Miss Jones, when i was a marine, i did not ask for anybody to stand up for me nor did i expect anybody to. I signed up with clear understanding that i could fall in harms way at any point (and I did --- 8 months during desert shield/desert storm). If i did not agree to the posibility of ever having to kill somebody, friend or foe, guilty or innocent, then i would not have sworn myself in. If anybody enlists with the idea that they may never be called upon for a "bullshit war", then they are just being ignorant. Your trained to use your weapon in boot camp, so its just naive to think that you will be stuck in an air conditioned office in Boise for all 4 years.
And by the way, soldiers do have options. I can think of 2 right of the top of my head. They can file as a "conciencence objector" and face very light penalties. Im not sure what those penalties are, but its not punishing you because you believe war is wrong. Its punishing you because you once swore you would, then "flip flopped" your allegience. Your second option is much more fatal. Once on the battlfield, its too late to say you dont agree, because your plattoon mates' lives could be at stake. If you refuse an order to fight in the heat of battle, you could be shot by your commander. Harsh? Yes. But you dont lay down your arms while your buddies next to you are fighting.
Michael Moore focuses on the poor being singled out and recruited to be president Bush's mercenaries. Well, thats one way to look at it. The other way to look at it is the military is a very excellent option for able bodied men and women who have very little other options. You recieve excellent pay and benefits, 3 squares a day, free lodging, skills for a lifetime, and you also grow as a person. All of this comes with a price. For the poor and for people with limited opportunities, this looks so much better than living in rat infested projects and slums, asking you to "supersize" your order, and living payday to payday. You could be called to war one day. Thats the catch. As with anything in life, nothing is free.
<font size="2" face="verdana, arial">dude, i respect you and your viewpoints so much. that's all i have to say.Originally posted by wolfpits:
Miss Jones, when i was a marine, i did not ask for anybody to stand up for me nor did i expect anybody to. I signed up with clear understanding that i could fall in harms way at any point (and I did --- 8 months during desert shield/desert storm). If i did not agree to the posibility of ever having to kill somebody, friend or foe, guilty or innocent, then i would not have sworn myself in. If anybody enlists with the idea that they may never be called upon for a "bullshit war", then they are just being ignorant. Your trained to use your weapon in boot camp, so its just naive to think that you will be stuck in an air conditioned office in Boise for all 4 years.
And by the way, soldiers do have options. I can think of 2 right of the top of my head. They can file as a "conciencence objector" and face very light penalties. Im not sure what those penalties are, but its not punishing you because you believe war is wrong. Its punishing you because you once swore you would, then "flip flopped" your allegience. Your second option is much more fatal. Once on the battlfield, its too late to say you dont agree, because your plattoon mates' lives could be at stake. If you refuse an order to fight in the heat of battle, you could be shot by your commander. Harsh? Yes. But you dont lay down your arms while your buddies next to you are fighting.
Michael Moore focuses on the poor being singled out and recruited to be president Bush's mercenaries. Well, thats one way to look at it. The other way to look at it is the military is a very excellent option for able bodied men and women who have very little other options. You recieve excellent pay and benefits, 3 squares a day, free lodging, skills for a lifetime, and you also grow as a person. All of this comes with a price. For the poor and for people with limited opportunities, this looks so much better than living in rat infested projects and slums, asking you to "supersize" your order, and living payday to payday. You could be called to war one day. Thats the catch. As with anything in life, nothing is free.
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