I’ve stated numerous times that I think much more of people who have served in the US Armed Services than those who haven’t.
Or, more accurately, I don’t think less of a man for not serving, but I always think more of a man who has.
On the other hand, I give absolutely zero bonus for points for men who lament that they have “thought” about joining…but then for one selfish reason or another never did.
Men like Barack Obama. Who, in two memoirs, never once before admitted to “thinking about” joining the Army. Not until it became — like most things in Obama’s world — politically expedient for him. Like when he’s running against a revered war hero and the mother of an infantry soldier.
And I actually always thought of the military as an ennobling and, you know, honorable option. But keep in mind that I graduated in 1979. The Vietnam War had come to an end. We weren’t engaged in an active military conflict at that point. And so, it’s not an option that I ever decided to pursue.
Uh huh. I believe that as much as I believe that Obama wasn’t in the pews when Rev. Jeremiah White was waxing hateful about white America.
Barry says that he thought of it when he graduated from high school in 1979 and was required to register for the selective services. Though his memory must be a little off, since he Selective Service Act had lapsed and wasn’t reinstated until 1980. Barry didn’t actually register until his sophomore year at Occidental in California.
And, as Just One Minute points out, “Obama recently gave a commencement address at Wesleyan with the theme of calling our nations youth to service and never mentioned the military as a way to serve our country.”
Just One Minute concludes, “Nowhere in this call to service does he acknowledge that joining the military is a valid way to serve our country. It simply was not on his radar in May of 2006 and I doubt it was on his radar at his graduation in 1979 or when he actually registered in 1980.”
McCain ahead by 10.
Olbermann and Matthews off the election coverage.
A lot of talk on the radio by other reporters letting it all hang out on Olbermann and Matthews. Say network meltdown.
Network meltdown? Perhaps.
Citizen reaction to the Lame Stream Media, most definitely hostile.
And the NYSlimes has a front page story on Trig Palin.
There is no depth too low for the LSM.
As for B-HO’s bald faced pandering, saying he considered enlisting, but the Viet Nam war had ended by the time he graduated. Actually, combat operations had ended in Viet Nam in 1973, when he was in the sixth grade.
What an empty suit.
If I had a choice, I’d vote for the conscientious objector every time.
Not saying Obama was a conscientious objector – he obviously wanted to do more with his life than blow people up.
Jonny
New videos up at the People’s Cube.
American Contrarian.
Jonny
Do you really, honestly believe that people serve in the military because we want to “blow people up”?
Obama wouldn’t have joined the military even if there was a war going on. First he would have to justify the war in his own mind and I don’t believe there’s a war he’d ever justify. I think he’s starting to melt down.
OMG – I just saw Hillary was on tv at some college in New York and you know what she said, “It doesn’t matter who you vote for, just vote!”
Say that one more time
No I don’t Colin, sorry that was a bit hasty on my part.
However, there does seem to be this gun toting attitude that emanates from the South that supports the use of violence over any diplomatic attempt to solve a problem.
I guess what I was saying is if someone morally believes in solving problems of an international nature by words rather than guns, then then shouldn’t be thought of any less than one who prefers to grab the gun first.
I do believe in some kind of military training for ALL citizens of a specific country who wish to call it home, as I believe people are able to form better morals and become better people rather than just sitting around claiming benefits.
Self respect and the ability to respect others is something the UK military install in their soldiers and this is a good thing.
I just don’t like the idea of killing people for reasons that could have been talked through.
Jonny
Oh great, he’s hijacking the thread again.
” I believe people are able to form better morals and become better people rather than just sitting around claiming benefits.
Self respect and the ability to respect others is something the UK military install in their soldiers and this is a good thing.”
I could not agree more with this statement.
But this one: “I just don’t like the idea of killing people for reasons that could have been talked through.” And this one: “if someone morally believes in solving problems of an international nature by words rather than guns, then then shouldn’t be thought of any less than one who prefers to grab the gun first” make me wince.
The decision to use military force is made by our governments, not by the military. If you believe that your government is engaged in an unjust war, blame your politicians, not your servicemen or servicewomen. The overwhelming majority of servicepeople that I know (and I know a lot of them) are are as well- or better-versed in international affairs as the average civilian, and while they agree that sometimes military action is necessary, they also agree that it is much better to solve problems peacefully; none of them want to “grab a gun first”. I have yet to meet a bona fide “war monger” in the military, at any pay grade.
I readily acknowledge that there are many ways of serving one’s country, other than the military. But the person who volunteers to serve in uniform has made a promise to place the country’s future above his or her own safety, to serve even in the face of danger to life and limb. The overwhelming majority of servicepeople are never called on to face that danger, but every one of them promised to do so, if ever asked.
So it’s not that I think less of people who don’t serve in the military; it’s just that I have more respect for those who do. The schoolteacher, the volunteer at the homeless shelter, even the clerk at the DMV, all these and many more are serving, and I respect and am thankful for their service. But I have more respect and admiration for those who have promised to take a bullet for me.
Keep your nose out. The grown-ups are talking now.
I totally agree, however you have to admit that the reason an individual joins the army/military would be to fight for their country/international coalition? I understand your point that it would be unfair to describe any serviceman as nothing more than cannon fodder and I take your point that they’re well versed in international affairs.
I will have no disrespect for anyone serving in the military.
Put like that, I don’t think you’d get even the hardest liberal disagreeing with you.
For instance my fiance is a nurse – she works 60 hour weeks saving lives or making people as comfortable as possible in their final moments.
I respect her a lot more than I would a defense lawyer or oil tycoon.
You’ve made me think Colin. I’ll give you that.
Jonny
Keep your nose out. The grown-ups are talking now.
Piss off. You are the one who feels the need to lecture everyone on who you would vote for, neglecting the fact that you do not have the right to vote and your opinion is meaningless.
she works 60 hour weeks
Thread hijack. This isn’t about you. It’s about Obama, the election, and the military — not a woman who works overtime to get away from you. And, yes, she was the one you were talking about as if she were a piece of meat.
Anonymous, heres the plan. You don’t reply to my posts and I don’t reply to yours. Deal?
All you’re doing with this vendetta against me is taking up space that other people must be bored to death with by now.
You’re embarrassing yourself now so please, just leave it.
Jonny
Back to the point Colin, we have an army recruitment centre on the corner of where I work. Every morning, the place is rammed with young kids, most of them wearing ‘hoddies’ and looking as though the army recruitment officers will be impressed by their attire.
These kids aren’t joining up to take a bullet for me. These kids have nothing else in life. They probably want to get away from there crappy home lives or their families have probably booted them down to sign up.
These people are cannon fodder and it annoys me that a government will utilise these people where their lives are at risk for nothing more than political gain.
I’d be interested to know if the US have these types joining up.
Jonny
Anonymous, heres the plan. You don’t reply to my posts and I don’t reply to yours. Deal?
Promises promises. How many times have you said that before? hahaha. Anyway, I’ll respond to any post I choose and you can piss off.
All you’re doing with this vendetta against me is taking up space that other people must be bored to death with by now.
As unusual, your ego is overblown. You have pissed all over this blog, Americans, the US for months now. So, stop whining.
Few, if any, people sign up just because they want to stand between their country and the bad guys. I certainly did not. People join the military for all sorts of reasons, but most of the reasons have to do with economics, or a desire for something a little more exciting. In my case, it was both: I had a low-paying job that I didn’t like, and a strong desire to see something other than small-town middle America. To say that I had nothing else left in life would be an exaggeration.
But here’s the thing: everyone who joins the military knows, and willingly accepts, the fact that at any time he or she may be called upon to make the supreme sacrifice. They’re not doing it solely out of a sense of altruism; they expect (rightfully, in my opinion) a reasonable quid pro quo. But that doesn’t change the fact that they are willingly accepting the responsibility.
I promised that, should I ever be so ordered, I would place myself in harm’s way. In return, I got a steady paycheck (very small, at first, but still steady), training in both occupational skills and life skills, and I got to see parts of the world that very few Americans ever will. To my way of thinking, it was an equitable arrangement for all concerned.
Anonymous is correct when he or she says that this thread is supposed to be about Obama and the election.
The fact that John McCain is a veteran is not sufficient reason to vote for him. John Murtha is also a veteran.
The fact that Barack Obama is not a veteran is not sufficient reason to vote against him. My original choice for the Republican nominee in this election is not a veteran.
However, a candidate’s status as a veteran or a non-veteran is a point to consider in making one’s decision.
As it happens, Senator Obama and Senator McCain differ very widely in their positions on almost every issue, and that carries much more weight in my decision-making process than whether or not they served. But again, the fact that McCain is a veteran, and Obama is not, was one factor in my decision.
And that is understandable. For the same reasons, it would be a point of consideration for me to vote for someone with no war record over someone who had fort for their country (depending on the reasons of course).
More to the point, the division will be made more obvious when the common voter comes to place that X, especially from the South.
Jonny