You Reap What You Sow
Why should Bush’s “conscience” bother him? These are willing volunteers who have pledged their lives to the nation state. They are nothing less than his partners in crime. Did a single individual voice his displeasure with his master’s policy? Why should their humble acquiescence cause him to reconsider his decisions? 
These men and women are a tyrant’s dream! They have willingly forfeited their natural right to self ownership and handed over the future of their lives and limbs to one who is perceived as wiser than they. They are influenced by platitudinous, nationalistic rhetoric and convinced by carefully crafted state propaganda. How could any playground bully or gang leader not be inspired and reassured by such a lot?
The suffering of his willing servants will not cause a tyrant to reflect, it will only confirm (to him) the legitimacy of his crimes. Witnessing the close-up, in-your-face misery of the innocents and their desperate screams for justice is the only hope to restore a demented mind and lost soul.
November 13th, 2007 at 1:13 am
[…] John Angliss wrote an interesting post today on You Reap What You SowHere’s a quick excerpt […]
December 1st, 2007 at 10:31 pm
To the extent that soldiers willingly engage in deliberate violence against innocent people, they are certainly complicit in the crime and should be held accountable.
On the other hand, I don’t think it’s quite true that all soldiers in the American military are “willing volunteers.” Normally when someone willingly signs on for a job, they can always quit later if they have second thoughts about either the job in general, or about specific requirements imposed on them by their employers. Everywhere else in the world besides the military, this is called “quitting.” In the military it’s called “desertion” and it can be treated as a hanging crime if the government so chooses.
Soldiers, even so-called “volunteers,” who want to leave the military, but are coerced into staying by the threat of imprisonment or death, should not be considered willing participants, any more than victims of the draft should.
December 6th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Using the excuse of “contractual coercion” is equivalent to pleading, “the devil made me do it” or the ever popular “just following orders.” Millions of people have been able to perceive the military as an organization they, personally, wanted no part of. Those who volunteer do so despite the reality that the military is a killing machine carrying out the dirty work of the ruling regime. If this reality escapes their vision that is their error to deal with. Every individual is responsible for his/her decisions and choices.
A couple years of jail time seems a small price to pay to quit killing (and/or be killed) while saving your soul.
December 7th, 2007 at 12:48 am
I didn’t say that so-called “volunteer” soldiers aren’t responsible for their actions while in the military, or that the government’s coercion against them excuses immoral actions. I said that they aren’t actually willing volunteers. Willing volunteers are free to withdraw their decision to volunteer if they repent, or get scared, or have second thoughts. Soldiers aren’t.