Would You Join the Military in Your Country Today?
Thank you again for all your kind words about my daughter. We are undergoing a difficult time at the moment, but with her illness, there will be be some good days and some not so good days. Now we are in the not so good days. Nevertheless, I remain hopeful. Blogging actually helps me from becoming too consumed with my own pain, and gets me outside of myself.
Both my grandfather and father were veterans of the military. My grandfather was in the Army in WWI, and my father was in the Navy in WWII. I have great respect and admiration for those who join the military and believe in fighting for principles important to my country, America.
Today, however, joining the military under George W. Bush takes on an entirely different meaning, at least for me. Under Rumsfeld, Bush and Cheney, the fight to 'bring democracy to other countries' specifically Iraq, seems to be the mission under this administration. Personally, I see very little resources from the military as presently constituted spent towards keeping America safe. When Katrina struck and devastated the gulf coast, troops had to be brought back from Iraq to take care of business, here, in this country. I do believe in keeping our country safe from terrorists, but it does not appear that Iraq, as it exists today, is a treat to Americans, period.
That being said, I would not serve in our military today. Moreover, I would not want my children to serve, especially under this President, and the direction where he has taken the military. However, I would, in a heartbeat, go to serve the military in Israel, if I had to do so, and I would encourage my children to do the same, as I believe in fighting for the peace and security of the state of Israel.
Here is the question of the day: Would you serve in the military today under President George Bush? If so why, and if not, why not? Would you serve the military anywhere else in the world?
Thank our for your minds.
Both my grandfather and father were veterans of the military. My grandfather was in the Army in WWI, and my father was in the Navy in WWII. I have great respect and admiration for those who join the military and believe in fighting for principles important to my country, America.
Today, however, joining the military under George W. Bush takes on an entirely different meaning, at least for me. Under Rumsfeld, Bush and Cheney, the fight to 'bring democracy to other countries' specifically Iraq, seems to be the mission under this administration. Personally, I see very little resources from the military as presently constituted spent towards keeping America safe. When Katrina struck and devastated the gulf coast, troops had to be brought back from Iraq to take care of business, here, in this country. I do believe in keeping our country safe from terrorists, but it does not appear that Iraq, as it exists today, is a treat to Americans, period.
That being said, I would not serve in our military today. Moreover, I would not want my children to serve, especially under this President, and the direction where he has taken the military. However, I would, in a heartbeat, go to serve the military in Israel, if I had to do so, and I would encourage my children to do the same, as I believe in fighting for the peace and security of the state of Israel.
Here is the question of the day: Would you serve in the military today under President George Bush? If so why, and if not, why not? Would you serve the military anywhere else in the world?
Thank our for your minds.
20 Comments:
WEll, that is a hard question. Me...I'm 55 years old and a woman. I don't think the military would take me. If my 23 yr. old son decided that he wanted to serve I would not stop him. He is old enough to make his own decisions. So far, we have not had any more "home land" attacks. France, Spain, and other countries have been hit by the terrorists and I would not go visit any of these countries at this time. I know that you don't like GW. but I do feel safe in America. Now, if they don't do something with our boarders then I'm going to scream. I honor the minute men who have gone to protect our boarders. I have seen footage of hundreds of aliens just walking over into our country and it is possible for the terrorists to do the same thing.
Sorry I meant to say Illegals, not aliens.
BTW: I'm praying for your daughter.
No, I would not serve in any military. I believe murder is wrong, and being in the military is a way for any government to promote legalized murder.
It is my desire to see all weapons destroyed and never made again. It is my desire to see lines in the sand erased. Borders are meaningless, religions meaningless, governments meaningless. We are all one people who have the right to not be killed by an "enemy."
I'm suprised you would join--and encourage your childen to join--the Isreali military. Would your daughters life and death mean more if she died in the line of duty as opposed to the illness she's overcoming now? (Not trying to be rude, just blunt).
Well, if I ignore that fact that I'm too old, I can envision what I would do:
If we are ever attacked, yes, I would join the military under any president.
If we are not attacked, I would not join under any president. I do not believe that war solves problems. I would make an exception to this only in the obvious case of some horror like Hilter.
I should have prefaced the question, if age were not an issue.
I assure you, I am beyond the military age as well!
It's one thing to die for something you believe in, whether it makes a measureable difference or not -that's self-fulfilling. An example is that there are Canadian and American captives who went to Iraq to promote non-violent resistence to the war. The American fellow's last name is Fox, and he's a Quaker. You might have heard of them. The Canadian went to McGill university. They have been labelled as 'spies'. They will most likely die, but it will not be because they are fighting Iraqis. They went there to promote peace and die if necessary (which is debateable), and it is the decision of others to hold them hostage and kill them to make a point to all others for instigating this war. Going to war under the current Bush administration is a joke. We know whatever reason is given for it is a false pretense, it always was a false pretense. Many might have known that but believed in the cause overall because they figured: well as the superpower we have to do something even if it is ridiculous. I wrote my Canadian governement right before we were asked in the UN whether we would support America's decision. Luckily we didn't and neither did France or Russia. That should have been an indication to your leader that perhaps he should think of another plan, however, he doesn't ever seem to question his own actions. I expressed my point of view that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction, like Hans Blix and his crew seemed to demonstrate, and besides that, toppling a regime and forcing a country to rely on constant military support is not freedom or democracy. It is a farce. I would join the military to uproot landmines or deliver aid, but to join the military to support this illegal war seems to go against world peace in my point of view. In my view, George Bush and the American military are the highest threat to world peace. They undermine the UN, and they undermine what we supposedly learned from WWI and WWII as a species.
PS -you might have more important things to write about, but just to let you know, you've been memed.
I would go without a second thought.
...on a side note, why doesn't Israel just jump in with both feet and stop fooling around with the nitwits who keep trying to destroy them? I wouldn't lose a minutes sleep if they took out Palestine.
I agree with Niobium on this one. Noone would ever convince me to join any military force anywhere in the world. Not even so called "protective" forces. I do not believe in killing or in teaching people how to kill, or in weapons. I would love to see all wapons in the world destroyed and never to be made again as Niobium said.
wars only add up to anger and violence, and if we keep going down that road we will never teach our children that the most important thing is compassion and love, not anger and violence. Children learn from what they see and experience...
hit me and I will offer you the other cheek for I will not strike back...
I am actually in the situation where I CAN be drafted to the Norwegian army - being single and having no children...
My family has served in the military for generations. In the past, it was an honorable profession. Soldiers who signed up were doing so because they were supporting their country and defending their nation. Now it is too easy for politicians to send us to war for reasons do not benefit Americans. The corporate ties to military decisions have made it nearly impossible for many to be proud of what they're doing, especially in Iraq. I would not serve again under this President, or any President, until I can be sure that my service benefits my entire nation and not just the very wealthy.
It is nice to be a pacifist but it is not now and has never been a practical gesture. It could be argued that pacifism has brought about more strife than it has prevented.
And the answer to your question is in theory I might very well serve under Bush.
I don't agree with everything that has happened but there are deeper issues here than many want to admit/discuss.
Woow that's a question...I've never thought about....But I would serve.....to protect this country I live in!!!
Have a great day!!!
No, I wouldn't. I was a Reservist from 86-90, and active duty from 90-94. So I've done my time.
With what's going on today, no thank you.
I would go if I felt the cause to promote peace & hope for humanity. At least i think I would. Hard to say a person would acually do if faced w/the possibility of death.
I always respect anyone who chooses to stick up for what they think is right. Joining the military seems to me ideally an act of Patriotism. But, so also can not joining the military be Patriotism, do you think?
Administrations come and go. Some are obviously more worthy than others. The military does not serve the administration. They serve the Constitution and answer to legal authority. Yes, they are sometimes poorly and unwisely used, But still they serve and pay thier price (and ours) of citizenship. I would not dissuade either of our daughters from service, regardless of the administration.
One good thing about being gay (The are many other, BTW)... Is that they wouldn't have me.
So that takes care of that!
And congrats on your 300th post above!
HEY, MR.h.k., HOW FAR WOULD YOU go to stick up for your rights?
HEY, MR.h.k., HOW FAR WOULD YOU go to stick up for your rights?
Again excellent observation.
The morals and beliefs of heads of state and countries nowadays are so mixed up that I would have a big problem following their orders blindly, which you are supposed to do when you're a soldieer.
I have to admit that I am with Niobium, Nerdine and H.K. on this, plus being a pacifist does not mean you will not stick up for your rights.,, but when I was 'of age' I tried to join up, and they asked and I told,, them I was gay,,, so they said thanks but no thanks,, and I am glad of it,, I don't want to be front line fodder for a country that doesn't even want me to help unless I stick my very being into a closet and never open it while ''serving''. F that.
Might is NOT Right. I don't care what anyone says,, just because we are the biggest and baddest does not make us the best. So, I will stick with the pacifist,,, and I believe the Pen Mightier than the Sword...
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home