by Robert Capa
Pretending American causes are always noble leads to fascism.
The soldiers did not fight just for a noble ideal. Like most soldiers, Americans fought for their country. So did Germans, Japanese and Italians WWII. So did the soldiers under Napoleon and serving the Queen under the Duke of Wellington. Johny rebs in 1861 died for their country. Leaving aside wars succession and wars of aggression against indigenous Americans, the US invaded MecFlorida, Mexico, and Canada. The Spanish American war was a war of aggression.
Honoring soldiers is a good thing as is grieving for their deaths. We dishonor that grief by confusing it with blind national loyalty.
.
“We’re not Watusi. We’re not Spartans. We’re Americans, with a capital ‘A’, huh? You know what that means? Do ya? That means that our forefathers were kicked out of every decent country in the world. We are the wretched refuse. We’re the underdog. We’re mutts!”
John Winger makes his motivational speech to the platoon to prepare them for the parade from Stripes actor: Bill Murray
If you ask the soldiers, they’ll tell you they fought for their buddies. Often, that’s the only thing that’s really immediate and tangible to them.