THE TORTURE EDITION: ISSUE 70, VOLUME 100
RISING DOWN
by Malik Isasis
The jingoistic way in which politicians and the corporate media have canonized U.S. soldiers has created an atmosphere in which soldiers have become dehumanized, quixotic beings who fight out of the purity of their hearts, and who are beyond reproach. The praise often rises to the level of absurdity, as terms like American Hero is thrown around loosely. The problem with being dehumanized this way is that the subject of the dehumanization becomes a pawn, a billboard for propaganda.
Over praising, and using hyperbole of heroism is just as bad as over ridiculing because soldiers aren’t seen as human, their pain isn’t seen as human and when they do inhumane things, it is chalked up to the one-bad-apple theory. The mental deterioration of occupying, killing, maiming, being killed and maimed, subjugating other human beings has a cruel way of perverting one’s mind.
Recently a U.S. soldier committed fratricide, by killing five of his comrades. Ironically, the murders took place at a clinic for traumatized, battle-wary and stressed out soldiers.
Suicides both in Iraq and among vets back home have been surprisingly high almost from the beginning of the war and have surged in recent months.
Also truly shocking is the number of veterans with brain trauma. These numbers get reported when a study emerges, then are forgotten. At least President Obama has upped money for treatment.
Last year there were 1,400 rapes of women in the military. See the video Rape in the Military.
While the corporate media and the military keeps churning out the stories of unparalleled heroism of U.S. soldiers they ignore the complete emotional, and mental breakdown of their humanness. When soldiers can throw puppies off of a cliff, imagine what they are doing to civilians, imagine what they are, or were doing during the Bush years.
RISING DOWN
by Malik Isasis
The jingoistic way in which politicians and the corporate media have canonized U.S. soldiers has created an atmosphere in which soldiers have become dehumanized, quixotic beings who fight out of the purity of their hearts, and who are beyond reproach. The praise often rises to the level of absurdity, as terms like American Hero is thrown around loosely. The problem with being dehumanized this way is that the subject of the dehumanization becomes a pawn, a billboard for propaganda.
Over praising, and using hyperbole of heroism is just as bad as over ridiculing because soldiers aren’t seen as human, their pain isn’t seen as human and when they do inhumane things, it is chalked up to the one-bad-apple theory. The mental deterioration of occupying, killing, maiming, being killed and maimed, subjugating other human beings has a cruel way of perverting one’s mind.
Recently a U.S. soldier committed fratricide, by killing five of his comrades. Ironically, the murders took place at a clinic for traumatized, battle-wary and stressed out soldiers.
Suicides both in Iraq and among vets back home have been surprisingly high almost from the beginning of the war and have surged in recent months.
Also truly shocking is the number of veterans with brain trauma. These numbers get reported when a study emerges, then are forgotten. At least President Obama has upped money for treatment.
Last year there were 1,400 rapes of women in the military. See the video Rape in the Military.
While the corporate media and the military keeps churning out the stories of unparalleled heroism of U.S. soldiers they ignore the complete emotional, and mental breakdown of their humanness. When soldiers can throw puppies off of a cliff, imagine what they are doing to civilians, imagine what they are, or were doing during the Bush years.
posted by Malik Isasis at
11:38 PM
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