New
army ads reflect propaganda style
Our
view
Anyone
who spent the dog days of summer watching
TV is probably familiar with the newest
U. S. Army ads, which depict parents
discussing the military with their sons.
Unlike the previous “Army of One” campaign,
these ads ignore the physical aspect
of the service and instead focus on the
mental.
Where the old ads emphasized individual achievement as a reason to join, these
ads promote teamwork, responsibility and scholarship. They also avoid mentioning
the reason for having armed forces at all, which is war.
Although everyone knows the main purpose of the military is national defense,
these new ads portray it as some kind of scholarship program.
One shows a father who is touched by his son’s newfound respect and his
ability to look him in the eye and shake his hand. There is no mention of the
death and devastation the young man probably saw while deployed, nor is there
any mention of the physical hardships he endured in training.
While it is true that there are both positive and negative aspects to becoming
a member of the military, all factors should be realistically considered before
making such a huge life-altering decision.
The complaint that resonates among unhappy soldiers is that they feel mislead
by their recruiters. Starting the misconceptions so early in the recruiting
process is not the way to improve morale.
This is a must, because the army has not met their quota in years, and the
retention rate has hit a trough.
Why is it that, in the face of war, we Americans aren’t rallying behind
the flag? Other generations flocked to enlist when our freedom was in peril.
Is it that our generation is lazy or selfish? Do we just not care? Or is it
that we are unwilling to risk our lives over what could turn out to be oil
prices?
The general sentiment is that we are tired of being lied to. It is close to
impossible to create a firm opinion about the war when we are unsure of the
facts. Do you really want to sacrifice everything when you do not even know
what your sacrifice is for?
This was the question asked of President George W. Bush by a grieving mother.
After losing her son in Iraq, she was determined to get some answers. She gained
national attention by camping out on the president’s lawn in Texas, waiting
for him to respond.
The publicity dedicated to her and her cause brought the question back into
the limelight. Why are we sacrificing our sons and daughters? How many more
will have to die before we achieve what it is we set out to do?
In the beginning of the war, these questions were heavy on the minds of the
American people. However, now that battle has been ongoing for almost four
years, we have become somewhat immune to the reports.
The most shocking numbers are hidden from the mainstream media. Instead of
considering the lives, we instead process just numbers. This kind of desensitization
keeps us from accurately assessing the danger of joining the military, as well
as keeping us from further questioning the government.
These are questions the United States government is hoping you will not ask.
They are hoping you will see the benefit of having tuition paid for, or of
finding the direction and motivations necessary for success.
They must spin these advantages to outweigh the high risks and tolls of serving
in the military with a clever form of propaganda. |
