User Comments

1. 

   9/12/09

   polybore

   Edit, meant to include circumstances in the past as well.

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2. 

   9/12/09

   clioandme

   It's an interesting question when I think about some past engagements, such as the Lincoln Brigade in the Spanish CIvil War. But I'm closer to 50 than 40, and I wonder if I would really have seen the point of fighting an ideological battle in another country. I don't think it's in my makeup. Hard to imagine without actually having been in the situation, though.
   
   Edited to add: I suppose, though, that this also relates to what we're seeing some Muslim fundamentalists do in some countries. Is this what you're getting at?

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   1. 

      9/13/09

      polybore

      The title of the discussion and the song come from a republican propaganda poster from the Spanish Civil War which turned out to be apocryphal.
      
      The worlds nations largely ignored Spains fight against fascism (except Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy). It was ignored and we got World War2.
      
      Although there are parallels with the Jihadist movement polybore does not equate the two and would draw a distinction between political and religious motivation.
      
      Not sure what polybore is getting at really. It amazes that these people did what they did, the sacrafice they made, do we just not have that in the West anymore? Can we just throw charity concerts now?
   2. 

      9/13/09

      Agit8r

      Although it would be hard to argue that fighting fascism/nazism/francoism/japanese imperialism/pinochetism/islamism is not inherently good, it is worthy of note that these brigades were organized by the Communist International. Heck, during the 1980's the U.S. was part of the other side in this struggle of totalitarian ideologies...
3. 

   9/12/09

   clioandme

   By the way, YouTube won't make whatever music you had in mind available b/c of copyright.

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   1. 

      9/13/09

      polybore

      Here is a non official version (the official one seems to be only available to play in UK sorry about that). How to promote copyright infringement oh well. www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7dBBCHYcZs
   2. 

      9/13/09

      clioandme

      Well now the title of the thread makes sense.
      
      I find it interesting that these old battles are making their way into popular culture in this fashion. I suppose Bush contributed to that phenomenon.
4. 

   9/12/09

   Agit8r

   OMG! Van Jones is going to recruit our kids?!?
   
   maybe I'm not understanding....

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5. 

   9/13/09

   jeremyjanson

   I think these days people have become so hardhearted towards any military action that such a thing just wouldn't happen now. Back in the 30's, 40's, 50's people romanticized military conflict and sacrificing of yourself in that way. We don't do that anymore. We tend to think of all military conflict as being necessarily evil and that nothing can be gained from it.

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   1. 

      9/13/09

      Agit8r

      I don't think that is the case. I think that people would volunteer to fight for other people in other lands. We hear this sentiment from Iraq War veterans frequently
   2. 

      9/13/09

      xmarks

      I know several people who were either recently in an armed service or who still are. I think they would disagree with you Jeremy. Some of them signed up just because that was how they thought they could do something good.
   3. 

      9/14/09

      clioandme

      This is true, xmarks. While right now many might just need a job, like when I enlisted during a recession in the early 80s, I recall many people signing up 9/11/2001 precisely because they thought it was the right thing to do. I don't see why there wouldn't continue to be such people. And I also know of people who sign up as a rite of passage, or because they want to get away from home and see something. There are a lot of possible motivations, including the one you suggest.
6. 

   9/14/09

   clioandme

   I wonder if the private contractors qualify as embodying the sentiment asked about in the OP. Or are they just plain mercenaries, even if they happen to believe in whatever cause they're supporting?

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