While a bit overamplified, most of Caitlin's characterizations are fair. However, proposing scorning our service personnel is begging for a military coup. The US military continues to strive to stay as apolitical as circumstances allow. Trump was a real test, and DOD passed - maybe not with a B+, but they passed. Yes, we get the occasional General Flynn's. However, if you look at the insurrectionist line-up, CNN reports than only 1 in 10 had any military background at all. Only one retired senior officer (a LtCol) was involved. A handful were active duty, the rest were reservists (weekend warriors) with brief, if any, active military experience past boot camp. Then there were a few retired enlisted career people. Most people with military backgrounds of any kind were from out of state. As the event was in DC, which is swarming with career military and the highest-ranking officers, that puny turnout is noteworthy.
That is not to say that white-supremacy, misogyny, racism, and support for insurrection is not present in the active ranks. Until the mid-1970's, systemic racism was woven into military regulations which limited various races and ethnicities (e.g., Filipino's) to supply, food service, and laundry work. Black officers were extremely rare. Women were barred from field and shipboard combatant roles. Today, that is all changed. We even have females captaining warships and serving as admirals and generals.
If civilians start disrespecting our service personnel, it will be like herding sheep into the arms of the KKK and militia groups. Believe me, an armed insurrection supported by the military will succeed. Just like in Myanmar, baseball bats and slingshots are no match for rifles and tanks and jets. Belarus, Egypt, parts of Africa and S. America are already military dictatorships. It is likely that eventually Iraq and Libya will devolve into military dictatorship after the US moves on. So perhaps focusing antiwar animus on uniformed service members should be carefully considered.
While a bit overamplified, most of Caitlin's characterizations are fair. However, proposing scorning our service personnel is begging for a military coup. The US military continues to strive to stay as apolitical as circumstances allow. Trump was a real test, and DOD passed - maybe not with a B+, but they passed. Yes, we get the occasional General Flynn's. However, if you look at the insurrectionist line-up, CNN reports than only 1 in 10 had any military background at all. Only one retired senior officer (a LtCol) was involved. A handful were active duty, the rest were reservists (weekend warriors) with brief, if any, active military experience past boot camp. Then there were a few retired enlisted career people. Most people with military backgrounds of any kind were from out of state. As the event was in DC, which is swarming with career military and the highest-ranking officers, that puny turnout is noteworthy.
That is not to say that white-supremacy, misogyny, racism, and support for insurrection is not present in the active ranks. Until the mid-1970's, systemic racism was woven into military regulations which limited various races and ethnicities (e.g., Filipino's) to supply, food service, and laundry work. Black officers were extremely rare. Women were barred from field and shipboard combatant roles. Today, that is all changed. We even have females captaining warships and serving as admirals and generals.
If civilians start disrespecting our service personnel, it will be like herding sheep into the arms of the KKK and militia groups. Believe me, an armed insurrection supported by the military will succeed. Just like in Myanmar, baseball bats and slingshots are no match for rifles and tanks and jets. Belarus, Egypt, parts of Africa and S. America are already military dictatorships. It is likely that eventually Iraq and Libya will devolve into military dictatorship after the US moves on. So perhaps focusing antiwar animus on uniformed service members should be carefully considered.