Comments on Why Soldiers Deserve Proper Respect, page 2 of 2
· futility, honor, justice, sacrifice, service, soldiers, war, youth
I agree totally with you steve!
If the Nuremberg ...
Anonymous · 2009-12-05T16:55:07.543000
I agree totally with you steve!
If the Nuremberg trials have taught us anything is that it's 100% okay to do anything as long as you are ordered to do it.
I mean what can these poor souls do? Not taking the best career opportunities? Of course not! If bombing residential areas and turning a country upside down is the only trade our men can get I said Afghanistan was asking for it, they should have provided us with better job options.
Now excuse me while I sign up for another illegal war. It's okay guys, I'll just be following orders.
You will learn, as you grow, that nothing can be a...
Steve · 2009-12-05T17:03:09.027000
You will learn, as you grow, that nothing can be assessed in the black or white fashion you adopt above. I am happy for you that you cannot be coerced into compromising your principles. Not everyone has the luxury, or the intellect, to be so.
Yes. Motivations/reasons are complex and it's ...
Noufal · 2009-12-05T18:08:22.739000
Yes. Motivations/reasons are complex and it's finally down to the individual. I tend to view a "professional" soldier with a jaundiced eye though. I guess you're more optimistic thatn I am.
@Noufal: probably not; where you use the term &quo...
Steve · 2009-12-05T19:25:57.835000
@Noufal: probably not; where you use the term "professional" I might use "career". Someone who signs up for eighteen years has probably taken the military ethic on board hook, line and sinker. Someone who joins up for four years to learn a trade and earn a wage isn't really in the same category from my point of view.
As much as I disagree with your views, as much do ...
Anonymous · 2009-12-06T01:19:07.279000
As much as I disagree with your views, as much do I disagree with most of the commenters here.
But especially if signing in to the US troops, you should think about how some of the presidents think of playing watchman for planet earth and sending troops to anywhere. It's not like you're neutral Switzerland, there's hardly any conflict in the world without US troops on site. I'm not judging here, but if I was an American in service, I would anticipate this "government warmongering", basically taking it for granted.
On a different note, regarding this: Much as I regret President Obama's decision to send yet more troops to Afghanistan, he was at least honest about his intentions during his campaign. Do you have any link/references backing this up? Most of the people over here in Europe that I talked with about Obama's politics were actually thinking there'll be less troops in Afghanistan.
Sadly I think that most people you talk to over in...
Steve · 2009-12-06T01:37:27.169000
Sadly I think that most people you talk to over in Europe were listening to their own desires rather than what Obama said a year ago or more on the campaign trail.
I don't disagree that American is an imperialist nation, even though most American citizens will be horrified by that assertion. You only have to look at their foreign policy and war history, especially since the second World War, to see that its foreign policy has been a tool of its economic policy. Sadly human rights rarely get a look in.
I find it quite interesting to hear the perception...
Anonymous · 2009-12-18T02:16:22.217000
I find it quite interesting to hear the perceptions of those who enjoy the very freedoms our armed forces ensure for us all.
The truth of the matter is, our country is responsible for the troops being in Iraq and Afghanistan and not one single soldier, sailor, airman nor marine is to blame for our war efforts. You can blame a president or a political party, but we are all Americans and should stand together to support and defend our country.
These patriots, who serve unselfishly, don't do it for money, excitement nor for glory. But most simply serve out of belief and the knowledge that we have become a great nation, only due to the actions of those who gave their lives for the country.
Those serving our country should be honored and treated with great respect. For if not for them you may have been the one to be called. To call them mercenaries is not only wrong, it's something I find personnaly offensive. The degrading of our sons and daughters, who serve for us all, is a very low and dispicable behavior.
I was honored to serve this country for over twenty years, as did my father and his father before him. Without the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform, we would not enjoy the freedom to post our opinions freely, as we all have here.
I don't intend or believe this will change anyone's mind, but hopefully will let you all see the view, from this side of the issue.
God Bless the United States of America!!!
"""
That's exactly what I mean:...
ajung · 2009-12-27T20:04:11.021000
""" That's exactly what I mean: you completely fail to distinguish between government warmongering and the individuals who are its tools. Nobody's hands are entirely clean in this world, but many of the troops have far more honorable motivations than you imply. I agree it might be better if everyone refused to serve, but not everyone has that luxury, or feels they do. """
Indivduals going to the military should know what they are part of a bigger game and used as tools. Otherwise they are naive.
@ajung: maybe they are naive; maybe they are also ...
Steve · 2009-12-27T20:57:25.469000
@ajung: maybe they are naive; maybe they are also ill-educated. I don't see politicians trying to do much about that, as the present state of affairs suits our political leaders very well.
And maybe from their point of view signing up to serve in the armed forces is the only way t keep their family fed. That can be a powerful motivator, even for someone who may have qualms about joining up. Most have some level of desire to serve their country (and they will assume this means serving their fellow citizens).
I agree totally with you steve! If the Nuremberg ...
Anonymous · 2009-12-05T16:55:07.543000
I agree totally with you steve!If the Nuremberg trials have taught us anything is that it's 100% okay to do anything as long as you are ordered to do it.
I mean what can these poor souls do? Not taking the best career opportunities? Of course not! If bombing residential areas and turning a country upside down is the only trade our men can get I said Afghanistan was asking for it, they should have provided us with better job options.
Now excuse me while I sign up for another illegal war. It's okay guys, I'll just be following orders.
You will learn, as you grow, that nothing can be a...
Steve · 2009-12-05T17:03:09.027000
You will learn, as you grow, that nothing can be assessed in the black or white fashion you adopt above. I am happy for you that you cannot be coerced into compromising your principles. Not everyone has the luxury, or the intellect, to be so.Yes. Motivations/reasons are complex and it's ...
Noufal · 2009-12-05T18:08:22.739000
Yes. Motivations/reasons are complex and it's finally down to the individual. I tend to view a "professional" soldier with a jaundiced eye though. I guess you're more optimistic thatn I am.@Noufal: probably not; where you use the term &quo...
Steve · 2009-12-05T19:25:57.835000
@Noufal: probably not; where you use the term "professional" I might use "career". Someone who signs up for eighteen years has probably taken the military ethic on board hook, line and sinker. Someone who joins up for four years to learn a trade and earn a wage isn't really in the same category from my point of view.As much as I disagree with your views, as much do ...
Anonymous · 2009-12-06T01:19:07.279000
As much as I disagree with your views, as much do I disagree with most of the commenters here.But especially if signing in to the US troops, you should think about how some of the presidents think of playing watchman for planet earth and sending troops to anywhere. It's not like you're neutral Switzerland, there's hardly any conflict in the world without US troops on site. I'm not judging here, but if I was an American in service, I would anticipate this "government warmongering", basically taking it for granted.
On a different note, regarding this:
Much as I regret President Obama's decision to send yet more troops to Afghanistan, he was at least honest about his intentions during his campaign.
Do you have any link/references backing this up? Most of the people over here in Europe that I talked with about Obama's politics were actually thinking there'll be less troops in Afghanistan.
Sadly I think that most people you talk to over in...
Steve · 2009-12-06T01:37:27.169000
Sadly I think that most people you talk to over in Europe were listening to their own desires rather than what Obama said a year ago or more on the campaign trail.The Rude Pundit is my principal source for my assertion, and I believe his claims to be reliable. He's as much against war as I am.
I don't disagree that American is an imperialist nation, even though most American citizens will be horrified by that assertion. You only have to look at their foreign policy and war history, especially since the second World War, to see that its foreign policy has been a tool of its economic policy. Sadly human rights rarely get a look in.
I find it quite interesting to hear the perception...
Anonymous · 2009-12-18T02:16:22.217000
I find it quite interesting to hear the perceptions of those who enjoy the very freedoms our armed forces ensure for us all.The truth of the matter is, our country is responsible for the troops being in Iraq and Afghanistan and not one single soldier, sailor, airman nor marine is to blame for our war efforts. You can blame a president or a political party, but we are all Americans and should stand together to support and defend our country.
These patriots, who serve unselfishly, don't do it for money, excitement nor for glory. But most simply serve out of belief and the knowledge that we have become a great nation, only due to the actions of those who gave their lives for the country.
Those serving our country should be honored and treated with great respect. For if not for them you may have been the one to be called. To call them mercenaries is not only wrong, it's something I find personnaly offensive. The degrading of our sons and daughters, who serve for us all, is a very low and dispicable behavior.
I was honored to serve this country for over twenty years, as did my father and his father before him. Without the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform, we would not enjoy the freedom to post our opinions freely, as we all have here.
I don't intend or believe this will change anyone's mind, but hopefully will let you all see the view, from this side of the issue.
God Bless the United States of America!!!
""" That's exactly what I mean:...
ajung · 2009-12-27T20:04:11.021000
"""That's exactly what I mean: you completely fail to distinguish between government warmongering and the individuals who are its tools. Nobody's hands are entirely clean in this world, but many of the troops have far more honorable motivations than you imply. I agree it might be better if everyone refused to serve, but not everyone has that luxury, or feels they do.
"""
Indivduals going to the military should know what they are part of a bigger game and used as tools. Otherwise they are naive.
@ajung: maybe they are naive; maybe they are also ...
Steve · 2009-12-27T20:57:25.469000
@ajung: maybe they are naive; maybe they are also ill-educated. I don't see politicians trying to do much about that, as the present state of affairs suits our political leaders very well.And maybe from their point of view signing up to serve in the armed forces is the only way t keep their family fed. That can be a powerful motivator, even for someone who may have qualms about joining up. Most have some level of desire to serve their country (and they will assume this means serving their fellow citizens).
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