Forcing your young males to sign up for the draft, and then celebrating them is crucial to fighting unjust wars.
Disclaimer: I'm a veteran
Our modern war machine is a complex monster of politics, money, nationalism, and power.
This is a focus on nationalism.
How do you get and keep a society to love war? How do you staff your army with young males eager to kill?
Simple:
You force your young males to join a draft when they turn 18. This gives the politicians a list of candidates to send to war.
The second is a little harder and takes enormous Public Relations work, but we have succeeded in the West at it. The second thing you must do is celebrate the soldiers as if they are celebrities. You march them in parades, thank them on the fourth of July, and bang the drum of 'We support our soldiers'.
This is crucial to the narrative of modern war.
Step 1: Force your young males to join
Step 2: Celebrate their existence.
Wash, Rinse, Repeat
As one veteran to another, great article that speaks the truth. Veterans are very disconnected and bitter towards society because when they leave the service, they realize very few really support them. It is VERY hard to find meaningful employment for many and people are genuinely afraid of them based on stereotypes. It is sad and disgraceful.
I ended up in the oil field. Many of us did.
It's one of the few places that actually wanted us.
Speaking from someone from London, I strongly feel soldiers are not receiving the treatment they are required from their serving country whether the war is just or not.
Too many soldiers take to the streets with no shelter or food once their country is done with them. They often suffer from post traumatic stress disorder and not provided with the efficient help required.
I believe the point of being treated as celebrities is necessary as serving life and death situations is the highest service one can provide for there country ..but too often soldiers are left feeling divorced by their country once their services are no longer required.
You nailed it.