-snip- ...Its bad for the site. ... -snip-
-snip- ...our brethren. -snip- ..., I think avoidance limits the depth of the site. ... -snip-
I am all with FacMan here, and I also think we should discuss this once and for all so that everybody knows where he stands and can make his decisions in respect. I am tired of seeing the same arguments repeated over and over again as to whether having a political forum on a military site harms or helps the issue, I feel a decision would help all sides (whether they like it or not). Either from top down or maybe through a poll, I would sincerely ask the powers in place to let us know what it will and should be.
My reasoning (and I know I am repeating myself here, but only partially: FacMan gave me a new insight) is basically that we live on a planet moved by politics, whether we like it or not, and that this background imposes on us a lot of actions and reactions that we can only treat appropriately when being conscious about the fact. This thought alone makes me feel that the discussion not only of the "how" but also of the "why" for each topic does not shame a military site at all, even if most other military sites think the other way round (but even there I have never heard Nazi Ideology should not be discussed for understanding broader issues which makes me suspect that there is some kind of selective measure on the table when it e.g. comes to Israael or other current conflicts). What is more, who does not want to read political opinons can easily stay out of the respective form if he does not want to take heat for any views he has on the reasons for some conflicts.
With FacMans input I additionally feel tht I personally am way more disposed to accept a political stance or opinion from a person who is (or was) into soldiering than from a person not member of this special family: Brethren, as FacMan called it: I *know*, e.g., that there are great Taliban soldiers out there as well that deserve all due respect from a family member and I would sincerely welcome their view on things here as I do Stoffel´s or MadRussian´s.
I have no problem with other soldiers having a different view on things than myself, I even just because of the fact that they stand where they stand take them more serious than I normally would, lets say, in a bar discussion. OTOH I expect the same from them. If someone really feels he needs to leave WaT because a certain group of (ex) soldiers (!) expresses and opinion he cannot share, my take is: So be it. Being aable to accept the existance of and different views on life (and war) is part of an soldiers stand from my POV.
We lose members because of having a political forum? Maybe. ... But we also might gain members because of having it: I personally find a site where we can listen to a Vietcong view of the war with the same respect for a soldier as to an US soldier POV much more interesting than others where none or only one "historically/politically" correct view is "offically" allowed.
My 2c,
Rattler
as forum owner and admin I said from day 1 (also see our 'rules) that ALL subjects should be discussable with certain limits...mainly respect for the issue and other members.
If/when we should avoid or ban all subjects that are 'political' based we'll end with only a 'lounge' forum....
Every single war and conflict has been politicaly based, politicians started them, politicians kept them going on and finally they pulled the plug (money) out.
Not only war/conflict subjects are politically based but who buys weapons? Who invests money into arms factories? Politicians! So should we delete the 'equipment' boards also?
I feel that the start of banning will be easy but where does it stop?
We start with 'Israel' but where do we stop? What if an American citizen shows up and feels discussing the Vietnam war is a political discussion and should be banned?
What if I, as Belgian citizen, would have a problem discussing the Belgian history in WWI and WWII? In both cases politics and royals were involved and did not always perform as they should!
Ofcourse, and stated in the rules, we don't allow propaganda for extreme parties such as Nazism, SS or/and other fanatics but that doesn't mean they can't be discussed!
Couple of days ago I saw a terryfying movie where a young muslima was thrown out of the US because she tried to discuss 9/11 in her classroom and on forums. Yes, it's only a movie but this also shows that 'discussing' subjects is a privilige, a positive result of democracy. And is that not the main fundation of our lives? Freedom of speech? Democracy?
And yes, even with this statement I just wrote I'm awaiting reactions but that's why I started a forum in the first place!
We have a unique chance here since, altough we are few, we have a good mixture with soldiers, ex-soldiers, civilians from countries all over the world.
We MUST be grateful we have the opportunity to discuss all subjects amongs ourselves, lots of people would/are/will be jealous we can/do!
