So many absurd things that I was told "you'll understand/agree when you're older" that turned out to just be boomer copium.

No, I don't hate taxes (the opposite). No, I'm not more conservative (the opposite).

What's even more wild is to ask a religious leader for a religion that says "don't kill people" about how killing people in a war isn't a sin. I was only a child when I saw one of my peers ask a priest this. The mental gymnastics the priest was trying to pull was blatantly obvious to me, even as a kid.

Joining a military that aggresses other nations? Yeah, spot on. Joining a military to defend your line on the ground against people you see as fellow earthlings? Still a fair take. Joining a military to defend against people who want you dead because of how you were born? That's where this starts to unravel. That kind of stuff sadly exists in this world.

As someone pointed out, this is understandable if you're from the USA.

Otherwise, I see it like this:

• Every country has an army.

• Their own, or the one of another country.

The baseline is that going to war is bad, having a defensive army is absolutely not (and will prevent deaths as russia won't dare attack you).

The police are made to oppress your own citizens while the military is made to oppress foreign citizens

When I was young people around me told me that the further west on the map country is, the wealthiest and more free people live there without any conflict bothering them. With USA (the west-most country on map) as a shiny utopia with everyone peacefully living there being rich and free.

When I was a teen and my country joined EU I saw countless young adults emigrate west, seeking wealth and freedom beyond anyone's wildest dreams. Terrorists and oppressive regimes waged war in the eastern lands.

When I am an adult, the supposed peacekeeper of the world is waging wars to protect pedophiles. Former empire where sun never sets is trying to outlaw being young and sell their citizens data to highest bidder. And EU is bi-yearly trying to pass universal invigilation act.

I feel like my moral compass never really changed, it's just the world around me that changed beyond recognition. I worry how it will be when I get old, if I even get to live to old age.

Hang in there, buddy, it's rough but we are all in this together.

You don't get it - there are lots of natural resources there!

As a teen I talked to people from all around the world, usually connected by our shared fandoms. I remember talking to a girl in California who said she wanted to join the military when she grew up. Apparently she came from a military family, and couldn't understand why I was appalled at the idea of choosing such a path. We discussed it civilly, and eventually agreed to disagree. I can't help but wonder if she went through with it and, if so, how she feels about it today.

Violence literally just creates more violence.

Like this stupid pointless fucking Iraq war. Even if dumbfuck somehow "wins", which its clear will never happen, do they not realize all the destruction done by the US is just going to create yet another ISIS/Al Queda/whatever style terrorist organization as retatiation?

Then it'll be "oh boy, gotta kill more brown people in the desert!"

Wash, rinse, repeat...

You will get the murder and destruction when you grow up kid. It all makes sense once you become part of the machine /S

Same thing with profiteering, entrepreneurism, "the need for growth" etc, basically all the bullshit our education system forced on us to justify capitalism and making the rich richer.

Like, no, definitely when I grew up I would somehow understand that its OK to screw people over and hoard resources for one stinky asshole while millions of people starve and die of curable diseases? Loooool nope obvious lie is obvious. I'm here now and I feel old and tired, choosing to fuck people over is still wrong and trashy.

I'd be less bitter about it if so many other people hadn't bought into it...

And suprise, suprise, House always wins.

This and the electoral college. Even 12 year old me was like this shit is fucked right?? Only to be told by adults how stupid I was… smh

I mean self-defense is not bad. US is just not defending itself from anyone.

itt: people justifying why their institution of mass murder is actually good

Everyone in this thread is forgetting about the evil✋ALIENS🤚that may or may not exist.

I was once asked why I joined the military and my answer was 'l needed money'. This seemed to shock my companion who was astounded that I was willing to potentially kill people over money. My response was that it was a far better reason than for imaginary friends or the colour of their skin.

Killing people is bad and war is bad and the military is evil and the only way to stop it is to use the military to do a war and kill people.