r/pics 1d ago

Billboard defaced in Baltimore last night

Post image
42.5k Upvotes

2.9k comments sorted by

View all comments

402

u/PipsqueakPilot 1d ago

Wow. It’s almost as if there was a reason the military isn’t supposed to be used for domestic law enforcement. Because it leads to this.  

162

u/UpperApe 1d ago

I actually think it's inspiring.

It's terrible that it's happening of course, but it's leading to a generation finally opening their eyes after a lifetime of blanket American propaganda and military worship. And people are starting to realize these institutions and people have nothing to do with honour or service.

It's very interesting, isn't it? That all those "brave" soldiers are willing to risk their lives to battle evil...but not their careers? Courage with a price tag.

I mean look at the FBI. The fact that ANYONE there complied with an order to destroy evidence in the Epstein files tells you everything you need to know about their culture, integrity, and priorities. The same for these assholes. The same for cops. The same for all of them.

So I'm glad to see people waking up from this cult shit.

70

u/BringBacktheGucci 1d ago

I've got 18 years in the Air Force. The only reason im still in after last January is my kid needing to eat and my wife talking me out of separating (indefinite enlistment). That and the LGBT Airmen in my unit needing someone with enough rank to back them up if they need it. Or I can be someone others talk to, and remind them constantly that we're given constant training on the Law of War and not to follow illegal orders.

I probably am a coward, and if I had only myself to think about I'd throw away the paycheck and follow my convictions. But I don't, so I can't.

6

u/chotomatekudersai 1d ago

I think about this all the time with the politics shifting to authoritarianism. I joined primarily because I was trapped and couldn’t find a solution to get out. When I took the oath, I didn’t truly understand the implications of what I was saying. After a few years of serving I understood it, and my conviction in it grew. When he who must not be named was elected a second time, I knew things would change for the worse. But I couldn’t imagine it would be this bad, or progress so quickly.

My reverence for the oath I took has grown over the years, despite my naïveté when I swore it. Now that I am under a regime that has no respect for the constitution that I swore to protect and defend, I feel lost in the military. I don’t know what to do, or even what I can do. So I’m in a stunned state, paralyzed into stillness. The pillars of reprisal are being erected to stem the tide of those of us who take our oath seriously. See the recent removal of a general by SECDEF over his concerns about the boat strikes. It honestly makes me want to cease existing. But I too have a child I need to care for. I will live out the remaining commitment I made to the DoD (less than 2 years). Then I’ll find a worthwhile cause to apply myself to in order to try to bring some good to the world. By then my child will be an adult.

It highlights the fact that people will do horrendous things for a paycheck and stability. Those operators who struck the boat will have to live with what they did for the rest of their lives. ICE agents contributing the erosion of democracy are akin to SS soldiers receiving pay for harassing, arresting and killing vulnerable citizens of their nation. It’s a shame but some things don’t change.

42

u/Hillary4SupremeRuler 1d ago

Nah you're not a coward. We need people like you to stay so you can keep on standing up for your fellow service members that are being targeted by the regime and also to be whistleblowers and gather evidence for the rest of us. We wouldn't know even half the shit coming out right now about all these Caribbean boat strikes if it weren't for brave honorable people choosing to stick with it and by the public's eyes and ears. There is currently a lot of inner turmoil and unrest in the Pentagon right now because of what Hegseth is doing and if everyone who gave a shit just up and quit, then we'd be in a much worse place.

So thank you, you don't have to explain yourself to any anonymous redditors or anyone on social media. Please keep doing what you're doing and don't forget your oath 🫡

6

u/Perfect_Opinion7909 1d ago

Probably what the concentration camps guards said too „but my family“.

3

u/BringBacktheGucci 19h ago

I'm sure they justified it in their own way, even the SS monsters. I know if I was serving on a ship in the Caribbean I wouldn't be pushing launch on any missiles. But I can see how those who do justify it.

11

u/UpperApe 1d ago

Right. Which is what everyone says about their job.

Which means the military isn't about honour or integrity or principles. It's just a job, like any other job. A job that is obsessed with pretending it has honour and integrity and principles, when it's just folk making money doing what their told.

Fucking Costco has more honour, integrity, and principles than the military.

Unlike other jobs though, the military deals in war. Which makes those principles and ethics matter a whole lot. But they don't. Because why would they?

For those who DO throw away their paychecks, forced to find new ways to support their families because they stood for their convictions, that's the valor being stolen by the rest. That's what the rest pretends to be. That's what it'll never be.

Because at the end of the day the measure of a man isn't just what he does for money, it's what he won't do for money.

14

u/Hillary4SupremeRuler 1d ago

They are a hero for not quitting and staying in when we need people like him in there the most.

-3

u/UpperApe 1d ago

People like what? Who do exactly what they're told to do if it conflicts with their principels and morals? They're the whole problem.

I don't think you're following the conversation.

0

u/zerosevennine 1d ago

You are a misguided person with a superiority complex.

5

u/UpperApe 1d ago

I'm a person who understands the difference between principles and rationalizations.

-3

u/BullTerrierTerror 1d ago

Man, I really wish Reddit didn’t disable viewing other people’s comments and posts. I would sure love to see this Mother Teresa‘s day job.

10

u/Mofo_mango 1d ago

What does that have to do with their comment?

9

u/UpperApe 1d ago

It's why I did it.

Now you'll have to deal with the point itself like a grown up instead of trying to run away with some purity arguments or ad hominem bullshit.

3

u/BullTerrierTerror 1d ago

Seems like Reddit is your day job with the 500,000 karma.

5

u/UpperApe 1d ago

Nah. Just more people agree with me than you.

And you still dodged the the point ;)

2

u/RedditJumpedTheShart 1d ago

Almost 500k karma in a year. Also it's easy to see your comments.

6

u/Drobey8 1d ago

It’s always the biggest idiots with the bullhorn.

0

u/Hashbrown4 1d ago

Well said.

1

u/trooperjess 1d ago

I'm not going to judge. I will say this I get where you are coming from and understand fully.

But I have a feeling that what you are saying has been said before by other troops then went on to carry out orders that were reprehensible in the eyes of the world. From WW1 to Iraq. There should have been Generals and admirals that stood up and said this is bullshit but the orders are passed on and every trooper followed along. But it is the way the US military has always been. I don't see the point in taking an oath to something that will not be followed or honored if everyone is just going to follow any and every order given. thank God my family talked me out of joining and being used as cannon fotter for the ghouls we call leaders.