Our Father, Who Art In Battledress

Could someone explain to me the worship of all things wearing uniforms these days? Is it just the fact that I did wear a uniform for some time that makes me such an agnostic on these things, or is it my basic antisocial personality that refuses to join the mindless parade heading to the Church of Matching Clothes?

I’m back on break from one forum I sometimes posted in because of the ever increasing “police can do no wrong” attitude there. The frequent fliers there (and many other places) claim to be pro-gun, and whine like crazy when anyone seems to infringe on their Second Amendment rights, but have no problem at all with regular violations of the Fourth, Fifth, Eighth, and Ninth Amendments, by agents of the State. A lot of them are pretty down on the First Amendment, too.

Maybe it’s that tribal nature of humanity – the vicarious pleasure of winning, but without actual risk to yourself. I’ve met no end of people who’ve never worn a uniform but who talk about “perps”and “thugs” and “the Big Catbox/Sandbox” and “hajjis” and “wogs” and saving the world from terriers or something like that. My word, they get so excited, I can picture them in a huge auditorium jumping up and down like they were auditioning for a Planet Of The Apes* sequel. But put their own tender skins on the line? Not a chance. They want their danger and presumed glory second hand.

Could be I’m just old and cranky, but while I’m comfortable referring to “The Z,” or “Graf,” because I was there (fortunately didn’t have to “do that”) I am most patently not in Iraq or Afghanistan and while I would have no embarrassment talking to current vets, neither am I “one of them” and would not believe it right to speak their language to pretend I was.

I’m not a Wannabe, I’m an I Was. America, though, might be a much better place if the majority of folks would stop being the first and become more of the second. Maybe Heinlein was right in Starship Troopers and only veterans should be allowed to vote. McCain is the exception proving that rule, though, but that’s a post for a different day.




*That would be the Wahlberg remake, not the Heston version.  And when will these guys ever get a clue that something is up when they hear the apes speaking ENGLISH?