Army Advertising

[patrice]

The Army commercial with the Dad who says his newly minted military son has changed becxause he shook hands and looked his father in the face for, apparently, the first time, always SURPRISES me with this image of a "Dad" who didn't raise his own son to look into his own father's face. To me, This is a very emasculating commercial, this inept, victim father isn't part of my experience. I can't imagine any of us NOT to have looked one another in the face as a real person. It's just weird to me that the Army would choose to tell American "men" that they are weak, inept, and, some even, bad fathers, having raised a son who wouldn't look them in the eye. That's not much of a father in many people's experience.

Aside from the fact that the commercial adds to a continuing emasculation of American men, there is a Social Justice issue here too: Certainly there bad fathers, but I'm not sure I want to be a country that bases its military too heavily on the economically disadvantaged people, economics puts a lot of pressure on parenting, but it doesn't seem desirable that military should fall so heavily on the Poor. So even though there are inept fathers who don't have functional relationships with their sons, I don't think the advantaged and lucky should depend upon the dysfunctional poor families for defense. AND depend upon the State to "fix" these broken sons.

IMO.

[oneighty]

1. First time the 'Kid'

ever stuck up for himself and Dad really do not like it.

Or; "Son this is the first time I ever saw you as a person."

Son; "Eff you Dad."

Me; Turn off TV fast as possible.

180

[patrice]

2. M$$$$$$$$$$M

Whatever sells.

This one just seems so demeaning to men. "Can't handle your son? Give him to us!"

[oneighty]

3. That too

One day shortly after my number seventeen birthday Dad said "180 time for you to join the Navy."

So I did. A few months later I was in the Korean war learning things. Hahahahaha.

Dad was so proud for me.

I was not.

180

[awoke_in_2003]

4. I don't understand it either...

never in the military, but always able to look anyone in the eye. My father stressed telling the truth, doing the right thing, and being what you are. Don't need military leadership to gain this, just a good father (or mother or both).