It is always interesting how fascist states employ nationalism and patriotism so readily when in power. The symbolism of the solder and their valiant struggle against the dangers of the nation and the unruly agitators who threaten to deteriorate the national consensus and the cohesion that is advertised by the state and the powerful interests who wish such a thing be thought and maintained in the public psyche. I notice, often, how the advertisement of the 'strength' of the state is often advertised as the definition of patriotism. The unified unwavering uniformed troops, police, and guard, all standing stoic and strong, like a wall protecting the public from the insidious intimidation of the evils of the 'other' a mysterious force whose malevolence but waits out beyond the border to pounce upon and destroy our mystical 'freedoms' that, seemingly, only exist within the boundaries of the state; no other country has, or wants, the freedoms we have, they are jealous, they want to destroy us, but no one outside even has what we have. A curious observation.
The truth of the matter, like it or not, seems to be that the reformers and fighters for progress seemingly are never the uniformed wall of stoicism, rather, the agitators who are being walled off. The struggle of the protester, the downtrodden, the worker, the weak, they are not considered patriotic symbols to admire and enjoy; this is the uniqueness of communist ideology, advertising the people, as they are, as symbols of patriotism and human cohesion. It is therefore not surprising that the capitalist enterprise seizes the imagery of the state to clock itself in the flags of the countries they inhabit. The people are taught to feel patriotism when they see the colors, when they see the soldier, the police, the guard, whatever image of authority that is lauded most, and so the corporate state adopts similar colors, they claim to be patriotic, they make those in uniform feel special by offering discounts and acknowledgment; and we notice that labor day is more and more ignored, the workers and the people who aren't soldiers, they are pushed farther and farther to the margins.
But the soldier, the police, the guard, what pity should we bestow on them? All, much, if not more. Not for their perceived position of authority, no, rather for their actual place of value to the system they protect and enforce. The soldier is a very expendable piece of equipment to the system, yet a valuable piece none the less. In the global game of market chess, the war for resources and dominance of position, the soldier is the saddest pawn to be pushed forward in the game of profit driven capitalism. Wars are waged to 'open' markets, or to keep markets 'open', but they are waged for such things more often than not. When the soldier suits up, we should look at that uniform more as a sacrificial burial shroud rather than anything else. They wear it for the profit, defense, and expansion of whatever interest wished they fight, whatever interest wished they kill; for each death, be it their own, or another's life taken by them, is a sacrifice to the god of the market. Capitalism demands profits, profits at any cost, and blood is but one of the many costs incurred.
This is the tragedy of the solder, many join for noble reasons, others for a solid form of employment; as more and more reasonable jobs are disappearing. But, as they discover, or fail to, they are to be used as pawns for a global economic game of chess over resources that never benefit their families, never help their countrymen and only harm the world and their fellow humans. Solders are, in many ways, the biggest victims of capitalism, they are the ones who oil the gears with their blood, they pay the price the capitalists won't pay to keep their beloved markets open. I wish more solders knew, I wish more understood how they were being used, but sadly, like most people, the complexity of the system and the grind of our daily lives distracts them and disheartens them.
Should we see soldiers as symbols of patriotism, no, I believe that seeing them as symbols dehumanizes them; soldiers, police, the guard, they must be seen, not as appendages of the state, but rather as unwitting participants in a game they didn't sign up for. Yes, they are a part of the state, but their services are oft more employed by the corporate state more than any other part of society. They are used as the club of the capitalist, bashing those whom do not submit to the desires of greed and excess. One must remember, a club has no malice, it is the one who welds it whom bears the responsibility of its effects.
