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Culture War Roundup for the week of December 25, 2023

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It's because they're not viewed as a warrior class, they're viewed as backwards, stupid, dangerous, bigoted toxic males who probably signed up because they were too stupid to do anything else and/or they wanted to kill brown people.

There used to be a tiny grudging admission that at the end of the day these people actually did have some merit since they were putting life and limb on the line, but even that has evaporated as evidenced by the queering/feminization of the military (and recent ham-fisted attempts to walk some of it back).

Soldiers have very rarely been viewed highly. Voluntary enlistments throughout history have usually not been motivated by patriotism, but been petty criminals or roustabouts with no other options.

The Duke of Wellington’s description of his troops is the mainstream historical attitude.

The Duke of Wellington’s description of his troops is the mainstream historical attitude.


In 1813 the Duke of Wellington, angered by incidents of looting amongst his army, wrote sourly: 'We have in the service the scum of the earth as common soldiers.

Plus ça change...

Although at least back then the army whipped you into shape, the quote from Wellington continues:

It really is wonderful that we should have made them into the fine fellows that they are.