Australian Soldiers - racism thoughts..

[Scott]

So some of our lads are copping a flogging in the media and at base I expect over their posting of racists and defamatory remarks about Afghans (seemingly both civil and military) in the war in Afghanistan.

In my mind, I really can't see any issue beyond being silly enough to publish their thoughts on a global and public medium.

I've heard plenty of people both on the news and in the street condemning them as racists and to be honest, it annoys the hell out of me... and I'll tell you why.

We send these blokes off to war, trained and armed to the eyeballs and put an enemy infront of them. In their minds, their sole objective is to defeat that enemy - that enemy is, by default, marginalised/stereotyped/racially defined/religiously denominated/politically determined.

Why the bloody hell are people getting upset when our boys play the part we want them to? Are they upset that they live and breathe the fight?? Are they embarrassed that war really is black and white at the front line?

Well, I'm embarrassed that we as a nation even let this sort of dribble rate a mention. Yes it was silly to tell the world what they really think - but only so far as political correctness goes. It is a damned war after all.

Thumbs up from me blokes - keep fighting the good fight.

Poll attached for your thoughts..

[DallasXR6]

dont be verbally rascit, shoot them so they cant complain???

i have a few mates in the army that i went through highschool with a few years ago... Get to catch up every so often and can say, they are much harder people than they where at school... But the training and life they live i can honestly say id most likely struggle in the curcumstances which they survive..
Catch 22, they train to be resilient and not think twice about taking an 'enemy' life when the situation arises, along comes an edge which some people will frown upon...

Id rather a little hatred on the battle feild than request for facebook friends.

[XBROO]

If you take a look at any of the old war veterans they hate asians and can't stand to be in the same room as them. I suppose when it kill them or be killed it would have to change the view you would have on the enemy. It's not like the footy field were you are enemies on the field and friends off. So it a bit harsh to train these guys to kill and them expect them to be politically correct.

[FGII-XR6]

being at war It would be hard not to make negative comments about the enemy I think it helps them blow off steam and deal with the stress of being in a war zone. I really don't feel it is racism in the usual way it is an occupational thing that those who are critical would be hard pressed to understand without going through what they do.
I'm not usually a fan of racial taunts ( I was different when I was younger ) but these men risk their lives on a daily basis, can you expect them to say nice things about the enemy. I guess it just proves that things aren't always black and white ( no pun intended) but there can be infinite shades of grey
plese try to limit your responses to the issue, withour any racial slurs or this thread will crash and burn like often happens, there is room for inteligent discussion on this issue. It would be a shame to see it closed because of the usual suspects ( read the T&C if in doubt it's not hard)

[Professor Farnsworth]

This is a topic best kept off these forums.

[SpoolMan]

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