I think it's a little too easy to paint things like this as an outgrowth of culture. While our soldier/police worship is ingrained in culture, it didn't come ab

I think it's a little too easy to paint things like this as an outgrowth of culture. While our soldier/police worship is ingrained in culture, it didn't come about naturally; it was deliberately campaigned for after the labor gains in the 1890s-onward to try to undermine the red menace, especially once the US entered World War I, and our government continues to spend tens of millions on propaganda at sports games and the like. Of course, this is perfect for politicians who can take funding from defense contractors, but for the rest of us it's wasteful and, I fear, helps set the stage for the rise of fascist movements like we've seen for the past few years.