It’s hit us. The United States is no longer capable, apparently, of getting people to enlist. Is anyone really surprised? I mean, ultimately, we’ve fuddled two “wars”, because our current administration is incompetent, and enlistment is down.
What does the US government, with their massive defense budget? They sure as hell don’t take the hint that the citizenry of the United States is tired of war, and that we’re ready to move in the direction that the European Union already is. No, instead they decide to pump more of their allocated budget into propaganda. Check this out:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQXXpUK49U4]
Note the first few lines: “so don’t tell me who’s wrong or right when liberty starts slipping away. If you ain’t gonna fight then get out of the way”
Somehow, in our drive to ‘bring democracy’ to the middle east (can I remind everyone we were initially in Iraq to save the world from Weapons of Mass Destruction, not bring democracy), we’ve gotten to the point disallowing dissent. “When liberty”, the basic freedoms every human being should enjoy, “starts slipping away”, we’re not supposed to tell “me” (who I assume is the government, because I’m sure Kid Rock didn’t just get millions of dollars to produce this song without the government looking over his shoulder) “who’s wrong or right”. So, when liberty, as defined by our government, starts ’slipping away’, we’re not supposed to voice our opinion.
This message of stifling dissent is wrapped in all sorts of pretty, patriotic words, and tied to imagery of a convoy of, presumably, national guard soldiers in what looks to be Iraq (or some other desert area). It’s meant to make the viewer feel “badass” about our country. Look at all the cool things you get to do when you’re in the National Guard! Look! You get to protect liberty! You’re badass enough to decide who’s wrong, or who’s right on difficult foreign policy issues!
Not convinced? “If you’re not gonna fight, then get out of the way”? To me, this reads as “If you’re not going to enlist, die for your country, and be another body we can throw at ‘terrists’, sit down, shut up. I don’t want to hear your opposing viewpoints, I don’t want to see you protesting”. This entire video is propaganda, imagery of ‘badass’ soldiers mixed with imagery of the same people, winning at Nascar (mind you, sponsored by the National Guard, did you catch that?).
This culture of stifling dissenting voices is harmful to the United States. Sure, it makes the National Guard’s job easier, and I’m sure the government is all for making people shut up and do what it tells them. Ultimately, this is the point of government, to an extent. We accept governmental control in exchange for safety, security, and various other services (trade, etc.). At least in this country, we are supposed to have a degree of say in our government’s policies, and we’re supposed to be able to decide things like foreign policy (or vote people in who will, if you want to be technical).
Stifling dissent leads to a the populace believing that what the government is doing is right. If no one is dissenting, everyone agrees. If everyone agrees with everything the government is doing, the government can continue doing it. If the government continues to have free-reign in what it’s doing, the government can continue stifling dissenters, and it’s just a viscious cycle.
On a final note, Kid Rock isn’t the only one. 3 Doors Down likes the National Guard too:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJRthpxDM10]
