Let's start off with the pre-cautionary disclaimer. I'm not calling all troops out on what I'm saying nor do I disrespect people who serve in their army and take on the monumental job of life and death. I've friends in the British Army, Irish Army and even the American Army. I've discussed with these people at length the different missions they have been sent on and whether or not they agree with the actions that their country is taking.
Right - on to the stuff that'll inevitably offend people. Let's take a look at what is up with the reality of 'the troops.' The reason I just refuse to buy into the 'All troops are hero's and let's give them all a fantastic welcome home' is for simple reason really - I wholly disagree with the war they are involved in; in fact I go as far to say it's a war crime that they are participating in. I don't believe they are protecting my freedom. They are not fighting for me or in my name.
The actions of soliders has not limited or freedom either but the 'war against terrorism' has. The actions of soldiers have no put me in any direct danger either - in fact they have protected me before in the midst of the dirty war in Northern Ireland against real terrorists who wanted to force Ireland to unite by military actions and not peaceful means. But that was required, that was nessicary. It was unfortunate it came to that but it did and I hope it never does again.
However - these soldiers are in the Middle East and I don't believe that is something the UK should be doing. Does this mean that I should consider these soliders war criminals? No.
And here comes the reason I am not a solider freak. Soldiers are tools of propaganda. If we inspect the details behind how troops are used in popular culture then it is quite obvious that the use of troops creates a sympathetic and emotional view of war and the heroism behind it. I don't doubt the bravery of the soliders but I should we, as a nation, be basing our military opinions on sympathy and emotion? I'd argue that one should objectively look at the realities of the operations in the Arab world. We aren't fighting terrorism but upholding an American war that is in co-operate interests for very very rich men. I'm not going to bore you with the details as you can research that yourself but regardless of your view on the Middle Eastern intervention the important point is it is the sympathetic emotional approach that is usually taken and not the objective one.
If we, as a nation, are to ever understand the true realities of war and what our opinons on it are we have to stop hailing troops as heros. I don't apologise for this opinion, but soliders aren't what they are made out to be. Hero's save lives and soldiers cause more death than life - even if their actions are not well informed, not ordered with honesty or are in the best meaning possible.
Soldiers are brave - not heroes. Sorry Britain.
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