OK, now I'm going
May. 12th, 2004 11:41 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
addersljOK. Those photos of soldiers abusing prisoners in Iraq. I have two main reactions.
1. Why the hell is anyone surprised? Did it never occur to you that some people join the army because they like hurting people? And, if not properly supervised, they might do so in a way we wouldn't approve of? Well, that's probably because we're busy covering up the fact that soldiers do the same things to each other. Does the name "Deepcut" ring any bells?
2. Why is no-one paying attention to the fact that the UK variations on the picture appear to be faked? Or don't we like to think about the fact that we harbour in our midst people so eager to prove their political point that they'll put the lives of serving servicemen and women, as well as other people in Iraq, at risk? Regular readers will remember how depressing I find the quality of debate around the issues. This "political tribe" mentality - are you pro or anti-war? - demeans our whole culture and I find it thoroughly sickening.
1. Why the hell is anyone surprised? Did it never occur to you that some people join the army because they like hurting people? And, if not properly supervised, they might do so in a way we wouldn't approve of? Well, that's probably because we're busy covering up the fact that soldiers do the same things to each other. Does the name "Deepcut" ring any bells?
2. Why is no-one paying attention to the fact that the UK variations on the picture appear to be faked? Or don't we like to think about the fact that we harbour in our midst people so eager to prove their political point that they'll put the lives of serving servicemen and women, as well as other people in Iraq, at risk? Regular readers will remember how depressing I find the quality of debate around the issues. This "political tribe" mentality - are you pro or anti-war? - demeans our whole culture and I find it thoroughly sickening.
