This is about the fact that indigenous people make up a disproportionate amount of the military population

But when talking to people in general, how do you open dialogue with not just indigenous, but also black and Latino/Chicano veterans and younger people trying to join? A lot of people are lured in by poverty, others are looking for discipline or they have strict families who try to force/impose it.

Is there any advice on having these conversations? I believe it's important to be respectful and mature about it, to not go on lecturing and complaining.

  • JoeByeThen [he/him, they/them]
    ·
    5 days ago

    I'll think on it, I'm afraid I don't have anything off the top of my head. I don't tend to watch that sort of stuff anymore. There's that joke about how America will send their people to kill and ten years later make movies about how it made them sad and that's totally true. Basically about a decade after every major "conflict" there will be movies where the main character has had their life ruined by being in the military, it's just a question of whether they blame the military or the person.

    Hmmm, idk if anyone else remembers, but shortly following Occupy Wall Street there was a veteran that went viral giving a really good speech (outside? in a parking lot? at a protest?) about why people shouldn't join. I think he might've been in Cindy Sheehan's circle? There's also always plenty of news stories out there about Veterans being screwed over for medical care, Student loans, etc.

    This tends to hit pretty hard.

    https://np.reddit.com/r/television/comments/2hrntm/last_week_tonight_with_john_oliver_drones_hbo/ckvmq7m/?context=3

    • SweetLava [he/him]
      ·
      5 days ago

      I don't think there's anything more unifying for veterans than shit talking the VA, honestly. Great intentions, awful execution.

      That aside, I don't have the time to check rn, but is that speech from the guy from that one documentary "National Bird"?

      Also, dark humor from a bygone era:

      • Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4taggCYDGUE
      • Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMq2uLPZe5s