Stop thanking the troops for me: No, they don’t “protect our freedoms!”

[Coyotl]

Stop thanking the troops for me: No, they don’t “protect our freedoms!”
Why is pro sports constantly jamming military fervor down our throats? Their claims are wrong in more ways than one
Justin Doolittle Nov 11, 2013 http://www.salon.com/2013/11/11/stop_thanking_the_troops_for_me_no_they_dont_protect_our_freedoms/

The millions of Americans who regularly watch nationally televised NBA games are, by now, familiar with the “NBA Cares” commercials that run quite frequently during the season. The series of promos is meant to illustrate the league’s commitment to serving the community in a variety of ways. One particularly touching example involves a collaboration between the NBA, the V Foundation and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; in the spot, several prominent players are shown visiting children stricken with cancer, many of whom look genuinely thrilled to be meeting their heroes. The league deserves credit for encouraging its players to put their fame to good use by bringing some badly needed joy to these children’s lives.

Not all of the “NBA Cares” promos are about serving the least fortunate members of our society, though. The league is determined to show its commitment to both ends of the spectrum of power. In one spot, NBA stars can be seen, not playing board games with children devastated by cancer, but, instead, touting the greatness and indispensability of the most powerful institution in the world, the United States military.

......... Freedom has become one of those politically charged terms that means whatever people need it to mean. There is no coherent conception of freedom, though, in which it only exists at the pleasure of the U.S. military. It’s simply a non sequitur. The “freedoms” most Americans think of when they hear the term are enshrined in constitutional and statutory law. They are in no way dependent on the size, scope or even the existence of the U.S. military. ............

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. I agree: whatever the troops THINK they're doing

and are TOLD, they haven't actually "protected our freedoms" or anyone else's in my lifetime, with the possible exception of the Korean War.

Interventions in Lebanon, the Dominican Republic, Central America (where the so-called "advisors" actually participated in combat, according to someone I know who was there), Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Afghanistan, Iraq.

Not for our freedom. Mostly corporate business interests.

During the Vietnam War, supposedly fought to "stop Communism," some of the critics claimed that there was oil in the South China Sea, but the mainstream media never mentioned it, so it was easy to poo-poo the claim.

Now, forty years later, it turns out that there IS oil in the South China Sea, near the Spratly Islands.

Who'd a thunk?

[gopiscrap]

2. yup

my dad'd name is on the wall and he said the same thing to my mother.

[giftedgirl77]

3. Our kids are well aware of why we deployed.

Many of us serving hate it when people thank us for our service. It is an awkward situation.

[msongs]

4. "the troops" are protecting US corporations which do not pay for said protection nt