Defending Freedom? You Couldn't Defend Your Own Intelligence!

I really hate to bust on veterans only a week and a half after Memorial Day. But I am honestly sick of every veteran on the internet getting up in arms whenever someone criticizes the current administration, the job said administration is doing overseas, war, and soldiers in general.

The catchphrase that I have seen ad nauseum is something to the effect of, "We fought to defend your freedom, so blahdidee blah blah." I find this a curious expression. Aside from the fact that it sounds like it came verbatim from a recruiting advertisement or a neocon politician, I ask, "How does one defend an abstract concept?" Freedom isn't a physical thing you can hold in your hand; it's not a fortress with ramparts to throw boiling oil over the walls at the attacking barbarians. Freedom is one of those fantastic ideas the definition of which philosophers have battled over for thousands of years. What is Freedom? I could babble until blue in the face over the notion, it's constant battle with Determinism, etc. but let's stick to the concrete.

So, what exactly have our brave soldiers defended all this time? Certainly not their ability to think for themselves ("Freedom of thought?" I sarcastically ask). Our armed forces have been fighting for Security. Yes, security. Not some vague idea regarding the human condition, but the very real, physical act of protecting the nation from threats foreign and domestic. That's what the military of any nation is meant for, not cooking up some notion of "defending freedom." Leave freedom to the philosophers.

Why the confusion? Why the blatant regurgitation of military recruiting pamphlets? Well, I answer that freedom is something everyone can rally around. It's a desire of all people, everywhere. Who doesn't like to be free? Free from an oppressive government, free to make your own choices regarding your body and way of life, free to read whatever pleases you.* Uncle Sam says, "You're defending FREEDOM!" What argument can anyone make against that? Such a basic ideal that so many strive for; who wouldn't want to fight for freedom? Now toe the line, sucker.

What have our soldiers secured? Neither freedom, nor security (at least not in the past couple decades). Apparently, none of them are familiar with Ben Franklin and his famous writing. Unfortunately, most of my countrymen aren't familiar with Franklin's writing, or his delightful witticisms.

I understand that many soldiers and sailors and marines don't think this way. But the marching-in-line fanatics make the armed services look bad. Please, if you or someone you love fell for the smokescreen of "Freedom," set them straight and explain that concepts can't be defended save by words; the armed forces have a different duty to perform.




*Fancy how those freedoms are slipping away on this side of the pond.