Thread by @GallagherWitt

A lot of people seem shocked to learn that white supremacy and right-wing nationalism are problems in the military.

You know why that is? Because we've put troops on a pedestal so no one can criticize them without being called unAmerican and unpatriotic.

This is a problem. /1

Criticizing the military is automatically twisted into "You don't support our troops!" And that "support our troops" fetishization has been weaponized to silence any kind of dissent. Why is kneeling for the anthem disrespectful to veteran? Because someone told you it is. /2

When we talk about being humane to immigrants or helping refugees, we're slammed for "prioritizing [group] over homeless veterans!" by people who don't lift a finger to help homeless veterans. /3

So nothing changes because any conversation hits the wall of "how can you say that about our brave soldiers?"

It's kept us from having meaningful discussions about everything from homelessness to the war industry. /4

And now that it's finally coming to light that we have right-wing extremists in the ranks, people are mystified. How did we not know? How has nothing been done?

You didn't know because those of us who tried to tell you were painted as anti-troop and unAmerican. /5

Do I support troops & veterans? Of course. But we NEED to be able to criticize the military without the kneejerk reactions. The inability to talk openly and pointedly about problems within the military is why there are enormous problems that the civilian world finds shocking. /6

Everything happening at Fort Hood? The only surprise is that other bases haven't made the news for the same things.

Veteran suicides? We need to be able to talk openly about how seeking mental healthcare can derail or end a service member's career. /7

White nationalists in the ranks? NO KIDDING. Remember how soldiers talked about the VC during Vietnam? The dehumanizing racial slurs and such? They do that with Middle Eastern people too. "I enlisted to go kill [slur]" is a thing, and we need to acknowledge that. /8

My point here is that the military is not a monolith of noble, valiant soldiers. Troops are human. The growing presence of right-wing extremists within the ranks is NOT NEW. More people would know that if it wasn't taboo to speak negatively about the military. /9

I support our troops. I respect their sacrifice. I've been a milspouse for 18 years and I come from a military family. I don't take anything about this lightly.

But I've seen and heard things that no one wants to talk about.

And it's not going away until we do. /end