Military idolatry is the essence of American civil religion and has been since 9/11.
It doesn’t matter where the troops go, why they go where they go, how long they stay where they go, whether they should go in the first place, what they do when they are there, how much it costs to keep them there, how much collateral damage they cause while there, how many widows and orphans they make while there, how much infrastructure they destroy when they are there, how many atrocities they commit while there, how many terrorists they recruit by being there, or whether whatever “good” they accomplish is worth the shedding of one drop of American blood—members of the military, and veterans, are all but worshipped by a great many Americans. It wouldn’t surprise me if some military idolaters fell prostate at the feet of soldiers returning from Afghanistan and thanked them profusely for defending their freedoms and keeping them safe from terrorists.
But one does not have to go that far to be a military idolater. The following test is designed to determine to what degree, if any, that you are a military idolater.
Do you watch “salute to the military” celebrations and musical “all-star salutes” to the troops?
Do you like it when veterans and active duty military personnel wear their uniforms to church on the Sunday before Veterans Day?
Do you say “amen” when you see a church sign saying that U.S. soldiers die for our freedoms like Christ died for our sins?
Does it bring a tear to your eye when you see banners in airports welcoming home U.S. troops?
Do you believe that veterans should be honored?
Do you think joining the military is a good career choice for young people?
Do you get chills down your spine when you see a military color guard from the local base walking down the main aisle of your church on the Sunday before Veterans Day?
Do you like the idea of businesses giving hiring preferences to Veterans?
Do you think that U.S. soldiers need to fight “over there” so we don’t have to fight “over here”?
Do you think it is a great idea when churches have special military appreciation services?
Do you like it when store clerks ask for donations to help veterans?
Do you like commercials for the military on television?
Do you enjoy it when the pianist at your church plays the song of each branch of the military during the offering on the Sunday before Veterans Day?
Do you think it is a good thing when schools have Veterans Day programs?
Do you like it when churches list the names of all the veterans in the church in their church bulletins on the Sunday before Veterans Day?
Do you think that the number of incidents of sexual assault in the military are inflated?
Do you say “amen” when your church offers up special prayers for the troops?
The number of “yes” answers you have shows to what degree you are a military idolater. I have none, and hope you have the same.
The post Are You a Military Idolater? appeared first on LewRockwell.
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