I think we can enrich and broaden our discussion here by taking into account the excellent work of George Lakoff in [em]Moral Politics[/em] where he describes how conservatives think, and the differences between how liberals and conservatives think. The "yes sir" mentality is quite common in our society and many others, and has been for centuries. A key contribution Lakoff makes, among others, is to relate this mentality to the parenting practices and culture of parenting and child-rearing that lead right to this mentality. He calls it the "Strict Father" family model of parenting. We need to recognize how important this is in our society, and help folks in our society in general realize what the consequences of our choices are in how we choose to raise our children, and the consequences of women's choices when they chose what type of man to marry and how they are going to raise their children once they are in that position.

Actually, generally, this is a quite stable characteristic, once children reach adulthood, though there is some change for some, but by no means all, with aging and reaching midlife.

But I'm afraid the conditioning is already done, for the most part, by the time young adults enter the service. The training you mention I think is only a refinement of something that's already in place, like the fancy icing on a cake that has already been baked.

But out society as a whole has only begun to understand how differences in "family values" and childraising patterns play out. We can help spread that understanding by encouraging study and discussion of this precise issue--how family values influence US foreign policy, for example. As Jason says, we need to articulate these things, and lead on these things. If we're aware, we can make some important choices. If we're not even aware of what the choices are, or that there are choices to be made, or what the effects of our choices are likely to be, then we have little prospect of change.

If you know warrior types that serve best in a "sir, yes sir" capacity, then we have multiple archetypes at work here. My warrior is like King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table, or Robin Hood, or a martial arts master. Your warrior is not fit to be the squire to such a one. The warrior and the visionary mentalities are not mutually exclusive by my definition, although I certainly agree that they are mutually exclusive by yours.

I believe the "sir, yes sir" mentality of blind loyalty and obedience is not even natural to the human species but must be "drilled" into the recruits during their time in "boot" camp, which is why I suggested dogs (yes, of war! I figured you'd pick that up!), for whom such a mentality is perfectly natural. It's the bottom tiers of command that thrive on the domination and control - perhaps because they are overcompensating for buying in so successfully and completely to "sir, yes sir" relative to those who fail to get promoted! By the time they reach the higher tiers, I think they're more "over it" and more likely to allow their humanity to surface again.

So to get back to your original challenge, perhaps what's needed here - besides a Peace Academy to allow a young adult to choose whether to become a trained killer or a trained life-bringer - in order for the propeace community and the military to be able to work in harmony together is an overhaul of those dehumanizing basic training methods. After all, slightly less drastic but still humiliating practices get fraternities in trouble with the law. Perhaps we would find that fewer, smarter, more highly skilled soldiers would make us feel more secure than a more numerous but less intelligent and skilled pack of highly trained dogs!

Editor, propeace.net

I am in accord with your position about overgrowth and the despicable practices of the recruiters. I think it is right to protest military recruiting as a way to draw attention to these evils and to the policies that foster them. However, the article refers to assembling an angry mob, slashing tires, and "looking for action". This is clearly not a peaceful demonstration or protest. This kind of violence is counterproductive to creating real widespread peace because it doesn't garner any supporters. Further, these practices do not influence the policies that lead to overgrowth of the military and the recruiting deficits that tempt recruiters into despicable methods. These disruptions cause policymakers to polarize, dig in their heels and turn their backs on reason, understanding and compromise.

I completely agree with you about the less fortunate among us being presented with military service as their only option to "advance" in the world. In this particular case, I would have to say that the UC Santa Cruz graduates have options in life. Yes, those options are not equitably represented at the job fair. But if we work carefully, conscientiously and lawfully, then someday soon the Peace Academy will be right there next to the Marines at the job fair, and students can simply choose whether they wish to develop their warrior nature or their peacemaker nature.

As for the platoons of dogs (dogs of war?), and preserving our "true warriors" for leadership, I think that warrior types are not necessarily suitable for leadership. They are better serving in a "sir, yes sir" capacity in accordance with the discipline in their training. Make no mistake that warriors appreciate such things as chain of command, mastery of weapons, competitive action, etc. I don't believe this reality can be stuffed back into the archetypal closet. We must therefore create the environment in which warriors can be warriors without creating worldwide catastrophe. Leave leadership to visionaries.

I think it is very important NEVER to frame the efforts of counter-recruiters as being "just" part of the anti-war movement. People like CCCO and the various veterans groups are serving as an essential reality test and showing our young people nonviolent ways to move forward on their life paths. Perhaps the alternatives they are offering are not peacemaking in the sense of bringing violent conflict to an end, but I would guess that the alternatives are peacebuilding since every youth who is enlightened by them is one less who will find it necessary to bear arms. I long for the day when we have our Peace Academy where there will be a place for people to serve their country and humanity in a nonviolent way.

Editor, propeace.net

I can make peace with the existence of the military and still actively resist its recruiting tactics and other practices. The capitalist growth agenda is the root cause of our overdevelopment, whether in the marketplace or in "national security." In a country that spends more than the rest of the nations of the world combined on its military, there is neither reason nor excuse for tolerating a recruiting program that spends more per new soldier recruited than I make in a year.

There is neither reason nor excuse for the socio-economic profiling that sends the recruiters to tech schools rather than universities. I will not be convinced that more "warrior types" are to be found among the urban and rural poor. In fact, I would guess that the hayseed in his pickup truck and the center city dweller on the bus are less, not more likely to be warriors than the suburbanite with his road rage and his 4X4 SUV.

There is neither reason nor excuse for recruiters to lie to candidates about the risks and benefits of the job they are about to undertake. How many returning vets tell the same story about how they thought the only way they would ever be able to go to school or get job training or see a bit of the world was to sign up? Aggressive, coercive recruiting tactics are not based on our need for safety but rather on the military's "need" to justify its ever-growing budget. Does the malignant growth of militarization make you feel safer? Not me!

There is neither reason nor excuse for the military to lower its literacy standards and give the power over life and death to those who lack the discernment to use that power with the restraint that comes from knowledge and wisdom. The "dumbing down" of this country is bad enough without lethal force being added to the mix. The true warrior is intelligent and well-educated and capable of on-the-spot assessment of threatening situations and consideration of alternative responses. Instead, due to the mass production techniques required by the growth agenda, our "sir, yes sir!" military fosters blind loyalty and obedience.

Why not enlist platoons of dogs for military purposes, put the ignorant and illiterate to work in menial jobs that require human hands, and protect our true warriors for the leadership positions that require their skills?

Editor, propeace.net

Disrupting military recruiting will not create peace. It will only create further division and hostility between the propeace community and the military community. The propeace community needs to make peace with the existence of the military, the need for the military and for people's choice to be trained as warriors if that is what they wish.

The problems that need to be addressed are the policies that lead to war. The military does not set policy. It responds to commands from policy makers.

What we should do is put our energy into a) opposition to the current warmaking policy and b) articulating a replacement peacemaking policy. If we are successful in enacting the latter, then there will be less need for aggressive, coercive military recruiting tactics.

Great minds DO think alike! I recognize all your material, Rainbow Brain, but while I have the imagination to hear your CD in my head, I don't have the technical expertise to produce such a project. Would you be willing to send it to Jason and let him post an MP-3 link here at propeace.net? I am SURE I could find some outlets for it. CodePINK, for example, has put out a call for such work to use in the Mothers Day MONTH action in DC. (You might want to add a "spot" for your blog.)

Editor, propeace.net

I*do and would welcome anyone who would like to read this where ever there is a group willing to listen. The music i use is a short cut from Buffalo Springfields - For What It's Worth, Theres Something Happening Here, which repeats over and over and has speechs from several moments of civil rights history interlaced through it, which i burned to a CD.

* * *
There’s Something Happening Here

A statement on the Pentagons establishment of a national data base to track the activities and interests of teenagers for the purpose of determining their predisposition toward military recruitment.

*DRAMAITC - PAUSE - DRAMAITC - PAUSE *

There will be no silly wand waving, genetics or book reading in this class, For those of you who possess the predisposition, I can teach you to - bottle fame, to gain political power, to even put a stopper in death. . . .

* Que. - MUSIC - Que. - MUSIC - Que. - MUSIC *

Give me a - W.
Give me an - A.
Give me an - R.

What’s that spell ? - WAR

WHAT’S THAT SPELL ? - WAR

LOUDER - WHAT'S THAT SPELL ? - WAR

Now come on all you BIG DUMB TEENS, Uncle Sam needs your help again, got himself in a terrible jam way down yonder NEAR the promised land,

Put down you books and pick up a gun, WHOOO-WHO-OOOO, were gona have AHA-HHH - LIKE - a whole lot of fun. . .

Now it’s one - two - three, what are we fighting for, I KNOW IT’S OIL, but I don’t give a DAM - HALLELUJAH my next stop is the promised land. . .

Now it’s 5 - 6 - 7 - 8, open up the pearly gates, no time to wonder why, THE PRICE OF GAS IS TO DAM HIGH,

HELL 9-11 IS THE REASON WHY. . .

JESUS we’re all going to die.

*READ - W.A.R. - READ - W.A.R. - READ - W.A.R.*

* * *
W.A.R.

W. A. R. has been waged from sea to sea its affects are felt by you and me,

W. A. R. has an ugly face which belongs to the human race,

W. A. R. it's always the same a dirty, bloody game,

W. A. R. to those who fight somehow it never seems right,

W. A. R. to all of humankind can only mean this,

W.orld A.t R.isk......

Give me a - W.
Give me an - A.
Give me an - R.

What’s that spell ? - WORLD AT RISK

WHAT’S THAT SPELL ? - WORLD AT RISK

Right NOW, this moment, the government is STALKING your teen every time S/HE goes online.

PEACE - All*Ways leads to Truth

TRUTH - All*Ways leads to Peace

BL*M
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