Andrew Becevic a professor in university of Boston has been in the front line criticizing American engagement in war against Middle East. He believed that American has no solid reason to attack the Middle East countries, such as Afghanistan and Iraq. He also terms the move by the government and people of American as a move aimed to raise the American ego. He believes that the American ego has led to American being obsessed by militarism. He argues that American should be careful on this new trend of militarism American is approaching. Also, engagement in war will bring negative effect in the long run. He explains that American engagement in war will lead to destruction of long standing American democracy. The war leads to alienation of the countries. The U.S will also be alienated by other countries. Alienation of the country will lead to break of mutual relationship between countries. As a result of alienation, the country’s economic growth will decline at a steady rate. The country may end up bankrupt in the long run.
Andrew has aired his view through writing books and article. Andrew believed the culture of the American people has changed by embracing militarism. Various societies’ activities depict that Americans culture are paying much attention to the militarism. This ranges from the political scene to the social scene. Media, which plays a vital role in determining the behavior of the society, has shown that American are adopting the culture of the militarism than ever. In the political scene, Andrew believes that the president is elected depending on his policy on war. Some politicians send American troops abroad in an effort to please Americans who are becoming obsessed in militarism. He argued that President Bush action of sending American troops to Middle East was driven by Bush desire to control oil rich countries. Andrew reason to vote president Obama was because of his stand on the foreign policy. He later loses faith on him, when the president maintained the American troops in Afghanistan instead of withdrawing them.
The YouTube is a social site where people air their views and give updates. The American military has Embraced YouTube as media where they update their operation in the Middle East. Through YouTube, the military give chronological account of the activities that take place in the war zone of the Middle East The troop, which are based in Iraq, have open a YouTube channel that give viewer all over the world the progress of the American soldiers. The channel updates different clips of the Americans soldiers in their operation against Al Qaeda. The YouTube channel provides effective media for airing the military operation as compared to other media. These clips seem to praise the military activities. The soldiers are treated as American heroes. This leads to the promotion of militarism culture in the united state. The war in Iraq was fuelled by President George Bush. He made American believe that Saddam Hussein had chemical weapon, which was capable of mass destruction. This accusation led to occupation of American troop in the Iraq. Instead of reducing terrorism activities, occupation of America troop in the Iraq has led to an increase in the level of terrorism. As a result of an increase in level of the terrorism, American has embraced the militarism culture to counteract the activities of the terrorism.
In 1999 development of army video game was approved. The development of video game was assigned to veteran video game developer. The goals of development of the video game are to boost the army recruitment. The teenagers with high skill in technology were encouraged to use video game. This aimed to increase the man power. The need to recruit a new army has increase in the American as a result of an increased involvement of America on war on terror. Change in technology has also led to demand of new recruits who have technical skills. The American video game is distributed online. As a result, it has been made readily available to American. Uses of this video among American have led to a promotion of the militarism culture. The video game is played in the public places. The virtue winner in this game is considered as hero. Video games have played an important role in changing the culture of the American people. The video game has created anxiety among public which has led to an open debate on the real war and imaginary war.
Many movies have played a significant role in changing the American life style. The ‘Top Gun’ has played a significant role in transforming the American culture. The movie was inspired by an article in California magazine. The article had a striking photo of an airman who was shooting a jet on the sky. The picture led to sparking interest among readers. This led to the shooting of the Top Gun movie. Producer jerry and Don Simpson brought the idea of shooting the movie to the Hollywood. The idea was accepted by the Hollywood . The producer had to approach the military to provide them with the gear and aircraft that was necessary for the shooting of the movie. When they brought this concept to the army, their ideas were surprisingly accepted. The government also granted the producer the right to shoot the movie. With the help and in collaboration of the army, preparations for the shooting were made.
The release of the movie was met with high demand in America. The scenes of the movies were admirable. The characters were depicted as heroes in their role of manning aircraft. Most of the scene in the movies treated the characters as champion. In some scenes, the characters were able to make an airborne fight. Top Gun was acknowledged as the best movie to promote the U.S navy. The release of movies made many young people be interested in the recruitment to U.S army. Some of the people have imitated the character of the movie on the mode of dressing and hairstyle. The movie was also aired in the box office due to it public demand. The high demand of this movie depicts that American culture is gradually adopting militarism.
Many movies have influenced the American culture. Another example of the movie that has made American shift their culture to believe in military power is Homeland series. The movie is about an American soldier who got kidnapped in Iraq during the war in Iraq. The soldier, Nicholas Brody went missing, and his troop believed that he had been killed by Iraq militia. He is later discovered in Iraq, and he is flown back to America. He is received as the hero by the American vice president. Carrie who is an intelligent officer believes that Brody has been turned by Iraq militia as a spy. The movie has won Emmy award. These show that the role U.S Soldier in Middle East is high accepted by the American society.
Tom Clancy praised American soldiers in The New York Times magazine. He believes American military should be treated the same way the police and fireman. He says that both of them risk their life for the welfare of the people they do not know. He encourages people to treat soldiers with respect rather than viewing them us drunken Nazis. Despite the fact that Clancy was denied a chance in the military, he is still passionate on the role the military in the America. Clancy exposure to the military has led him to write many books about the military. Through his work, Clancy has been able to portray the U.S army as heroes. His books have gained popularity among Americans. This is evidenced by the increase in the sale volume the books had been in the past. This shows that the American people are shifting to the culture of militarism. Reading the work of the Clancy has encouraged many youngsters to be recruited in the army.
Many books have been written trying to explain why American has resulted in militarism activities. Geoff Martin and Erin book ‘pop Culture to War’. The book say that when president barrack Obama was elected as the president of united state he had promised to change the American way of doing thing. This meant that the president would withdraw the American troops who were base in Iraq. He also promised that he would enhance the good relationship between the America and NATO allies. This would ensure the America free itself from the militarism activities that have been existence between the America and other countries.
The move by Obama government would relieve U.S cost and the burden the U.S incurred on the oversea military activities. The Obama decision had challenges on how to handle the tribunal on the prisoners of war. The prisoners of war had been detained during President George W. Bush regime.
Militarism activities of the U.S have been in existence for many decades. The population cultures of the American people seem to support the military activities in the oversea countries. The people of America have supported the military activities in oversea in order to maintain America as a super power country. After the election, president Obama sent more troops in the Afghanistan. He terms his move ‘a good war’. The term’ good war’ mean that war which have popular support. The opposite of good war means the war which the government involvement is not clear. The increase of American troop in Iraq was supported by American. They argued that, the united state was capable of handling the situation in Iraq.
Works Cited
ANDERSON, PATRICK. "KING OF THE 'TECHNO-THRILLER." New York Times Articles 1988.
Li, Zhan. The Potential of America’s Army the Video Game. MASSACHUSETTS: Comparative Media Studies, MIT , 2003.
Martin, Geoff and stewart Elin. Pop culture goes to war : enlisting and resisting by Geoff Martin. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2001.
Montopoli, Brian. 2007.
Soriano, Rianne Hill. Yahoo movies. 2011.
