Citizen Soldier - National Guard Ad

As a subscriber to Optimum cable service, I get to see a free movie every
week. Pretty cool, I must say. Since I have been going the past 6 months,
I keep seeing the same lame commercials before the movie. One in particualar
bothers me every time. It's a National Guard rock video with supplied music by
a band called 3 Doors Down. Has anyone else seen this?

I'd like to state what bothers me with this ad, this is pure opinion and my
commentary. After seeing it too many times to count, I think I am certified to
dissect it. I'm not screaming that this is undoubtebly conspiracy or NWO
foreshadowing. However it is worth noting and there are subtleties that may
interest some. I just need to get this off my chest. Every time I see it, I do
get a head ache. Physically.

Google Video Link

Title - Citizen Soldier by 3 Doors Down - Universal Records - For The National Guard

1. War sucks and I am sick of seeing rock used to get the younger
people into the services. War Rocks Man!!!!! Total BS. It's like a camel
selling a pack of smokes.

2. What's with the back drop behind the band?! Dark and apocalyptic.

2. The flashes of this war torn country is not quite specified. The first time
I saw it, I thought it must be Iraq. I wasn't quite paying attention the first
time. After 12 bazillion times, I noticed that it must be the U.S. At least I
think. Thoughts?! Does anyone feel this is elsewhere?

3. What I find eerie IS... "what are the directors suggesting happened to
America"?! Natural Disaster?! Then why are their weapons drawn in hand
and on the helicopter?! Terrorism?! possibly. Another civil war?! who knows,
but they do show other flashes of the civil war. Also they show the beach at
Normandy and show the 29th Inf Division - Yin and Yang patch - Which was
used to reference the north and the south in the civil war.

4. (off topic) - The band and the song simply suck.

Is this a subtle sign of what is to come and what to be prepared for?!
Civil Unrest, Disasters, more homeland terrorism or even worse, more
crappy music selling the Army?! Occams Razor would suggest the last.

Pheew, I feel so much better. ATS is like therapy. Even if you read this
and move along, I feel like I got this off my chest. Thanks for reading.

[edit on 7-1-2009 by cluckerspud]

yeah i saw this commercial before movies previews last night and it creeped me out as well. Does 3 doors down have a contract with the military or something? The last 5 songs I've hear of theirs is about war/supporting the troops. I have nothing against supporting the troops but....come on. I honestly think they are the first pro-war rock band ever. Come on 3 doors down...way to become propaganda.

During our last trip to the US, my wife and I caught a movie - I think it was 'I Am Legend.' (I'm originally from the US - I moved to Australia where my wife's from). Before the movie this 3-and-a-half minute piece of 'propaganda' came on. That's three minutes and thirty seconds of this crap.

I wondered, are the people sitting around me really buying into this nonsense? My wife whispered to me how sad and embarrassing the ad was. When will people move along from this destructive mindset? How many kids watching the ad will base life decisions on 'cool' crap like this?

I honestly can't believe they're still showing this. This is no way to promote what the military actually does. It's not a game. People need to understand that.

what really sets off warning lihgts for me is it talks about the revolutionary war then flashes straight to the war torn "america (?)" that is betrayed... then it flashes at the bottom... mission first. not family. even in the d-day scene the soldier kisses his wedding band then takes off to die... NOT COOL.

i will be putting my FAMILY first... screw a mission.

Well said... A point I forgot to make was that most people like to go the movies to escape their lives for a an hour or 2, They work all day, kids,
mortgage and all of that day to day crap. They get to the theater and
are so rudely reminded about war. We can't escape it. Mind you this was
a kids movie I saw last. Little kids seeing this before a movie isn't gonna
harm them for life necessarily, but it's certainly unnecessary.

reply to post by cluckerspud

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Oh wow, first time I've seen this commercial and I think it's a great marketing tactic to join the military. Nothing wrong with serving your country, we all do our share just by paying our taxes alone. What is so bad about trying to get some sort of national pride going? If you live in the U.S., you should be at least be sort of happy about it. It could be much, much worse living in some half ass third world country.

I stated nowhere in my post that I am against getting national pride going.
I know the commercials purpose is just that.

Your response is not reflective of my commentary and opinion.

It's the images and depictions in question.

[edit on 7-1-2009 by cluckerspud]

I think some of you are misinterpreting what the imagery is. It’s a montage of roles that the National Guard has played throughout history. Being the Militia in the Revolutionary War, Helping with National Disasters such as hurricane Katrina, Serving in World War II, and serving in Iraq. The imagery is a bit on the dark bleak side, but I am sure that is only intended as a artistic contrast between dark times and heroes who stand up during them.

Very well true. But I feel there may be an underlying message as well.
Pure opinion. No proof.

However, a rock video to sell the services?! Classless and pure garbage
in my opinion (and that's all it is). And before a kids movie?! Or any movie?!
I'm going to movies to escape stuff like that. I'm trying to forget that my
rent is late, and my car needs repaired and I cant afford to get it fixed and
there is war going on while homeless vets are on the street from previous
wars.