Why do you think the public opinion about our soldiers change?

[patrick1191]

How did we go from looking up so highly to those who served our country, to accusing them of being thugs, baby killers, etc? I know for the U.S. it started around late sixties due to the Vietnam Conflict but what about other countries?

[GuineaPig]

I think it depends on the conflicts the country is involved in.

In Canada, we still think quite highly of our soldiers. It's understandable that public opinion in the U.S. is different, but I don't think it's to the extent of what you say it is.

[Yorkshireman]

In Britain we don't think badly of our armed forces, (unless your N Irish catholic), we blame our politicians for unpopular wars.

[patrick1191]

Yes most of the U.S supports there soldiers but it seems to me that more and more people think badly of them, hell you can event see it on these forums. Or how the media will jump on any news dealing with possible killing of Iraqi civilians by soldiers and put it on the front page yet will keep the story about the marine that saved his buddies in the back.

[Ragabash]

Yes most of the U.S supports there soldiers but it seems to me that more and more people think badly of them, hell you can event see it on these forums. Or how the media will jump on any news dealing with possible killing of Iraqi civilians by soldiers and put it on the front page yet will keep the story about the marine that saved his buddies in the back.

That is because civilian casulaties are always a tragedy, while marine saving his buddies is just doing his duty and work he is getting paid for. As the for the people thinking badly about U.S soldiers here on northern Europe; I think have I never heard anyone saying how bad and evil american soldiers, or its citizens are, but I do hear quite a lot criticism towards the government.

Moved to Political Academy.

[Heinz Guderian]

Yes most of the U.S supports there soldiers but it seems to me that more and more people think badly of them, hell you can event see it on these forums. Or how the media will jump on any news dealing with possible killing of Iraqi civilians by soldiers and put it on the front page yet will keep the story about the marine that saved his buddies in the back.

if we all agreed on these forums it would be a boring place.

i think alot of blame has to be attributed to the neo-cons since 2000. shiz like guantanamo, unneccesary invasion of iraq, abu ghraib, fallujah,the rape and murder of that iraqi girl, the haditha massacre,the hamdania killings, the ishaqi incident, the mamudiyah killings, the mukradeeb wedding party massacre rendition, blackwater killings ,secret detention, water boarding, the bombings of poor destitute afghan esp at weddings, have all soured public opinion. People relate these acts to the military/security forces. therefore serviceman.

but shiz like the my lai massacre made americans take to the streets in large numbers. aint happening right now

[razor-]

I thought the military was held in very high regard in the US still.

[motiv-8]

Those in the service enjoy an extremely high amount of respect in the US today; there has been next to nothing in the way of the kind of embarrassments civil society found itself making in the 'Sixties.

[motiv-8]

These are all true examples, and in fact I would say that it's the media's responsibility TO put stories like that on the front page, because they are unacceptable exceptions that serve as examples of what not to do.

Nevertheless, I wouldn't use this forum as a gauge on public opinion on any topic.

[patrick1191]

These are all true examples, and in fact I would say that it's the media's responsibility TO put stories like that on the front page, because they are unacceptable exceptions that serve as examples of what not to do.

Nevertheless, I wouldn't use this forum as a gauge on public opinion on any topic.

True, but they are more than willing to convict the soldier instantly. And i am not using the forum as gauge of public opinion I was just saying that you can see what I am talking about event in this forum.


I guess I am the only one that has seem to think opinion has changed.

are you kidding? there is such a cult of military in the US now it makes me sick.

How so?

[Last Roman]

How so?

how on every sporting event we thank the "heroes" that "defend our freedom" et all. Look, I know that the military is necessary and certainly, those who have the balls to join have a certain amount of respect from me. But I just hate how so many of us just up and call anyone who is in the military a "hero" and we basically worship them.

[patrick1191]

how on every sporting event we thank the "heroes" that "defend our freedom" et all. Look, I know that the military is necessary and certainly, those who have the balls to join have a certain amount of respect from me. But I just hate how so many of us just up and call anyone who is in the military a "hero" and we basically worship them.

Well most join to do just that defend our freedom and they do is all while knowing they may not return,whether or not the conflicts we are fighting in now threaten our freedom is a different story. They still joined under that belief, thats the reason I see them as heros.

[Applesmack]

The public opinion of the troops inside America are great. However, outside America:

[Last Roman]

Well most join to do just that defend our freedom and they do is all while knowing they may not return,whether or not the conflicts we are fighting in now threaten our freedom is a different story. They still joined under that belief, thats the reason I see them as heros.

see there, that's what I'm talking about. many (if not most) join for the money or because they see no other way out (that straight from the mouth of a friend in the army) not some grand quest for liberty, as if they are actually fighting to defend our freedom anyways, which they aren't. And even if they were, that doesn't automatically make them heroes.

[Last Roman]

How did we go from looking up so highly to those who served our country, to accusing them of being thugs, baby killers, etc? I know for the U.S. it started around late sixties due to the Vietnam Conflict but what about other countries?

are you kidding? there is such a cult of military in the US now it makes me sick.

[jankren]

In Indonesia we hate the soldiers mostly because of our history. Until 10 years ago the were seen as tools of the dictatorial government. The same pattern of feeling can also be seen in any police states.

Well most join to do just that defend our freedom and they do is all while knowing they may not return,whether or not the conflicts we are fighting in now threaten our freedom is a different story. They still joined under that belief, thats the reason I see them as heros.

Pfftt, thats not true. Large amount of people who join the Army do so just to feel proud, escape poverty, no other choice in life, or aim for the benefits.

How many of the soldiers decided to join the Army while at the same time had big opportunities to go to quality higher education institutions and become a lawyer or a doctor? very few Im sure.

Like John Kerry said, "Study hard so you wont have to be stuck in Iraq." Politically incorrect? Yes. True? Yes.

[patrick1191]

In Indonesia we hate the soldiers mostly because of our history. Until 10 years ago the were seen as tools of the dictatorial government. The same pattern of feeling can also be seen in any police states.

Pfftt, thats not true. Large amount of people who join the Army do so just to feel proud, escape poverty, no other choice in life, or aim for the benefits.

How many of the soldiers decided to join the Army while at the same time had big opportunities to go to quality higher education institutions and become a lawyer or a doctor? very few Im sure.

Like John Kerry said, "Study hard so you wont have to be stuck in Iraq." Politically incorrect? Yes. True? Yes.

http://www.heritage.org/research/nat...y/cda06-09.cfm

In summary, the additional years of recruit data (2004–2005) sup*port the previous finding that U.S. military recruits are more similar than dissimilar to the American youth population. The slight dif*ferences are that wartime U.S. mil*itary enlistees are better educated, wealthier, and more rural on aver*age than their civilian peers.
Recruits have a higher percent*age of high school graduates and representation from Southern and rural areas. No evidence indicates exploitation of racial minorities (either by race or by race-weighted ZIP code areas). Finally, the distri*bution of household income of recruits is noticeably higher than that of the entire youth population.

[Applesmack]

http://www.heritage.org/research/nat...y/cda06-09.cfm

In summary, the additional years of recruit data (2004–2005) sup*port the previous finding that U.S. military recruits are more similar than dissimilar to the American youth population. The slight dif*ferences are that wartime U.S. mil*itary enlistees are better educated, wealthier, and more rural on aver*age than their civilian peers.
Recruits have a higher percent*age of high school graduates and representation from Southern and rural areas. No evidence indicates exploitation of racial minorities (either by race or by race-weighted ZIP code areas). Finally, the distri*bution of household income of recruits is noticeably higher than that of the entire youth population.

This is interesting. I guess you learn something every day BTW how much percentage is "higher"?

[patrick1191]

This is interesting. I guess you learn something every day BTW how much percentage is "higher"?

Click the graphs on the website I believe they show the difference.

[jankren]

http://www.heritage.org/research/nat...y/cda06-09.cfm

In summary, the additional years of recruit data (2004–2005) sup*port the previous finding that U.S. military recruits are more similar than dissimilar to the American youth population. The slight dif*ferences are that wartime U.S. mil*itary enlistees are better educated, wealthier, and more rural on aver*age than their civilian peers.
Recruits have a higher percent*age of high school graduates and representation from Southern and rural areas. No evidence indicates exploitation of racial minorities (either by race or by race-weighted ZIP code areas). Finally, the distri*bution of household income of recruits is noticeably higher than that of the entire youth population.

How many of those enlistees were already war veterans or coming from a family of 'patriotist' military background?

I just kinda lol'ed when I read the Southern areas part. I mean some of them probably think "WHEN ELSE DO I HAVE THE CHANCE TO ACTUALLY SHOOT PEOPLE FOR REAL?!? YEE HAW! NO MORE SHOOTING DEERS."