Anarchy, Military Service and a Coastie
Coast Guard Petty Officer Lou Miller
by Thomas Jackson, Contributor
Anarchist in the Military? Does it make sense and are they compatible? Maybe seems to be the answer for some. Anyone who has ever served in the military understands that our armed services are representative of society. Much like gays in the military, it shouldn’t be any surprise to find anarchist on active duty as well.
Anarchism is a political theory which aims to create anarchy, “the absence of a master, of a sovereign.” [P-J Proudhon, What is Property , p. 264] In other words, anarchism is a political theory which aims to create a society within which individuals freely co-operate together as equals. As such anarchism opposes all forms of hierarchical control – be that control by the state or a capitalist – as harmful to the individual and their individuality as well as unnecessary. In the words of anarchist L. Susan Brown:
“While the popular understanding of anarchism is of a violent, anti-State movement, anarchism is a much more subtle and nuanced tradition then a simple opposition to government power. Anarchists oppose the idea that power and domination are necessary for society, and instead advocate more co-operative, anti-hierarchical forms of social, political and economic organisation.” [The Politics of Individualism, p. 106]
“since it was thought that government was necessary and that without government there could only be disorder and confusion, it was natural and logical that anarchy, which means absence of government, should sound like absence of order.” [Anarchy, p. 16]
It’s last quote that brings us to question, “is military service compatible with being an anarchist?”
Anarchists on active duty in the Military? Lou Miller’s page on the social media site for anarchists’ is surprising but not more so surprising than learning that use of the site is widespread throughout all branches of the military. Anarch.me is a community of individuals who volunteer their time and talent to promote a voluntary society, says the site.
Mr. Miller says one comment posted to the site
I have served in the U.S. Coast Guard for the last 8 years, and currently I plan on continuing for another 12, when I can retire. On a daily basis I question whether or not this makes me a hypocrite. For what it’s worth, I’ve gained valuable skills in the firing and maintenance of various small arms, 7.62mm and .50 cal machine guns, and 25mm machine guns. In any case, I plan to attend American Military University and teach American History after I retire.
Miller has apparently been successful at being both on in the military and an active anarchist. That in and of itself must be a challenge. There are dozens if not hundreds or thousands of websites ran by anarchist that are Anti-Military such as Anarchist Youth, who devote alot of white space to their anti-military thoughts. In fact you can find many instances where anarchist have targeted military recruiters.
From the website Black Crayon’s page on anarchist quotes we find
- Governments and the military purport to protect the public from enemies, and if there were no enemies they would have to invent some, for the simple purpose of rationalizing their existence ….
Laurance Labadie, son of Joseph Labadie
So the question remains, are anarchist compatible with military service and in Petty Officer Miller’s case, are his thoughts of anarchy in keeping with Coast Guards core values of Honor, Respect and Devotion to Duty? The Guardian Ethos.
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