Post by nathanael on Jun 12, 2008 1:06:08 GMT -7
Some days ago, McClatchy has reported on the unprecedented rate of soldiers committing suicide in the U.S. Army. The experts are scrambling to pinpoint what the reason might be, but they seem to focuse on all the wrong reasons. The suicides of soldiers are clearly a tragic modern phenomenon.
In history such suicides only happened when armies refused to fall into the hands of the enemy, like in battle of Masada or in Belgrade during the Turkish siege. Otherwise, the suicides only occurred in order to gain strategic advantage, like the kamikaze or the "human bombs." But suicides of the U.S. soldiers are quite different. It appears that the reasons are twofold: the mental immaturity of some soldiers in face of the demanding new form of warfare; and the possible hazing by inscrupulous and mean platoon commanders! When these things happen all at once, it is conceivable that some extra sensitive souls break down! It is unfortunate that the "experts," especially the army psychologists, say so little about it. There is either myopia, or cover-up. It takes independent observes like myself to raise these questions. I do it because I find this phenomenon personally disturbing. Every unit in modern times ought to have independent ombudsmen where the soldiers can turn for help when they feel they are being bullied!
When I voiced my concerns, I was immediately criticized that "Nathanael does not know anything about the Army: our military is kinder and more responsive than any in military history." I protested. I did not mean, I said, that all platoon or other commanders were bad, but only that one bad apple can cause a wave of suicides! There are indeed scores of good commanders who care deeply for the troops!
It's June 12, 2008. The confirmation that I was right came today in the news. First, the long sought proof of the unicorn's existence has been found. Second, and this concerns our topic, the proof that I was dead right on one bad apple causing soldiers' suicides, has also been found! A coward is someone who will do something against a weak creature (or human being) that he thinks he can get away with. Lance Cpl. David Motari, the platoon commander in Hawaii, is such a Marine! The media report that this individual, like another (Italian), who spat in the face of a Danish soccer player, thought that he was doing nothing wrong in mortifying and killing in agony a defenseless puppy, only to impress his (Hispanic) friend!! Now, imagine this platoon commander in interaction with a soldier emotionally troubled for whatever reason: the soldier would probably be induced to suicide by this human beast! So the people who "accused" me of misjudgment should think twice: with all due respect to the unicorns, we do have unicorns in the Army! Little wonder that Americans are hated abroad! All America is hated because of a few cowards!
In history such suicides only happened when armies refused to fall into the hands of the enemy, like in battle of Masada or in Belgrade during the Turkish siege. Otherwise, the suicides only occurred in order to gain strategic advantage, like the kamikaze or the "human bombs." But suicides of the U.S. soldiers are quite different. It appears that the reasons are twofold: the mental immaturity of some soldiers in face of the demanding new form of warfare; and the possible hazing by inscrupulous and mean platoon commanders! When these things happen all at once, it is conceivable that some extra sensitive souls break down! It is unfortunate that the "experts," especially the army psychologists, say so little about it. There is either myopia, or cover-up. It takes independent observes like myself to raise these questions. I do it because I find this phenomenon personally disturbing. Every unit in modern times ought to have independent ombudsmen where the soldiers can turn for help when they feel they are being bullied!
When I voiced my concerns, I was immediately criticized that "Nathanael does not know anything about the Army: our military is kinder and more responsive than any in military history." I protested. I did not mean, I said, that all platoon or other commanders were bad, but only that one bad apple can cause a wave of suicides! There are indeed scores of good commanders who care deeply for the troops!
It's June 12, 2008. The confirmation that I was right came today in the news. First, the long sought proof of the unicorn's existence has been found. Second, and this concerns our topic, the proof that I was dead right on one bad apple causing soldiers' suicides, has also been found! A coward is someone who will do something against a weak creature (or human being) that he thinks he can get away with. Lance Cpl. David Motari, the platoon commander in Hawaii, is such a Marine! The media report that this individual, like another (Italian), who spat in the face of a Danish soccer player, thought that he was doing nothing wrong in mortifying and killing in agony a defenseless puppy, only to impress his (Hispanic) friend!! Now, imagine this platoon commander in interaction with a soldier emotionally troubled for whatever reason: the soldier would probably be induced to suicide by this human beast! So the people who "accused" me of misjudgment should think twice: with all due respect to the unicorns, we do have unicorns in the Army! Little wonder that Americans are hated abroad! All America is hated because of a few cowards!