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Gravitycollapse

(8,155 posts) Mon Jun 2, 2014, 10:34 PM Jun 2014

There are far worse things to do in an unjust war than desert.

Let's never forget that.

Of all the horrific things I can imagine, and have happened, in a time of war, abandoning the fight is at the very bottom of the list. Arguably, walking away, literally and figuratively, from our unethical occupation of Afghanistan is probably the best thing one soldier could do.

Is Bowe Bergdahl a hero or a deserter? Maybe he's both. Or maybe he isn't really either because, in the real world, it isn't that black and white.

The warhawks want to shift the conversation away from Bergdahl's 5 year captivity towards another show of nationalism and human sacrifice.

Fuck.That.Noise.

6 replies

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There are far worse things to do in an unjust war than desert. (Original Post) Gravitycollapse Jun 2014 OP

It wouldn't take more than a few hours' phil89 Jun 2014 #1

It's economics and propaganda Demeter Jun 2014 #3

from a political/philosophical point of view, that's a valid suggestion geek tragedy Jun 2014 #2

There are many truths not consistent with the "value system" of war. Gravitycollapse Jun 2014 #4

having never been in their situation, depending on those around me to keep me alive, geek tragedy Jun 2014 #5

Obviously, that lack of judgement has a logical limit. There are things of war you would judge... Gravitycollapse Jun 2014 #6

phil89

(1,043 posts)

1. It wouldn't take more than a few hours'

Reply to Gravitycollapse (Original post)

Mon Jun 2, 2014, 10:38 PM

Jun 2014

Research for anyone to see what a mess this war is before signing up. Wish more people would just avoid going to war in the first place.

Demeter

(85,373 posts)

3. It's economics and propaganda

Reply to phil89 (Reply #1)

Mon Jun 2, 2014, 10:41 PM

Jun 2014

Young kids and no job prospects, no chance of a life at all except the military. Old guys from different eras talking about how great the military is....not realizing that it's worse than ever, and when (if) you get out, there's still no job prospects.

This is no country for a poor person, educated or not.

geek tragedy

(68,868 posts)

2. from a political/philosophical point of view, that's a valid suggestion

Reply to Gravitycollapse (Original post)

Mon Jun 2, 2014, 10:39 PM

Jun 2014

but, the main currency for soldiers in the field is their dedication to one another. Have a cousin, got shot up in Iraq, did not believe in the war, but tried to re-up because he felt he owed it to the guys in his platoon to return and have their back.

one can critique that mentality if one wants, but it's very real and desertion is certainly not seen as consistent with that value system

Gravitycollapse

(8,155 posts)

4. There are many truths not consistent with the "value system" of war.

Reply to geek tragedy (Reply #2)

Mon Jun 2, 2014, 10:44 PM

Jun 2014

One of them happens to be independent thought and action. In other words, doubt.

War demands efficiency and part of that demand means erasing dissent before it even happens. It means dehumanizing soldiers and their enemy.

Reenlisting in a war you don't find unethical is, by it's own nature, ethically dubious.

geek tragedy

(68,868 posts)

5. having never been in their situation, depending on those around me to keep me alive,

Reply to Gravitycollapse (Reply #4)

Mon Jun 2, 2014, 10:48 PM

Jun 2014

I cannot judge.

Gravitycollapse

(8,155 posts)

6. Obviously, that lack of judgement has a logical limit. There are things of war you would judge...

Reply to geek tragedy (Reply #5)

Mon Jun 2, 2014, 10:56 PM

Jun 2014

I suspect. As you should. I don't claim to know exactly what it feels like to be at war. But that doesn't mean I can't recognize ethical inconsistency or war crimes or unethical conflicts. Those are things which are aided by first hand experience but don't demand it.

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