Why do people hate the army?

[chiefohara]

Im only a reservist, so i can't speak for frontline soldiers.

I nearly got in a fistfight tonight with someone who cheapened what the Irish army does, and belittled their contribution to UN peace keeping mission by labeling them mercenaries.

They broadened their vague assertions to all western armies and then had the gall to lecture me on patriotism, whilst at the same time belittling what little bit i have contributed when they have done nothing. This wasn't someone trolling me for fun, but a genuine arsehole who hates the army but is more manly than them..... how is christ's name do you deal/educate a person like that and not willingly murder them?

He called me a cheerleader, and you know what... fine.... I'll happily laud to everyone the contributions the defence forces make, ill readily admit im only a reservist sandbag scumbag.... A civilian can only contribute so much, but what i can do, i bloody well do. Why should i be ashamed of that, and why should i be ashamed of the Irish army? Why should anyone be ashamed of their army?

 

[Total LOLige]

It seems if you respect the army you're a patriot, and patriotism is bad because it means you hate everyone that isn't from your country. I've had a few 'debates' with escapist members about 'patriotism' every time I say I respect soldiers people rag on me and tell me that I'm a terrible person that should die in a hole.

EDIT:

I know the difference between patriotism and nationalism, what I meant was that people that hate the army tend to view patriotism as nationalism. I should have been clearer.

Just adding in what I was getting at when I said patriotism. So I don't get another quotation like the one below.

patriotism is bad because it means you hate everyone that isn't from your country.

That is really really really... dumb. To say the very least. I'm a patriot, I love my country but I'm friends with a kid from Kenya who was in my class last year. I had a friend in middle school from the Dominican Republic. So I guess either I'm misinterpreting my own beliefs or opinions on people I know or your an idiot who goes on the internet and and bitches about shit just to get attention.

 

[Chasing-The-Light]

I don't know anything about the Irish army, but I'm the daughter of a soldier in the army who's been overseas twice already and I've dealt with a lot from people giving hate to the army. I don't really get it, at times...

I mean, there are some jibes that people do, here. Like, my ex-girlfriend's husband is in the Navy and constantly is like, "Yeah, people in the army are just bullet shields for us!" He doesn't necessarily mean it, but it's that friendly rivalry between each division, and while I understand that, there are times too when I do feel like it's a bit overdone.

Next, I also dated a girl who was a militant anarchist and her and her friends hated the military. We weren't allowed to talk politics with each other because it would come down to me getting personally offended and her going on these rants about how "the military is useless" and how they don't do anything. She would be like, "Yeah, I respect them for what they do but I don't think what they're doing is right. I don't agree with it at all. I don't like it and I think it's stupid that they even join!"

People can be ignorant sometimes, I think... they don't realize how much people in the military give up for the rest of us and how much we can have because of them.

I don't know if I actually answered the question or not... or if I just went on a giant rant... xD;;; Either way, there's my opinion on it!

 

[Chemical Alia]

I was in active duty both before and after 9/11, and I feel that a lot of people's opinions of the military are influenced by current trends, but also by a lot of misconceptions and assumptions. Especially when they don't know any military people, themselves.

 

[chiefohara]

I don't know anything about the Irish army, but I'm the daughter of a soldier in the army who's been overseas twice already and I've dealt with a lot from people giving hate to the army. I don't really get it, at times...

I mean, there are some jibes that people do, here. Like, my ex-girlfriend's husband is in the Navy and constantly is like, "Yeah, people in the army are just bullet shields for us!" He doesn't necessarily mean it, but it's that friendly rivalry between each division, and while I understand that, there are times too when I do feel like it's a bit overdone.

Next, I also dated a girl who was a militant anarchist and her and her friends hated the military. We weren't allowed to talk politics with each other because it would come down to me getting personally offended and her going on these rants about how "the military is useless" and how they don't do anything. She would be like, "Yeah, I respect them for what they do but I don't think what they're doing is right. I don't agree with it at all. I don't like it and I think it's stupid that they even join!"

People can be ignorant sometimes, I think... they don't realize how much people in the military give up for the rest of us and how much we can have because of them.

I don't know if I actually answered the question or not... or if I just went on a giant rant... xD;;; Either way, there's my opinion on it!

no you didn't go on a rant, and thank you for saying it. I just don't understand the contempt is all.

 

[aba1]

I am not actively against any military but I do feel it is one of the more useless tax sinks. Realistically you shouldn't need a army to begin with. I do however respect the idea of people going out and helping other countries who are in need of help and I know that there is more involved in the military budget than strictly weapons which is useful also.

I have also noticed a lot of people in the military tend to act like they can kick anyone's ass and are in general better than everyone else. I am not saying all people in the army are like this just most of the people I have come across.

 

[chiefohara]

I was in active duty both before and after 9/11, and I feel that a lot of people's opinions of the military are influenced by current trends, but also by a lot of misconceptions and assumptions. Especially when they don't know any military people, themselves.

I look up to people like you.

Just Saying.

 

[Chasing-The-Light]

I don't know anything about the Irish army, but I'm the daughter of a soldier in the army who's been overseas twice already and I've dealt with a lot from people giving hate to the army. I don't really get it, at times...

I mean, there are some jibes that people do, here. Like, my ex-girlfriend's husband is in the Navy and constantly is like, "Yeah, people in the army are just bullet shields for us!" He doesn't necessarily mean it, but it's that friendly rivalry between each division, and while I understand that, there are times too when I do feel like it's a bit overdone.

Next, I also dated a girl who was a militant anarchist and her and her friends hated the military. We weren't allowed to talk politics with each other because it would come down to me getting personally offended and her going on these rants about how "the military is useless" and how they don't do anything. She would be like, "Yeah, I respect them for what they do but I don't think what they're doing is right. I don't agree with it at all. I don't like it and I think it's stupid that they even join!"

People can be ignorant sometimes, I think... they don't realize how much people in the military give up for the rest of us and how much we can have because of them.

I don't know if I actually answered the question or not... or if I just went on a giant rant... xD;;; Either way, there's my opinion on it!

no you didn't go on a rant, and thank you for saying it. I just don't understand the contempt is all.

Trust me, neither do I...

 

[sextus the crazy]

I can't speak for everyone and I can't say I "hate" the army, but this is my gripe.

The DoD takes up $700 Billion in spending, which is about 20% of our total budget (both 2011 & 2012 estimate). This is unacceptable during a recession like ours, especially with the scaling back of the war in Afghanistan and our exiting out of Iraq. Not, only that, but It bothers me even more that no one seems to consider a budget reducing as a viable strategy, despite our having more aircraft carriers than the rest of the world combined or our spending money on pointless upgrades to air superiority fighters like the F-22 or our having a bunch of B-52s that a pretty useless considering they're both outdated and not strategically viable.

Also, the fact that the Military is the enforcer of some our more dickish policies.

Other than those things, I'm fine with our military. I don't view every soldier as a hero, but as a government employee with a sometime dangerous job. Still, to paraphrase Bill Maher "I like having a military that scares the shit out of other countries, I just wish that it didn't come with the whole military-industrial complex."

 

[Dags90]

I don't see why the military is particularly tied to patriotism, personally. I know a couple of people who joined various military services because they wanted a job. I consider that to be rather neutral. I would imagine in countries with conscription this is also the case.

 

[Supertegwyn]

I can't speak for everyone and I can't say I "hate" the army, but this is my gripe.

The DoD takes up $700 Billion in spending, which is about 20% of our total budget (both 2011 & 2012 estimate). This is unacceptable during a recession like ours, especially with the scaling back of the war in Afghanistan and our exiting out of Iraq. Not, only that, but It bothers me even more that no one seems to consider a budget reducing as a viable strategy, despite our having more aircraft carriers than the rest of the world combined or our spending money on pointless upgrades to air superiority fighters like the F-22 or our having a bunch of B-52s that a pretty useless considering they're both outdated and not strategically viable.

Also, the fact that the Military is the enforcer of some our more dickish policies.

Other than those things, I'm fine with our military. I don't view every soldier as a hero, but as a government employee with a sometime dangerous job. Still, to paraphrase Bill Maher "I like having a military that scares the shit out of other countries, I just wish that it didn't come with the whole military-industrial complex."

Yeah I agree.

Right now, America does not need to be spending that much money on the military. Use that money to climb out of the recession and build the economy again, THEN start making laser guns (please?)

 

[Leadfinger]

In Japan they view the military as tax thieves, with some justification.

 

[sextus the crazy]

Realistically you shouldn't need a army to begin with.

First of all, we need an army for self defense. Also, they're helpful for enforcing diplomatic decrees and such.

I have also noticed a lot of people in the military tend to act like they can kick anyone's ass and are in general better than everyone else. I am not saying all people in the army are like this just most of the people I have come across.

Military seems to attract macho assholes, but not all of them are. In terms of military capabilities, we can kick any country's ass, hands down.

 

[BringBackBuck]

I think people hate the army for a few reasons:
1) Because civilians can't distinguish between foreign policy they disagree with and the people who implement that policy. E.g: parking wardens are one of the most abused, insulted, despised professions who are treated with anger and contempt by many people when all they do is enforce parking laws set by the local government. Dislike of the army is pretty much the same thing .
And let's face it, some of the foreign policy from western nations in the recent past, eg: invading Iraq to disable it's WMD's, invading afganistan because some Saudi Arabian terrorists attacked America, is not exactly popular (but let's save that for another discussion).

2) Because people in the military can't distinguish between people the foreign policy they implement and their personal experience. Obviously if you are in the military and risking having you legs blown off by a roadside IED device, you are really going to want to believe that some good can come out of your being there, that it is a good thing to do. A civilian who disagrees with that foreign policy is almost certainly going to end up in an argument,where the military person will feel:

They don't realize how much people in the military give up for the rest of us and how much we can have because of them.

Based on their personal experiences, this feeling is well justified however a civilian will not react well to this sort of martyr type arguement. E.g: I don't want soldiers to go to Iraq and get blown up. I get nothing out of that. How about you just don't go to Iraq and then you won't feel like I owe you anything, and we will all be happy.

3) People in the military have to kill people. That's not awesome. A lot people who are pacifists just simply cannot comprehend why anyone would want to do this. Either you are extremely professional and are able to view it as a job and when the shooting kicks off, your training comes in and you do what you need to do to protect your mates, or you are a psycho who likes shooting people. I guess the military is going to attract a lot of these type of people. I mean if you want to shoot people, there are limited occupational choices for you.

 

[Diddy_Mao]

Some of the contempt is no doubt misplaced frustration. As A U.S. Citizen I disagree whole heartedly with a some of the decisions my government has made in regard to recent military actions. And some folks tend to confuse the soldier who carries out his/her orders with the politician who drafted the orders to begin with.

From a personal standpoint I can offer the following.

I come from a military family. My Grandfather was a soldier in WWII, my Uncle was an Airforce Engineer, my Father had planned on joining the Army but due to catching polio in his youth was unfit for service and instead became a Psychologist to work with Military veterans.

My best friend had parents who were both Marines, one of whom was a career officer.
(Edit: Both parents still alive, just retired now.)

In my lifetime I have been fortunate to have the chance to speak with some truly honorable and amazing soldiers who have been tasked with doing and seeing things I couldn't begin to comprehend. Who speak of their tours of duty with a reserved tone and a somber reverence for the men they served with.
Never with a hint of regret but always with respect to their roles as Military men and women.

In more recent years I have also had the chance to speak with some of the absolute worst examples of human excrement that has ever poured itself into a uniform. Truly racist, bigoted, pig ignorant, "git'r dun" corn fed assholes who are attracted to a military or law enforcement career because it guarantees them a level of respect and authority they would be incapable of commanding through their own faculties.

But what do you expect when your recruitment technique makes the downgrade from "Be all that you can be" to Kid Rock bellowing out some god awful "America Fuck Yeah! Freedom Ain't Free!" jingoistic hogwash.

It is unfortunate that the latter group has forced me to take a stance of cautious distrust of the armed forces as a whole.
And I know that isn't fair. It kills me that I can't assume the best of every soldier that I meet.
But that's the world I live in.

 

[Ordinaryundone]

I am not actively against any military but I do feel it is one of the more useless tax sinks. Realistically you shouldn't need a army to begin with.

The military is the sole reason anyone actually listens to each other when it comes to global politics. Nobody WANTS to respect things like borders and resource rights and diplomacy and stuff like that, but they have to because the other side has guns.

 

[aba1]

Realistically you shouldn't need a army to begin with.

First of all, we need an army for self defense.

But that is just it you shouldn't need a big defense because you shouldn't be out making a ass of yourself coercing others into wanting to attack you to begin with. There is also a difference between defensive military and offensive military as well. If your military is really meant for defense it should be almost solely homeland security.

I mean I get having some security and defense but there is a point in which it is just dragging down the country and holding you back from achieve economic success in a stable environment.

I have also noticed a lot of people in the military tend to act like they can kick anyone's ass and are in general better than everyone else. I am not saying all people in the army are like this just most of the people I have come across.

Military seems to attract macho assholes, but not all of them are. In terms of military capabilities, we can kick any country's ass, hands down.

Didn't say all just most I as a individual have met. Also that is the exact attitude I was talking about regardless of whether you can or can't kick peoples ass's doesn't mean you should go throwing it around as if to be challenging others right left and center, show some complaisance besides it is peoples lives you are talking about not some game.