"While we have not yet verified the origin or authenticity of this video, the actions portrayed are not consistent with our core values and are not indicative of the character of the Marines in our Corps."
Oh, of course it's indicative of the character of the Marines, and the military in general. The best way to train someone to kill and be killed for their country is to teach them that the people they're killing aren't people. Of course shit like this is going to happen when you dehumanize people. Why do you think sort of shit always happens? I swear, it's like spitting into the air, then wondering why it's raining.
Actually ... the Corps (I can't speak for the rest of the military) has been taking steps for some time to try to avoid that whole "dehumanizing" thing. Most of my classes prior to deployment focused on that very subject, that we weren't there to fuck up their homes or treat them like shit or be total assholes. We were taught culture, customs, courtesies, and it was made very clear that if you fucked up, you were going to pay greatly. My husband got the same kinds of classes before his year long deployment in 2006.
IDK, I guess it's just not really jiving with my 8 years in. Don't get me wrong, there are some severe assholes, but I feel like if so many were that far gone, PTSD wouldn't be such a big deal. /shrug
I feel I need to point out that I am not in any way excusing what these fuckheads did. I know quite a few people, myself included, that would like to give them a beatdown for this bullshit.
There are. :/ It's like the police - same kind of institution attracts the same kinds of dicks. The Marines definitely have a lot (honestly, the misogyny is one of the big reasons I got out). Most of the ones I knew, though, would draw the line at something like this.
When I was 19, I was young and stupid and very much in an OH YEAH I'LL SHOW YOU phase, so I picked the Marines (I think the final selling point for me was the fact that boot camp would be all women; I've never liked the idea of coed boot camp very much). On one hand, I'm really proud of myself for getting through boot camp, and I met some really amazing women and got to do a lot of things I really liked. On the other ... yeah, it's the Marines and goddamn do we get some dumb ones. I made it 8 years, and then I had to go.
(OT: have you read The Affair by Lee Child? It's his new Jack Reacher novel and a central character is a woman who was a Marine for ~15 years. I keep thinking of your experiences as I read it!)
I am glad that there's been a push towards teaching those sorts of basic human courtesies. I only wish that the people who most need to learn them would take them to heart.
I was going to say the same. My SO is currently in, although he's Air Force, and I remember finding a little booklet in his stuff that teaches people basic words in Arabic, basic customs of the different countries they're going to, how not to offend people, how to approach people respectfully from those countries, etc. He says there's a big emphasis put on communicating with the enemy, since the goal is to do as little physical fighting as possible and the hope is to make a positive impact - especially on civilians in the likely event that the U.S. prevails and has to stick around in country for a while.
1) Good story. And kudos to you for reporting it. 2) I figured it might be something like that, but not having been in the military I didn't want to confuse crap promulgated by mass media with reality. Good information to know.
Oh, of course it's indicative of the character of the Marines, and the military in general. The best way to train someone to kill and be killed for their country is to teach them that the people they're killing aren't people. Of course shit like this is going to happen when you dehumanize people. Why do you think sort of shit always happens? I swear, it's like spitting into the air, then wondering why it's raining.
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IDK, I guess it's just not really jiving with my 8 years in. Don't get me wrong, there are some severe assholes, but I feel like if so many were that far gone, PTSD wouldn't be such a big deal. /shrug
I feel I need to point out that I am not in any way excusing what these fuckheads did. I know quite a few people, myself included, that would like to give them a beatdown for this bullshit.
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People, the work you are doing? It's all about people being less human than you. Pulease. Classes of "their culture" won't change that.
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Because I am curious, what can the latter type do to stymie or remove the former?
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2) I figured it might be something like that, but not having been in the military I didn't want to confuse crap promulgated by mass media with reality. Good information to know.
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