Proof that American middle class has become too alienated from the reality of warfare

[Imran Siddiqui]

Freaking scammers... and the thing is that they are so dumb too, that it is easy to know they are lying to us. Of course then you have the people who don't realize that low taxes means the government doesn't do everything for you. I'm sorry, we aren't going to LIE to your employer so you can get what you want!

[chequita guevara]

I don't think I've ever called the DoL, and I probably could have used their help getting overtime pay a few years back.

[mrmitchell]

How many of 'em are still around that dealt with WW2 and earlier? The cold war thing was mostly crap for whiners.

Well, this says that there's 100,000 Europeans age 65 and over (1995) thus were born before 1930 and witnessed WW2. (14% of total population)

However, the effects of the wars are still around...for example, swastikas are banned in Germany...

I'll admit that the firsthand experiencers of wars and their horrors are mostly dead or aging (even though they occupy a nice 14% chunk of the population). But, to say that middle class Europe doesn't know the "horrors of war" because they didn't firsthand experience it is just, well, crap.

Eh...

[Imran Siddiqui]

I don't think I've ever called the DoL, and I probably could have used their help getting overtime pay a few years back.

Jeez, you should have called earlier . Well you still can call (I think it'd be Wage and Hour that handles that) but they may tell stories about the guy who wants his OT pay from XX years ago . Though you can curtail the story telling if you have documentation and whatnot .

[Sava]

The United States (except for veterans) is completely ignorant of war. They haven't had to see their cities destroyed, their friends and families killed. Americans are clueless. They think war is a game. Most of these chickenhawks would probably **** their pants if they were stuck in the middle of a war.

[Verto]

So can we assume you are likewise clueless about war?

[GePap]

While the US has sent more of its boys to die since 1945 than Europe, as sava states, people in the uS have been blessed with great ignorance about the reality of political violence, one of the reaosns 9/11 affected people here so much- it is the ONLY great attack on the 48 states since 1814. And no one is alive to remember the last time War affected people int he uS directly at home, the civil war.


But while more Americans have died, we forget the fact that the Europeans fough imperial wars, sometimes very messy ones- the Brits have seen lots of combat, and the French, besides Indochina and Algeria have been sending troops all over the place in their old empire as well.

So this notion that Europeans don't "know" war is crap (plus, a higher portion of Europeans have undergone military service than Americans, given drafts).

[GePap]

Originally posted by Verto
So can we assume you are likewise clueless about war?

It's one of those things you know you don;t know. Personally, I hope I and anyone I love never knows it either.

[RGBVideo]

Well, this says that there's 100,000 Europeans age 65 and over (1995) thus were born before 1930 and witnessed WW2. (14% of total population)

100 000 THOUSAND... Sig material

Think, a bit before posting something you've 100% copy/pasted.

[Sava]

Originally posted by Verto
So can we assume you are likewise clueless about war?

absolutely... however, much of my family survived WW2 and has first hand experience with it. That gives me a more accurate perspective than most dopey Americans.

I'm also not in denial about my ignorance.

[Verto]

Originally posted by Sava
absolutely... however, much of my family survived WW2 and has first hand experience with it. That gives me a more accurate perspective than most dopey Americans.

I'm also not in denial about my ignorance.

You think most dopey Americans don't similarly have relatives who fought in World War II, Korea, or Vietnam, and to a certain extent, the Gulf Wars?

[Pekka]

Well I guess this clip can appear cheesy to many. If I'm honest, I think it's cheesy too. But when I think about it, I don't think there's whole lots of wrong in this clip.

The only thing that bothers me is bringing that song to it. I don't want to hear about angels and stuff and see guns. They don't mix in my head, just like alcohol and driving. But that's my problem, and I know many don't have a problem with it.. just me. So.. cheesy definitely IMO, but hey some like it like that so I don't blame them.

I don't like to mix up religion and wars in any ways.. not even personal level. I know this is not mixing religion and war, but even this is bothering me personally. Not that others do it, I just can't. The only way I can see a priest in combat is if he/she blesses the troops before going into combat, and is there if someone wants to talk face to face with some spiritual issues or personal problem type of things. But that's it, other than that the priest better stay away from me because it ruins my spirits in a way. I don't know, maybe I'm just weird like that.

[GePap]

Originally posted by Verto


You think most dopey Americans don't similarly have relatives who fought in World War II, Korea, or Vietnam, and to a certain extent, the Gulf Wars?

He means more than veterans, but civilians who lived through war and what it brings- that is the part of war Americans have little clue about- living in a warzone beyond being a participant who's home is elsewhere. Veterans, if they live, get to go home. Same is not true for locals.

[mrmitchell]

Originally posted by VJ

100 000 THOUSAND... Sig material

Think, a bit before posting something you've 100% copy/pasted.

I don't get it, I didn't post "100,000 THOUSAND", I posted "100,000 Europeans" (nor did I copy/paste )

EDIT: Oh. Damn, now I see it. You Finns have a really dopey way of telling people they ****ed up.

[Sava]

Originally posted by GePap


He means more than veterans, but civilians who lived through war and what it brings- that is the part of war Americans have little clue about- living in a warzone beyond being a participant who's home is elsewhere. Veterans, if they live, get to go home. Same is not true for locals.

exactly... being a soldier in a warzone... is different than being a civilian, watching your home and town destroyed and your family killed. And the Gulf War? please... i know it was traumatic for a lot of people, but most gulf war "veterans" didn't even witness some of the more intense and gruesome aspects of that conflict. Plus, that war was primarily Saddam's army getting the **** kicked out of it in the desert. It doesn't compare to the civilian devastation in ww2. American troops didn't even go into any Iraqi cities.

But Verto... don't you think it's strange that those who have been in war are usually hesitant about using it so capriciously?