution by those country’s laws. And this ugly legacy of the U.S. military is alive and well today in Iraq.
Rape and sexual assault are not just openly tolerated in the U.S. occupation of Iraq—they are encouraged. Look at what happened in Abu Ghraib. Men being forced to masturbate and pose naked. The rapes and sexual assaults of women, men, and children. All captured on thousands of photos depicting smiling soldiers. Soldiers testified that they were doing these things to “soften up” the prisoners for interrogation.
Answer by Richard P
The number of individuals convicted of crimes while on active service is microscopic compared to the total in uniform. As to the remainder of the comment, I would say that Viet Vets are closer to learning the truth than many others since 40% of us have already died. That is over 1 million.
Manchin Welcomes West Virginia Veterans To Washington
There are two separate thoughts in this thing, and I’ll try not to get us lost or add too much personal heat. I welcome the opportunity to give you another perspective since I’ve been in uniform over 26 years and also have a college degree with a socio/politico minor.
Nobody is trying to justify rape, or drug abuse or alcohol abuse or shoplifting or whatever problem you’re having with military people. You should be aiming your rage not at us, but at your ELECTED officials. I don’t need to watch a movie to understand that war sucks. I’m 44 and I’ve been invited to 3 so far.
Not once did I get high to do my job, most of us don’t and I’ve saved hundreds of civilian lives, not taken one.
Back to the war: I hope you’re old enough to vote, or if not, you’re using your energy to tell people to vote. Disparaging the people in uniform past and present isn’t getting anything changed.
Back to the rape you mentioned: There is an age where young people, predominately male, are prone to crime. This is a sad truth and a challenge for society as a whole to deal with. I have two daughters, and the thought of anything like that happening to them would bring me to vigilante justice, but I digress. The military and or host nation legal system deals with these issues quite fairly and equitably…probably much more so than rapes that occur in colleges and universities across America or even in your hometown.
We are accountable, we are disciplined, and we are good people. We have a code of ethics, too bad civilians don’t, and those who commit crimes are punished and usually returned to civilian life.
In college I read a lot of works by Ivan Sun who writes about the problem of crime in our military. I had to look for my notes, and I found a great article on the subject in the Journal of Political and Military Sociology (see link below). It’s called A Cross National Analysis of Military Participation in Crime Rates. I’d like you to read it and I think you’ll find the answer your looking for without bias from me or anyone else.
I’m sorry to hear that you lost your dad in Vietnam. I’ve lost 8 friends in the war since March 06. While I serve my country just like your dad did, I count on people like you to be the voice to your elected (100% civilian) officials who guide our country’s policies on use of our military.