Complacency instead of critical thinking seems to be the causa sine qua non for being an American these days. Instead of going along with the program Americans would be much better off keeping in mind what Benjamin Franklin once wisely observed:

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

When the government tells its citizens here in the United States to jump [or to bend over or to be subjected to indignities and humiliation] they usually inquire of that government official- how high? instead of a resounding NO.

"...former Mets great Tom Seaver came on screen making a pitch for vets, which he concluded this way: 'They’ve made their sacrifice. Now, it’s time for us to do the same.'"

I do not know the full context of Mr. Seaver's remarks, but to me it sounds like he is saying that the little people in the armed forces have made their sacrifices so the plutocrats, our betters, can prosper, and now it is time for the other little people to make sacrificies, maybe including giving up their Social Security and Medicare, so that the plutocrats can further prosper. Until the plutocrats are required to make the big sacrifice, and become little people themselves, it seems foolish for the little people to make any more sacrifices.

"Sacrifice-lite turns out to have less body and isn’t filling, but nobody’s about to complain. Not in America."

Although these calls for "sacrifice" might seem boring and innocuous, they are much more insidious and malevolent than it first appears.

Just as TV commercials and product placement in movies, etc, subliminally inure the consumer into accepting his/her role as a participant in the American consumption culture, the calls for "sacrifice" are the elite's attempts to habituate American citizens to their new roles as serfs and peons.

Look at these soldiers, they kill innocent people for their fascist overlords.

They have given up their vestiges of being human beings.

What, dear citizen, is the role you will fill? What will pieces of humanity will you sacrifice for the elite?

Just as the inane/mundane creatures that inhabit reality television, where the common talentless person can rise to the level of exalted celebrity, the citizens tasked with killing innocent people abroad for the benefit of the fascist elite now can hope for their "turn in the sun" by being honored at one of the countless sporting events where their obedience in doing their master's dirty work and bidding will be full recognized and clapped at during innings and quarters.

USA!

I've found it truly discouraging to encounter overwhelming apologism for the military from liberals who often even consider themselves "pacifists," simply because the military provides an income to someone who made bad life decisions, who finds comfort in the authoritarian structure of the military, or who embraces violence and jingoistic nationalism as a point of personal pride.

"Just following orders" has been accepted as a valid excuse for almost any complicity or atrocity, as has the maudlin "just trying to support their family."

Thanks to the above posters for reminding me that some resistance to militaristic mindset still exists....

A "Democracy" of Idiots

Bring back the draft and suddenly every war will end quickly. Which, of course, is why they don't bring the draft back.

That's nothing.

I have heard that you are at Yankees game, and don't stand up during the national anthem (or "God Bless America sung at the 7th inning stretch), or head to the aisle to find the bathroom, you are ejected from the ballpark by the ushers and security.

"Patriotism" - particularly the idolatrous USAn variant - is one of the most vile, filthy aspects of the human animal - right down there with the smell of their fucking shit. I laught out loud at the imbecility of its various expressions.

from the article:

~ I always have the urge to shout: I’m here for a ballgame, not the Global War on Terror! Instead, of course, I just lift my arms and let myself be wanded. ~

so, is this protest-lite? the urge to shout suffices, in place of the shouting? your attendance encourages such offenses...why not stop going to the game?

what do you stand for, at all, Tom, as you raise your arms to be wanded?

the pride that flows from subjecting yourself to being wanded by your authorities, and overcharged for concessions, in return for your hard-earned money, yet finding yourself in no immediate danger of being murdered by them?

is that pride, or relief?

the pride that comes of watching dozens of millionaires meaninglessly win or lose a game, if not make blatant errors, for their incredible, fantastic salaries, and right in front of you?

is that pride, or pathetic?

when does acquiescing to increasingly invasive and pervasive security measures begin to equate to the liontamer putting his head in the lion's mouth? sure, the trick may go as planned for years, but one day, without warning, the lion simply changes his mind, and chomps...

what a sudden, and brief, awakening for the liontamer...

♪ Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd.
Pat down my pockets and probe my butt,
Scan my eyeballs and squeeze my nuts!
Plan to root, root, root for the warlords,
Or you'll be sorry you came.
For the propaganda team's out,
At the old ball game. ♪

Didn't I see this article on CD a week or so ago, maybe slightly more filled out?