You've just said what a lot of people here are undoutedly thinking. I'm shocked to see some of the people on this board like haven who argues American policy vehemently and with passion but then turns into a friggin crying coward when asked what it would take for him to take up arms and defend his country. I try to follow the teachings of Buddhism somewhat, they are probably the most peace loving non-violent persons on the face of the Earth yet even when Tibet was being invaded by the Chinese, Buddhists took up arms to fight for their right to exist. I still wonder what it would take for some of these people to defend their country. It's clear now that a lot of talk seen on these boards is pretty cheap.
Had those attacks been in the cities of those who question whether they could fight, I strongly believe their answer would be different. Some are still just far enough removed to still question military action against those involved. I think a lot of men who went and fought in Vietnam didn't want to go. Many didn't think they "could" fight or kill. But, they did. If a draft is not needed, all the better. If there is one, those who dodge are much greater cowards than the Vietnam draft, Folks, this is WORSE than Pearl Harbor. I've always told myself that any time American soil was attacked I'd be ready and willing to defend it. But, that's just me.
Super post! I think I would be the one calling them though: "This is Mr. Civilian Ass Kicker, when are we leaving?"
Thats a pretty bad way to show your patriotism. Your grandpa is a GREAT man for fighting in World War II, but there were many GREAT men (and women) also who stayed home and built the airplanes,tanks,bombs,ammunition,etc. that kept our war effort going. Like you said you dont have to be a killer to help the war cause, bad back or not. In a time of war with a draft in place, anyone who can fight will. We are a unified nation now and you can not doubt the will of another American to defend his or her country. I am glad that you are ready to fight, just don't forget everyone that makes your fighting possible. Like I said in my prior post, I am ready too. God Bless America.
I don't like people on here calling other people cowards and saying if you were defending our nation we would be in trouble because the truth is you don't know what anyone would do, and if it was actually called for they may serve as brave and valiantly as any other person in the armed forces has. I don't know any one on this board and who knows what they would do in reality, but if this was a WWII type situation in that a specific country had attacked us and our liberty and freedom were at stake, my bet is that every person on this board would go fight for our country. Maybe this just isn't the type of situation that has hit home enough or does't seem dire enough to express a real desire to fight for. Just stop saying people aren't as brave and great as you because they have not expressed an explicit desire to fight for this yet. If it was our country at stake, we would all be there as one to face the enemy whatever the costs may be to ourselves.
I think that if most people are being shot at and someone is trying to kill them, they would try to kill that person first. At least, that is how my Grandfather who stormed Omaha beach described it. DaDakota
Hmmm... Are some of you not aware that people with physical conditions are generally turned away from military service when there are conditions such as a draft? I certainly know personal stories of people who failed physicals during the Vietnam War. I guess they are just p*****s, though. Maybe one of you guys can volunteer to kill people like me who weaken this country. That would eventually lead to a double faceted victory, right?
I've given more thought to this question before making this post than any thus far. My initial reaction was: no, I believe it would be the wrong thing to do. Then I asked myself: what am I willing to die for? The answer was pretty obvious. I'd die for my mother, my sister, my fiance, my grandfather, or my best friend. Under other circumstances, I might be willing to risk my life... but for those people, no hesitation, no doubts. I suppose fighting this war would mean protecting those people. I might not agree on method; but I couldn't refuse knowing that I might have contributed to their safety. Ultimately, I want to marry my fiance, graduate from law school, have three kids, and live happily ever after in Austin or Houston. I've never had any reason before to doubt that this would happen. One of the scariest thing about Tuesday was the prospect of this no longer happening, even more than death. Well, I'm willing to fight for that dream. Like Jeff and RM95, I'm not sure I could kill another human being, unless there was immediate danger, or I knew he was the sick **** who ordered this. But I would help in other ways.
Timing, Amen, brother! I am appalled by some of these people, too. They all want to tell us why we are in the situation we are in, yet when push comes to shove or when the going gets tough, they want to throw in the towel. Yea, we know about your bad back and everything. It would be nice if people here even if they had some health condition would still go if called. Let the military heads make that decision--don't automatically assume that hangnail is going to get that medical discharge. I, personally, cannot stand the sight of seeing blood. Yet, if we go to war and they feel that they need me, I wouldn't question it. It's like others have said--it's not like you are going to be expected on the front line or in the infantry. And that goes for you Hakeem Olajuwons and Kelvin Catos with your conditions--there are many things that people like you can do to help our nation. Don't automatically assume that your bad back rules you out for any type of service. For the record, I am not trying to be insensitive about anyone's physical condition. I just feel that we should all be thankful that we live in this country and not Afghanistan, Cambodia, or some 3rd world nation. If your country needs you, then you should be there for it. At least that's how I see it.
Yeah, Jeff, quite being so weak...just because you had to be mostly on your back for many months and cannot really run, I am sure basic training would be easy for you. The military won't care if your back goes out and renders you unable to walk in the middle of a skirmish. You can still help. Loser.
Well there isn't going to be a draft so this question is moot right now. Calling people cowards. Why? Why fight if you don't believe in fighting or you don't fully agree with the course of action taken? If you have disabilities how much use can you be in the heat of action? People have other reasons than cowardice, but I suppose it's a lot easier to dissmiss people that don't share the same thoughts as you by making blanket statements about them. Manny, comparing back problems or other medical disabilities to a hangnail is idiotic and shows your ignorance of how painful living with such ailments can be. Personally, I don't want to go. I wouldn't dodge the draft should the government ask for me(unless they were trying to do something I was really against) but I would not volunteer to go to war. I have a wife to take care of here, and besides, if I was interested in keeping the peace through force I would already be a soldier or policeman or something.
Rimbaud, It's obvious that you can't comprehend things. My point is that people in this country need to do everything they can to help. How convenient of you to forget that I said that people are not going to be on the front line or in the infantry. That doesn't mean there aren't other ways that they can help. You are the loser, jabroni. Sorry that I wasn't more simplistic for you. NOTE TO SELF: Make sure all future posts are done in a way that can be understood by the Rimbauds of the world.
Crisco, I admit that I might have gone over the line with the hangnail comment. Please realize that I did say a clarifying remark at the end of that post. I'm sorry if I offended you. Floyd, Treeman, and me along with others are just a little frustrated right now that there seems to exist this perception here that there are people here who would question it if their country needs them. All I'm saying is that if it comes down to war and Congress has made that decision, we need to be united as a country that we are behind it 100%. However, I know that having 100% backing is living in a fantasy world.
i would defend our country, but i think its pretty weak to call people p*****s because some may not be nearly as eager to fight as you as for myself, id be a serious risk and not eligible because i have a mild case of cerebral palsy and had epilepsy as a kid till i was 12-13 ish
I would be scared to death...but I would absolutely go and fight. Fighting through fear for something you truly believe in is the definition of bravery, to me. I'm proud of those here who said they'd gladly serve. We enjoy the liberties one for us...sometimes we have to fight to protect those liberties. Democracy requires viligance...sometimes that vigilace (am i spelling that right??) requires fighting. Most of all, I'd fight for my son. I'd be incredibly sad leaving him here. He's 1 1/2 years old. Seeing him sleeping each morning and him waking up with his smile and his "Da Da" is the highlight of my day. I would cry huge tears saying goodbye to him and my wife. But I'll be damned if I'm going to allow him to live in fear. I will not let my inactivity or my fear keeping him from having whatever future he can dream for himself. I would certainly die to protect that future for him. I will not stand for having that cheated from him. Thank you again to all those would be willing to die for me or for my family....thank you to those who put their lives on the line everyday to protect us from threats, domestic and other. I can't say a big enough thank you for that. And I can't tell you how proud that makes me to be your countryman. I pray to God that our generation rises to the task the way that others have before us.
No problem Manny. I know there is a lot of tension right now, I feel it within myself as well. I just have quite a few close family members and some friends who have medical conditions that they can't do anything about and it's frustrating to hear some people call them p*****s or weak because they aren't fit to be sent to war... It saddens and angers me to see people using the label of coward when I have yet to see a cowardly statement in this thread.
Buddhism does NOT support violence in any situation or for any reason. They believe that violence begats violence. It is a primary tenant of that religion. From the Dhammapada (the teachings of the Buddha - basically the Buddhist Bible): "In this world Hate never yet dispelled hate. Only love dispels hate. This is the law, Ancient and inexhaustible." From Ethics for the New Millenium by the Dalai Lama: "Chairman Mao once said that political power comes from the barrel of a gun. Of course it is true that violence can achieve certain short-term objectives, but it cannot obtain long-lasting ends. If we look at history, we find that in time, humaninty's love of peace, justice and freedom always triumphs over cruelty and oppression. This is why I am such a fervent believer in non-violence. Violence begets violence. And violence means only one thing: suffering. Theoretically, it is possible to conceive of a situation where the only way to prevent large-scale conflict is through armed intervention at an early stage. But the problem with this argument is that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to predict the outcome of violence. Nor can we be sure of its justness at the outset...The only certainty is that where there is violence, there is always and inevitably suffering." There is a tremendous difference between a coward and a pacifist. Admitting one's pacifism isn't exactly a popular choice in times like these as these posts suggest. I am comfortable in who I am and I respect the decisions of others to be who there are. If you choose to fight, my thoughts are with you. If you choose not to, I feel the same. If people think that I am a coward or any other colorful word you choose to define me, that is your choice. I'm sorry if what I have said is upsetting to you.
