| Please read. |
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It seems like a ton of them join simply because they had no other great alternative and wanted something that would give them immediate cash. my cousin joined because he had 2 DUIs. Most of them hate it, too. Am I missing something? I mean they deserve a ton of respect, but i think we might over-glorify the whole service thing a little. |
| Francis aka Killer |
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Few will agree with you because (A) they are afraid of being politically incorrect or (B) they're faux patriots who think military personnel are the salt of the earth. I am neither. While I truly respect service men and women who join the military out of true patriotism and a desire to defend their country (e.g. Pat Tillman), I agree with you that many soldiers join the armed forces because they have few other employment options. In the case of the latter, they get no kudos for "sacrificing" for their country. They sacrificed nothing; they went looking for a paycheck (or chose an alternative to jail time), and in war time they simply carry out a task because they have no other choice beyond going AWOL. |
| Man of few words |
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slightly? |
| More than a little |
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You think? |
| Riemann Integrable |
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Military guys I know: Guy #1. Parents made him join after he failed his first semester at college. He joined the Air Force and was stationed at an air base in Qatar for 4 years refueling jets. Got a great degree on the GI Bill and now programs microprocessors for a living. He doesn't talk about his military career much. He just thought it was really boring and a great way to pay for college. Guy #2. Joined out of high school and was sent to Afghanistan at the beginning of the war, serving a brief tour before he was sent back to U.S. following a minor leg injury. Spent 7 years being lazy at college and eventually was not able to graduate. Is now 32 and living at his parents house with nothing going for him. Guy #3. Did some Navy stuff on the East Coast and then came here for school. He's still in the reserves and a pretty chill guy. Only problem is that he thinks all the women will jump on him for being in the Navy. |
| Mostly aholes |
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The Oprah / jeep superbowl commercial tells you all you need to know. I was nearly sick into my mouth watching that nonsense |
| lerch |
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Seems about right. I was in the Army, and there are all kinds. My friends typically all had college degrees, received the student loan repayment program, and all except one got out after their initial enlistment. They all have very successful careers from investment banking, to FBI and Govt. Intel agencies, to attorneys, to business. All certainly were much more daring and adventurous than many other people I know from high school or college who are in similar fields at same point of our lives. A lot of military and ex-military guys I know aren't any more patriotic or regimented in their thinking than other people, they were just more risk-taking at a given point in their young-adulthood. |
| Precious Roy |
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I know a lot of military people. There is quite a gamut. Most pre-911 saw almost no combat (one guy heard a gun shot in Kosovo--that was it for a 20 year combat marine vet) and some post-911 have seen it all and paid a heavy price (one guy I know has to go in for psychotherapy three times a week to deal with his PTSD). Some have nothing better to do, others give up significant earning in the private sector for the Armed Forces (20 year combat guy came out and graduated in the top 5% at my law school--15 years at top law firm is a lot of money). So, yeah, some are impressive, others not. What bothers me about the presumption that military service is honorable is that it assumes that military force is a part of life and there is no alternative. I would hope that one day there would be no more war because people would just refuse to fight anymore. In the final analysis, wars are just amputations. Wars do not build democracies and establish peace and prosperity. Democracies and peace grow out of the ashes and debris that war leaves behind. I don't think servicemen should be spat on like they did in Vietnam. But, I wish parents, freinds and family of people considering military service would just say to them that there should be another way to deal with conflict around the world rather than killing people. |
| runn |
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I'll agree- I know what he's saying. Just about every kid I know (with a few exceptions) joins the military because they messed up in high school and have no alternative. BUT Those that fight in our wars are truly heroes. |
| women know the truth |
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Corrected Welcome. |
| Korean Liquor Store Magnate |
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You mean like that Cormier kid who ran at Arkansas, who became a sniper? Yeah. What's so brave anout shoooting White Caucasian Palestinian women and White Semitic Palestinian children in the back? |
| Cult of Dusty |
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Some decent logic here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vokvW-SXUnc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0XKcqdjle4 |
| you really mean that? |
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Why? Those who fight in our wars kill people they were told to kill by Washington politicians. They don't get to choose who they kill. They are slaves. How are they heroes? Can you explain it to me, please ? The wars we fight don't "protect our freedom" one bit. They just kill a bunch of young people. |
| fair enough |
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I agree that a lot of people join for a lack of anything better to do. I have thought long and hard about joining, but I can't seem to bend my logic in a way that makes me comfortable with it. If we were involved in a just war I would join in a second, but I don't feel that our military is being used justly in the world. Some people seem to be able to bend their logic, but I can't. |
| My name is Lance |
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certainly not on this board - heavily populated by narcissistic, shallow ingrates who never grew up & spend their time obsessing about whether wearing tights makes them look fat or how many meaningless seconds they could shave off their 5k if they ran 40 mpw, vice 39. what a bunch of assclown d-bags you are. |
| yo yo mammacita |
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The guys I knew that joined the military weren't any more heroic than anyone else I knew. Most of them started college and either flunked out or their parents or they couldn't afford to stay in school and the military offered help for college. The one guy I know of all my friends who stayed in after 4 years is know 45 and a Captain and went through the ranks and makes a good living with good benefits but he will be the first one to tell you he doesn't deserve any more glory than any other private citizen with a work ethic. He made a career choice and like his odds staying in the military. But the thing about it is they should be appreciated for their service. Somebody has to do it. In war zones they are the ones we have that sacrifice. A friend of mine recently died. He only served in the military after quitting college he and his family couldn't afford. He was on the USS Stark that got torpedoed in 1987. He didn't join the Navy to be a hero for his country. It was just an opportunity he took when he couldn't afford to stay in college at that time and an option. I'm sure he knew there was a possibilty of danger but not expected. 35 of his shipmates burned in a fire and he never got over helping collecting those bodies. They had the troops do that to get to them conditioned to the realities of war. We overglorify rich celebrities and professional athletes. I don't have a problem with the the military guys having similar blind support. I just wish more people would question the policies of our leaders and their true motivations to require are troops to be put in these war zones. |
| The finance department |
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Just once when I pass a serviceman on the street I'd love to have him (or her) stop me and thank ME for helping to pay their salary and education for years. |
| yep. |
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I respect anyone who is willing to put their life on the line for others. That being said, the majority of the people I know who went into the armed forces barely made it through high school. They had very few alternatives. In school, they were ***holes, and now that they're back from serving, they're ***holes. Again, I respect anyone who is willing to fight to uphold the freedom of our country or others, but to glorify them is ridiculous. |
| obamasucks |
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I think scientists in healthcare who are truly making breakthroughs deserve nearly all the glorifying. Not the greedy companies as a whole, but truly driven scientists who want to make a difference. |
| Former Navy Guy |
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I served in the Navy for 15 years and I agree with most of what you are saying. Not everyone served honorably. Even fewer served honorably and came home to be awesome civilians. What is an awesome civilian: someone who works, pays taxes, raises a family and contributes in a positive way to their communities. I never attend any of the veteran events that are "in my honor." I don't need any more recognition. All of my awards aere in a nice big shadowbox with a flag that flew over FOB Hammer in 2007. That shadowbox is in my man cave. It wasn't a sacrifice. I signed a contract. I got paid. I have the G.I. Bill. Any veteran who expects to be honored more than that is a poser. And a majority of the stories veterans tell you are bullshit too. Anyone who talks openly with you about their experiences in the sandbox were likely never there. Ask to see their DD 214. I go to a large public university in the Big XII. I think it takes more courage to toe the line in a championship 800m here than half of the things I did in the military. My point is this: yes, it's overly glorified sometimes. A few big mouths who served in the rear make us normal dudes/dudettes look bad. |