fetish...no, more of a way of life, I think... (if you're speaking of the country as a whole if, on the other hand, you're speaking of certain individuals, then fetish it is...) Ever read "Johnny Got His Gun," Alexander?

I never thought of the military as a "fetish", please explain.

No, Wer, but wasn't it a movie, too? Aside of individual's military- and war-obsession (which - in much lesser degrees - other countries have, too), I think the US as a society pretty much are influenced by the military, maybe in love with their military, perhaps even obsessed with the military. And I'm not talking about individuals now, mind you! There are few areas in live where military-style rites and elements do not show up (salutations, pledges, flags, uniforms). The military goes into schools to present their ideas and recruit fresh personnel. The entertainment strongly dotes on the military for story-lines (Cavallery vs. Native Americans, Civil War, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, movies like Top Gun, tv series, Sci-Fi,...). There more things that tie into this, but that's what I see, all in a nutshell. I do not see such extreme fascination with military issues in other countries.

sadly enough Alexander, the public really seems to be less taken with the military as a whole. no more cold war... youngsters don't see a need to defend their own country because it has never really been threatened in their lifetime. I for one, would actually enjoy seeing people thinking as they recited the pledge or sang the national anthem... they don't really I was a military brat, taught that the flag flew for one reason and one reason only... because men and women long before me had given their lives for freedom, for choice, for a country that would ideally be free of oppression... Many people now see the military as an overspending section of the government, and military personnel as leeches off of that system. There are groups of people in this country with extrememly militant attitudes which adopt "American Military Values" in bits and pieces... some of those groups are fanatical and dangerous to the very freedoms that this country is supposed to protect... (uh oh.. I'm blabbering and babbling...) anyway... US Military Culture could be taken in a few contexts nowadays...

and the media promotes war, etcetera because it sells... war, in fact, as long as it is going on, promotes the economy... it's more about the money and the "freedom" than it necessarily is about the military, Alexander... (and yes it was a movie, and the basis for a Metallica song...)

(and I used to show it like once every season at a youth club where we ran something like our on cinema on 16mm projectors) Please notice: I do not mix the US military's culture with the US's military culture, though they overlap at some parts. While the military itself has become less important, the fascination of the USA as a society with force and Forces seems still existant.

I think there's some overlap of the military culture by the military culture. They have some similarities.

Sure. But there is a difference of how the military sees itself, and how it is seen by its country. And that's where I think the USA is special (mark that: different). I mean, not the military makes the tv shows, and not the military creates the computer games, etc. It's the society that reenforces this imagery - which possibly paints a picture much different from what the service men and women might draw. What do you say?

Wow, what an interesting perception. Most people I know wouldn't hesitate to denigrate the military (sorry, Wolf). My husband is reviled and scorned by some of our closest friends as a civil servant supporting the Dept. of Defense. When I think of the military as portrayed by the media, Operation Tailhook and high level cover-ups are what come to mind, not "Top Gun" and the ilk.

exactly part of all of this, I think, is that we are "brainwashed" from an early age on patriotism and how great our government, etcetera is and how all of our freedoms were won, secured, defended by the military...if you respect the military, you respect the government which means you are happy little sheep who do not question authority... our military is voluntary, voting is voluntary, "anyone" can be a member of the government this encourages "participation" and support because it implies partial ownership thus making questioning authority moot because you are, in effect, questioning yourself the military has secured our freedom our freedom holds us hostage we can't get rid of it because we have been taught we are it an almost perfect self-perpetuating system

Wer! You hold the key! Notice how ALL these "Culture" things I created are separate issues, but also entwined - sometimes very subtly so? Surprised me to find that out, reading what you people had to say about it. "the military has secured our freedom our freedom holds us hostage we can't get rid of it because we have been taught we are it" So, would being free be at last achieved by being not free? What un-freedom would that be, what would you give up to be properly free? Or, do you prefer being free, but in restraints to restraining yourself, limiting yourself to become free? The cornerstone is perhaps the perception of the US-american concept of liberty. (Actually, folks, you'd be surprised how people in the military see the military and the society around it. They are much more critical of their employer and the whole concept than you'd guess. After all, it's their butts on the line... And society demands them to act up to expectations. That's why it's necessary to differentiate between the society's military culture and the military's own military culture.)

Alexander... please define 'properly free' for me...

Ow, hard thing. What we agree on is that our seeming freedom depends on compromises, right? Work to eat, etc., right? "Properly free" would be not having to deal with any compromises. Need not necessarily be positive. (Not much time to think stuff up right now.)

properly free=anarchy then, correct?

No. Gotta find words. Stand by for further transmissions.

still thinking??

(have never figured out how to stop...)

*grin* granted. I was actually referring to Alexander who was at a loss for words...

...and time. Work hard on the mag. Stay posted. Creative thinking might return any day!