I completely agree. "Boots on the ground", is dehumanizing/minimizing the fact that men and women fill those boots. It's no different than calling an enemy an animal/vermin/etc. I wish that any pundit/politician/etc who says that phrase was required to go to war themselves or have one of their children forced to go. Then we'd see how quickly they'd stop saying it.
I was just thinking the other day how this is one of those new euphemisms they've created for the word soldier, in an effort to castrate the English language -- to siphon out any emotions connected to words where they belong. Our thoughts are contemplated in language, and people are very actively fighting over what words you cannot and should not say. Keep free speech alive, it is one of the last bastions they haven't /completely/ taken away.
The only people I EVER want to hear using that phrase are people who are in those boots themselves...
The phrase comes from the Army, where I served for seven years when you move forward you are putting "boots on the ground."
It is a phrase originally meant to give a good feeling to the soldier about deploying. We were not waiting anymore, we were moving we were getting it done finally, the wait was over and we could get Boots on the Ground and get the fight over with. During a deployment so much time ahead of it is hurry up and wait, that the moment of Boots on the Ground is like popping a pimple, unpleasant, painful, potentially bloody, but relieving, at least something has been done.
Now it has come to be a euphemism for soldier, and even that has come to mean the faceless, bodyless, soulless automation that you need not care about other then to thank should you meet one on the street.
Seriously when was the last time someone thought, "maybe we shouldn't go to war and risk our soldiers lives?" Or "Is this worth the life of this man I am sending into a foreign land?"
I sincerely doubt those ideas cross the minds of those in power very often. But then, my understanding is that psychopathy is rampant among the rich and powerful.
I disagree with punching/violence. Instead, I recommend that you confirm that Mr. Boots will be signing up to participate in the action he recommends, and that he does not intend for the poor to implement the action he recommends.
22 comments
25 Putin_loves_cats 2015-10-31
I completely agree. "Boots on the ground", is dehumanizing/minimizing the fact that men and women fill those boots. It's no different than calling an enemy an animal/vermin/etc. I wish that any pundit/politician/etc who says that phrase was required to go to war themselves or have one of their children forced to go. Then we'd see how quickly they'd stop saying it.
13 Vitalogy0107 2015-10-31
I was just thinking the other day how this is one of those new euphemisms they've created for the word soldier, in an effort to castrate the English language -- to siphon out any emotions connected to words where they belong. Our thoughts are contemplated in language, and people are very actively fighting over what words you cannot and should not say. Keep free speech alive, it is one of the last bastions they haven't /completely/ taken away.
8 Multicorn 2015-10-31
Like how "enemy combatant" has become a euphemism for "civilian".
3 Vitalogy0107 2015-10-31
Or how "game changer" suddenly infiltrated our collective lexicon after that book that came out.
7 agreedis 2015-10-31
Meat drones.
8 [deleted] 2015-10-31
[deleted]
4 magnora7 2015-10-31
Human Resources.
2 seadriftstyle 2015-10-31
One Fodder Unit http://cannonfire.blogspot.com/2009/05/fodder-units-jeb-bush-and-economic.html?m=1
2 calledawarnobodycame 2015-10-31
Pawns.
4 treerat 2015-10-31
The war media, also known as the 82nd chairborne, and the 101st fighting keyboardists, should be referred to as "Fat asses in the chairs."
3 anarchopotato 2015-10-31
https://soundcloud.com/redose/boots
2 elvnsword 2015-10-31
The only people I EVER want to hear using that phrase are people who are in those boots themselves...
The phrase comes from the Army, where I served for seven years when you move forward you are putting "boots on the ground." It is a phrase originally meant to give a good feeling to the soldier about deploying. We were not waiting anymore, we were moving we were getting it done finally, the wait was over and we could get Boots on the Ground and get the fight over with. During a deployment so much time ahead of it is hurry up and wait, that the moment of Boots on the Ground is like popping a pimple, unpleasant, painful, potentially bloody, but relieving, at least something has been done.
Now it has come to be a euphemism for soldier, and even that has come to mean the faceless, bodyless, soulless automation that you need not care about other then to thank should you meet one on the street.
Seriously when was the last time someone thought, "maybe we shouldn't go to war and risk our soldiers lives?" Or "Is this worth the life of this man I am sending into a foreign land?"
I sincerely doubt those ideas cross the minds of those in power very often. But then, my understanding is that psychopathy is rampant among the rich and powerful.
2 newharddrive 2015-10-31
I disagree with punching/violence. Instead, I recommend that you confirm that Mr. Boots will be signing up to participate in the action he recommends, and that he does not intend for the poor to implement the action he recommends.
1 [deleted] 2015-10-31
[deleted]
1 newharddrive 2015-10-31
Yeah, but, we have to ask ourselves, how would breaking the nose of the actor in government really affect the real owners of the country?
2 amywinehousewascool 2015-10-31
Don't punch the guy just offer to buy him a pair of boots if he promises to actually go over there and be one of the "boots on the ground."
2 luckinator 2015-10-31
Obama said it the most. Punch Obama.
1 Outofmany 2015-10-31
American lives O_o
1 thseaandme 2015-10-31
Make a meme. Great point.
-6 chucicabra 2015-10-31
Who the fuck says that? I feel like people would just laugh at them.
5 metabolix 2015-10-31
You hear it in news all the time.
0 chucicabra 2015-10-31
Ah, you consider the propaganda parrots as people. Got it.
0 metabolix 2015-10-31
Sadly that's true.
4 BurninEpix 2015-10-31
The people who are supposedly in charge unfortunately.