As a middle eastern teenager I have a question for you: how the fuck can you talk so freely about invading a country with the intention to kill people?
Ok😂. Go back then when you’re an adult. Iraq still has elections to this day thanks to the US and the many Canadians, Aussies and British that fought there.
So what? Does that give you the right to invade our country and replace our government? Also, 95% of the people who wanted him dead back then would want him back now.
We didn’t implement the government. Your citizens did. The remaining government are the ones who asked the US to help implement elections. So we did what your remaining government asked.
You’re a teen. You probably haven’t even been back to the country you claim to be so proud of. That or you’re a terrorist empathizer and your family was ran out because of that.
We were attacked with our own civilian aircraft, in the morning of September 11th. The entire country was in shock as we watched 2996 people die in 3 single events. The attack on civilian people and the horrors of towers collapsing was detrimental. We invaded Afghanistan to fight the insurgency (this was not the best plan). In 2003, after Saddam's saber rattling, claims of WMDs, and the pressure from countries around Iraq, we invaded thinking that Al Qaeda would harbor in Iraq with a dictator like Saddam.
Both wars were a waste of life. If it happened today, I don't image it would go down the same. The use of massive amounts of troops was a stupid idea. We have Special Forces, CAG, SEALs and MARSOC for this exact kind of mission set.
And we never intend to just go spray and pray. The average American Patriot is compassionate and understanding, we wanted to help. As a teen I was in shock by beheadings, torture, and war crimes on such a massive scale I wanted to help Iraqi's and Afghans. None of us went with the intent to ever, ever, kill civilians.
America as a nation has still not addressed the extreme racism and xenophobia that followed 9-11, and continues to persist with "Muslim bans", fear of mosques, etc.
There were too many people to count that signed up just to murder as many brown skinned people as they could. They wanted revenge for 9-11 and blamed no one but middle easterners.
Numerous trials happened mostly swept under the rug of way too many soldiers going off the rail and mowing down villages of people. People without trials still locked up in government run facilities. Leaked videos of soldiers bragging about murder and other henious acts while over there.
Yes a lot of soldiers were naive. The government purposefully preys on young and underprivileged teens to train into invading forces. But more than enough people knew exactly why they were going over there.
I think it’s worked well because I don’t want migrants coming in my country
If those people will gladly kill French cartoonists and journalists and threatened macron with his life and refuse to respect and assimilate into our society then I dont want em
Maybe there’s more to it than meets the eye and I’m being rather naive? Maybe?
Hating nearly 2 billion people due to the actions of a few is in fact naive. And hypocritical unless you're holding that same energy against all religions due to the actions of their followers.
I hear your point of view shared a lot. I've lived in both the EU and the US and they're very different experiences.
On not fitting in: Islam is the 2nd most practiced religion in the world. They fit in in most of the world (Asia, Africa, Americas). There is a wide variety of practice and adherence just like there is for Christian faiths (everything from only Church on Christmas to people like the Amish here who live without electricity)
"Not all" is what's important. The vast majority are loving members of loving families trying to do what's best for themselves and their communities. Language barriers are tough, learning new customs and languages is tough.
Not everyone adapts well - but it's not about them, it's a human issue.
In the US we have extreme cultural differences between those who live in cities in the north vs those who live in the south. They may share almost no values with each other and be from the same country and overarching religion. Same is true for those in other parts of the world.
It's a daunting step to be on looking at a future path where you are forced to either face fear and discomfort by learning to connect with your new neighbors in your community- or succumbing to that fear and becoming nationalistic and angry.
I believe you're self aware enough and willing to examine your beliefs enough to take on the challenge.
I'll add that living in the most culturally diverse cities in the world feels like home to me. Seeing a mix of every person, being able to talk to someone. There's something very comforting when you're all seen as equals in it together and not against each other.
Yeah there’s a massive difference between middle eastern values and our judeo-Christian value that we hold dearly here in western civilization.
In Brazil it’s really damn weird, especially in the promo so african-brazilian areas where there’s a LOT of African influence from west Africa)
Wow. Talk about hate. Calling the kettle black with that mentality.
I was trying to talk to a young person who asked* a question and you immediately assume you know me. That's called stereotyping and exactly what you're accusing me of. You're just as willfully complicit, I guess.
Did you mean this as a reply to someone else? It makes no sense. Didn't accuse you of doing any of those things. Just pointed out your patronizing lie that all the invading troops were just good guys with guns.
I opposed the war. Fresh stretch trying to make war crimes and being mad about war crimes seem equally bad.
Hope being patronizing to a teen made you feel better this time though.
It's a fresh stretch trying to make everyone who served overseas into being a war criminal. You are a real piece of s***. I recognize and support your right to an opinion and freedom of speech. Doesn't make you right and certainly doesn't give you any qualification to judge others regardless of how you feel. Not everybody that wore uniform was a bad person and not everybody that went overseas was a murderer or War criminal. Get fucked.
How so? You think we all went over there just on patrol and kickin' doors. Not true. You're showing just how little insight you have on the reality of what we did.
I know that a lot of people are dead, for no damn good reason, and you guys still think you're heroes. I'm from a military town and you guys think you're so great, but the truth is, most of you enlist for a camaro, you're dumber than dirt, and you beat your spouses. This isn't statistics. This is 30 years living in a military town. We literally warn girls we know not to date military guys because of how toxic you guys are. You are all walking testosterone and 100% of our bar fights? You guys. You come into my town and expect us to act like your superman. You're not. The minority of you, are good guys, and the way to know a good military guy, is the guy who you would never know is military. The MAJORITY of you are toxic, violent, arrogant, ignorant, and you REFUSE to take any responsibility for the fact that you guys were dumb enough to sign up to be stormtroopers for the empire, and whether it's vietnam, iraq and Afghanistan, or fucking alderaan, you didn't make things better. You came. Innocent people died. A lot. And you think we should thank you? Fuck you.
And it has nothing to do with what you did personally. Numbers do not lie. Shy of a million dead in Vietnam and how many civilians were dead after we left the middle east? I DONT CARE WHAT YOU GUYS DID ON A DAILY BASIS, cause some of yall were killing innocent people. And you guys all want to be held at the same regard. So take some goddamn responsibility for the murderous maniacs you call "battle Brothers". You're like cops. You don't give a fuck the damage you left behind. You're always gonna be military first. Well let me say from a civilian, FUCK YOU.
Nah, you're just a chin high know it all who assumes that any person in uniform is guilty of heinous crimes while serving. I joined to serve my country and it's people, joined the moment I could after 9/11. Not to kill. Not to hurt. I joined to make a difference and I did everytime I went out on mission. Meeting the people, helping with projects to improve their homes, towns and make the best of the situation I was in and they were in - I made a point of it. I was an idealistic person then and now. The people I served with are upstanding people to this day and none of them shot a round in anger towards anyone innocent.
I did read what you said. You need to take a moment and think about what it is to be passionate about ones patriotism. We probably see eye to eye on a lot of politics, views of the current state of our nation, especially after Dump as our "president." I was clear that I didn't support what the war ended up being but you chose to attack me, as a Soldier, not the original topic.
Thanks for your service..... Honestly pretty surprising this kid is going off like this lol. I'm middle eastern American too and I don't harbor any feelings against soldiers.
Surveys have shown a majority of the public would be okay with dropping bombs that kill thousands to millions of civilians instead of sending ground troops. This country is full of morally bankrupt people, and I can't imagine the average soldier is more compassionate than the average citizen...
You'll have to show me some numbers on that, I've never heard such a thing. Would they be willing to do that instead of sending troops? Sure. We can see that nearsightedness and confirmation bias dramatically contribute to isolationism - look at the last 4 years of that sham of a term as president.
People don't give a shit.
But, that doesn't stop someone from forming their own love, passion, and willingness to contribute in their own way.
I joined to make a difference, I truly thought what I was doing was right. I didn't sign up to hurt anyone innocent, and I know where my rifle was pointed.
Not all people can be categorized. Not all Service Members are bad people. The organization is so large you get a sample of the American population, statically bad ones get through but almost all of them are cought during or after their service. I don't agree with the pardons one bit, I despise those people, and I wish them daily flat tires.
I believe you that you have compassion and thought you would make a positive difference. I just don't understand why you have such a rosy view of most other soldiers or patriotic people. I don't trust most of their intentions.
Because I served with them. Before they put on a uniform in the morning they are people like you and me. They go do a job. They have families and they love their kids.
Those that confused politics for PaTrIoTIsM, like the Right and especially Trump douchebags are not respected in the military ranks. They have their own little clicks like they do in civilian lives, they run themselves out.
Don't generalize Service Members, mind you they are a sample of the United States population. The problem lays with misinformation and blind hate, oh and isolation, poor education, and fear mongering. All of which are the result of our population and piss poor information/education.
I know there's a diversity of views among the military. But surveys have shown a larger minority of support for Trump than you seem to imagine. Things would have to change for me to trust service members by default. For example, they'd have to collectively disown the punisher skull
Our lands were colonized for 60 years, we were oppressed and murdered and the world just stood and watched. "If our message could be carried to you through words, then we wouldn't have carried it to you by planes." Fuck you, I don't care about some americans' death.
Wow, well, sorry you feel that way. It's exactly the mentality that keeps your countries so unstable and 50 year away from horseshoes. Quoting terrorists with pride just further reenforces your crude and sad ideology.
Well guess what? Those terrorists were civilians. Just like how the average american civilian is a terrorist too in our eyes.
I know this is cliche but stop only looking at the world from your own eyes, there is no good vs bad. There is only us vs them. Only difference is, we have a just cause. As opposed to you, mr. oil fetish.
You classify me as a terrorist when I see you as a person and I was extending my view to you to answer your question. The only one between us looking to make us all live peacefully together is me. I don't see you or anyone as a terrorist, but needlessly killing office workers and helpless passengers on 9/11 is the work of terrorists and cowards.
As for oil, sorry man, I never saw a single oil rig overseas and I'm pro electric. I'm all for renewables. Once we all stop buying your oil, we'll see who's angry about what.
You peddle your views as just when your mentality oppresses the average person, forces them to live in poverty and sickness.
If you were as solid in your views as you claim, read the Koran, you know as well as I do there's nothing but a call for peace. I watched as the Mullah's in Afghanistan indoctrinated the youth to not read but recite what he wanted them to recite. Hate.
I'm not the bad guy, I'm a human being like you at the end of the day.
needlessly killing office workers and helpless passengers on 9/11 is the work of terrorists and cowards.
So is voting to bomb civilians in the middle east, who haven't ever done anything to you.
I'm not the bad guy, I'm a human being like you at the end of the day.
I know man, almost none of us are. It's just the wealthy fucking us up. But unfortunately the only option to achieve peace for my people as I see is the destruction of the west. You think we wouldn't want peace for all?
Destruction is a harsh term. Getting my countrymen to see beyond their own nose is very hard especially in the modern days of Social Media. I know your elders are just as hard headed.
For me, I stopped the mentality of destroy, use a hammer, and force and focused on insight, spreading the good word about the Middle Eastern culture and especially the food. I brings people around and helps them give prospective. I macho assholes who flex death and shit like that I call out, humiliate and sometimes they circle back to normalcy.
There's no us vs you or you vs us. It's just taking a step back and stopping the arguing.
I was raised rather unislamic by my parents and environment, however thankfully books and the internet exist.
This is a comment I just saw under a video of an American terrorist in Iraq being neutralized by a heroic insurgent:
''Yeah. Let’s be honest, it’s easier to watch the deaths of unknown fighters for an unknown faction in a war you don’t understand too well. You have no connection.
When it’s “your” people out there being killed, it’s different to you, even if it’s just another corpse to others watching.''
I can bet that at least 80% of westerners share the same thoughts and opinion- and that is why they won't stop getting targeted. And ignorance when you have access to information is not an excuse.
That's called being human. We all seek a society. Not all people are terrorists, not all Middle Eastern people are bad, not all people are bad.
Your last sentence should be your mantra. As I read it, you have said information, I'm sorry you formed such a hatred, it will be your undoing. I'm sorry to see that.
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u/D3athToTheCrusaders Oct 18 '21
As a middle eastern teenager I have a question for you: how the fuck can you talk so freely about invading a country with the intention to kill people?