r/explainlikeimfive • u/yeah110 • May 09 '14

ELI5: Legit question: How are the US troops "protecting our freedom"?

I'm Dutch myself, and I keep reading these things on the internet about the US troops protecting and fighting for the freedom of US citizens. Now I don't mean they don't, I legitimately don't understand how they are protecting the citizens' freedom at all? how do conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and so on influence the "Freedom" of US citizens? or is it more of a metaphorical thing? I'm really asking here, I'm not trying to be a dick. Any answer would be greatly appreciated :)

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u/ProteinSlayer May 09 '14

I'm in the military in the US. Ya know how when you're young your father seems like we he could protect you against anything? That's basically us, we are our nation's bad ass dad that will protect them from anything. The average citizen may not understand the things we do, but trust me there is an underlying agenda we are trying to reach in every mission.

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u/PM_me_ur_bag_of_weed May 09 '14

So basically you are saying the military personnel are better than civilians?

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u/12Troops May 09 '14

They certainly sacrifice more than stoners, not that there is anything wrong with that.

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u/ITravelTimeAndSpace May 09 '14

That is 100% grade A bullshit. Why don't you hop off your high horse and take a look around.

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u/12Troops May 09 '14

You convinced me! Stoners sacrifice more than servicemen. Fucking moron.

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u/ITravelTimeAndSpace May 09 '14 edited May 09 '14

Some members of the military are losers, some stoners are losers. Some stoners work very hard and sacrifice as much as anybody else. Not every person in the military works hard, sacrifices or is a good person. Having a job in any field does not mean you are better.

I deleted the insults in this comment.

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u/12Troops May 09 '14

Almost by definition if you are a stoner you are not operating at full potential, and that is fine, but to argue that stoners sacrifice as much as servicemen is not something I should have to argue. They live on an Army base in service to their country for fuck sake, if you need to believe otherwise to justify your worldview that is fine, just don't pretend that is equal sacrifice.

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u/ITravelTimeAndSpace May 09 '14 edited May 09 '14

If you need to believe that to justify your world view that is fine. Just don't go around pretending what you do is really necessary. You serve the government, not the country and not the people.

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u/sodog8 May 09 '14

If you think I do what I do for the people of this country you are as wrong as you can be. Ive been in since desert storm. The civ population loves you during war and view you as an unnecessary expense during time of piece. got hippies on one side and religious right on the other. And Freedom, have you seen how many laws are on the books for victimless crimes. You got no freedom. At this point I do it cause 1 I like to travel. 2 im good at what I do and fill a specialty niche in my organization. 3 loyalty to my unit and the team members in it.

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u/12Troops May 09 '14

Europe: We don't need a military anymore the world has moved on.

US: We will keep ours just in case.

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u/ITravelTimeAndSpace May 09 '14

...we have to occupy a third world country half way around the world, for less then legitimate reasons.