Alan C. Posted March 15, 2013 Posted March 15, 2013 The Crucifixion of Tomas Young He became increasingly depressed about his impending deployment to Iraq when he was in basic training at Fort Benning, Ga. He asked the battalion doctor for antidepressants. The doctor said he had to meet first with the unit’s chaplain, who told him, “I think you will be happier when you get over to Iraq and start killing Iraqis.
Existing Alternatives Posted March 18, 2013 Posted March 18, 2013 This reminded me of Prince Harry’s assertion that “killing Taliban is more like playing a video game.” The real question is killing which would make you happier Iraqis or Taliban
Indefiance Posted March 18, 2013 Posted March 18, 2013 This hit home for me. I went to Basic at Fort Benning 3 years ago now. I underwent very similiar events as I realized how deep the cult of death, and death worship is within the military and woke up to the inherent immorality of it all. My first pep talk from a First Sergeant entailed the gruesome and uncensored details of his first 3 kills and how it changed him, and how he loved the military because he gets paid to kill, whereas out in society they would have to put him in prison since he loved it so much. It was Truly heart stopping and disgusting for me at the time as my delusions of honor and being a hero slowly evaporated and I began to realize the error of my thinking and the massive error of joining and realizing I was stuck. Horrifying to say the least. Anyway,Thanks for sharing this.
Indefiance Posted March 18, 2013 Posted March 18, 2013 I realized my reply sounded like I underwent the same hell as that man. Not my intention obviously, and what he went through sickens me. Specifically touching on his experience with the chaplain, as I chose that route as well trying to find some moral grounding where there was none. I recieved similiar advice, and banal platitudes and feel good 'we're the good guys' B.S.
Existing Alternatives Posted March 21, 2013 Posted March 21, 2013 There is a scene in Renaissance Man, when DeVito’s character arrives at Fort Liberty for the first time. As a part of a training exercise, soldiers were stabbing their bayonets into dummies while yelling “Kill! Kill! Kill!” In shock DeVito asked his guide, “Are they yelling ‘Kill’?” To which his guide replied, “Well yeah, this is the Army!” For some reason this scene really stuck in my mind for 20 years now.
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