I am going to make a very controversial point in this column, but I hope people will stay with me to the end. It is a quite often said statement that troops who fight in our nation’s wars have fought for our freedoms. That the price of freedom isn’t free, that it is paid for by the blood of patriots. Ok, but how often have our wars been fought for the freedom of Americans? WWII freed the peoples of France, Belgium, Norway, Italy and yes even Germany and Japan. But, did our fighting in WWII curtail a possible German invasion of the US? Unlikely, the Germans couldn’t even invade much smaller England only 22 miles across the English Channel from France.
Maybe if we didn’t fight (which I am glad we did though because we freed millions) the Germans could have become powerful enough to one day threaten the US, but probably not. Was the Spanish American War fought for the freedom of Americans? Cubans ok, but not Americans. Neither the Mexican American War nor WWI. The Korean War was fought for the freedom of Koreans but not Americans. So too for the Vietnam War, fought for the Vietnamese and the surrounding region to thwart the threat of communism. The War of 1812 was fought in part to stop the British from forcing American sailors into the British navy and the war against the Barbary pirates before that was fought because of piracy against American ships. So, those wars were fought in part for our freedoms.
I believe that the history of the world has been improved by the fact that the US has existed. Hundreds of millions of people have been freed from tyranny because we exist. Even the statement that troops have fought for our freedom would be basically ok, if not quite accurate to the history of our nation’s wars, if not for the fact that it is often used as a statement in support of a war. For example, it is commonly said to those who are opposed to a war that the troops in a given war are fighting for our freedom or anti-war protestors are told that troops are fighting (or have fought in previous wars) for their freedom to protest. But, again, that statement really isn’t true. That is not to say that a war wasn’t fought by American soldiers with great courage and that wars shouldn’t have been fought (most of our nation’s wars should have been fought) but that the very statement that Americans fought for our freedoms isn’t necessary correct.
Obviously an American who believes a war is wrong will not believe that a war is being fought for their freedom. An argument remains to be made in that case why a war, any war, is moral and correct. This is not an argument against the Iraq or Afghanistan war. I believe that overall the mission in Iraq is a good mission, to help bring democracy to that part of the world. Again I realize this is a very controversial statement I make but I hope that people will read my words carefully and give them some thought.
Comments
I agree that wars are usually not fought for our freedom, but generally for "liberation", often for peoples who should determine what they want and then do their own liberating. That part of WW2 against Japan was about protecting our freedom but not about gaining freedom, as we already had, or at least thought we had, freedom.
I believe the entire issue here is broader, it is about Force, which covers much more than war. Again a somewhat general statement, but the Draft is Force, the citizens are forced by Taxation to pay for the sacrifices of soldiers, who die or are wounded as the results of these acts of Force. It is quite a stretch to say they are fighting it for "freedom".
And I disagree with part... This most certainly does apply to Iraq and Afghanistan. There were many losses of life and economy simply to get one bad man and not get another. Again, it would be a real stretch to say this was about freedom.
All these so called wars are about greasing the wheels of industry.Has nothing to do with freedom or patriotism.Has to do with money .
Whatever rights and freedoms we have were ours before the wars began. If we attained additional freedoms- it was not because of the troops, the war, foreign policy, or anything happening overseas.
If we cut out the bogus “fighting for our freedom” attempt to justify or validate foreign policy- things might get tricky- we might struggle for an honest understanding of why we send “The Troops” and the flag to distant lands- don’t go there.
I agree with the author of this article except for his premise that freedom is sometimes NOT what the soldier fights for. Every time we help defeat a dictator or a tyrant we are protecting our own freedom as well as others' freedoms. The more freedom that exists in the world, the more secure our own freedoms are. I do not believe in wars for prizes, though I do believe it is moral to fight a war to protect very vital resources the enemy uses to blackmail the rest of the world with. When oil is NOT available, no one should expect peace to reign. Mass hysteria will reign. Is a war to remove that commodity from the blackmailers' bag of tricks immoral? No, not in my opinion. Is the soldier then fighting for my freedom? Yes, he is. Do I want the soldier to separate that blackmailer from the commodity he uses to terrorize the world. Yes, I do. Will it increase my freedom? Yes, it will.
My opinions only. Everyone has to define his own ideas about how to protect our freedoms.
If we take off our thinking caps, we might forget that physical security and freedom are not the same thing- and that the US Armed Forces protect our physical security in some cases- and in some cases they do not.
When we are told our concealed carry permit is void on National Parks lands- can we have The Joint Chiefs of Staff? send out "The Troops" to somehow restore our freedom?
If? I want to go down to the bar with my 20 year old girlfriend (a responsible adult) to order up a few beers and celebrate freedom should I contact The Joint Chiefs of Staff for authorization?
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!