Garish: Soldat Drawing

"Garish: Soldat"; 2017; Ink, Acrylic, and Spray Paint on Particle Board; 11" x 10" I have complex opinions on the military. Being from the United States, the common view is to be "against wars, but for the troops"... I can't follow that logic. I'm sorry, but I can't. I was never a soldier, and never will BE a soldier. I know there is a strong sense of Brotherhood and Duty that goes along with being a part of any military unit, but just like I can't stand team sports, those emotions don't resonate with me. Old men send young men to die for the illusion of safety. The United States spends an insane amount of money every year creating weapons for a military industrial complex that polices the world and has, in the past, eliminated threats and created despots in equal measure. Money that, if used differently, could feed and clothe EVERY PERSON in the WORLD several times over. Soldiers are hired killers. Sure, many soldiers may have never fired a gun in their lives at an enemy, nor outside of training exercises, but they are trained and paid to kill. And if one would argue with me to state that they are trained in the defense of this nation, the MIC that exists now did not exist when there was a battle on American soil. If people did not join the military, others would not send them to die. If people refused to fight, then others would need to find new ways to solve their problems. Yes, my opinions are greatly naive, but I'd like to think that the pride of leaders and warmongering could be overcome if we realized that our borders mean jack shit - we are one people on a tiny rock, floating through space. The idea of countries and wars is an outdated survival method when we have techniques now to use the resources of the world to benefit all. War is not hell. At least those in Hell are punished for their actions. War doesn't discriminate. The idea is foreign and completely stupid to me, hence the foreign (Russian) word for "Soldier" as the title of this piece.