Jail or War?

[catnapper]

I'd go to war. I realize our country and freedoms need to be protected, and even if I did or did not agree with the reasoning behind any given war, I'd still choose war since I want to be one of the many protecting our freedoms. Some countries wouldn't give you a choice of war vs. jail - they'd just put a gun in your hand and send you to war.

Not only that, but once I return home, I am considered a hero (though this would not be the reasoning behind choosing war over jail) and can proudly dispaly my veteran status on resumes, etc. An ex-con? They are denied jobs for haven been in prison, they are looked down upon as deadbeats of society. No thanks - I'll be the hero who upholds our freedoms and protects those freedoms.

Now that said, would I join the military tomorrow to go to war? Not on your life! I am too much a wimp - I mourn over a squashed bug. I could never witness death, and could never inflict death myself. But given those two choices, I choose war.

[LKPike]

Call me a coward, but I'd rather go to Canada.

lol I'll join you on that one

[Cataholic]

ES, there's a huge difference, but it's impossible to explain to someone who hasn't experienced it.

Good lord. That is a lovely, patronizing statment. ES- I guess you are just too dumb to understand some things...silly woman.

[Lady's Human]

Cataholic, that was not patronizing, just fact.

[Cataholic]

Oh, I see. Pardon me for not bowing down, humbly, my back is a bit sore this evening.

I somehow missed the concept that one must experience firsthand an event before 'understanding' it. Personally, I have experienced firsthand neither war nor jail, but, am quite comfortable with my opinion that I want neither for myself.

I imagine the list might be near endless of the events (wo)man has not experienced firsthand, yet has knowledge of. To hear anyone make the comment you did up several posts above IS patronizing. Your next post, declaring it 'fact' is nearly dismissive. I would imagine ES has the ability to comprehend many concepts she hasn't experienced firsthand...really, she is quite bright. (Remember, it was YOU that didn't want mind numbed soldiers.... ).

[Lady's Human]

To understand the broad generalities of a concept one can read about it. To truly UNDERSTAND something as complex as the interaction between soldiers it has to be experienced. I'm not being condescending, I'm just stating a fact.

There are things in the military that I could never have understood, even though I have read a lot of history, many bios, etc. There are things that HAVE to be experienced.

[Karen]

I don't think he implied at all that someone wouldn't understand just because of their gender. He knows better.

I understand that, as someone who has never been a soldier, there are some things about it I don't understand, not because of any lack of intellectual capacity, but because of lack of experience. Just as there are things about being a lawyer that I am sure I do not understand, and there are things about being a Mass Art student you wouldn't understand.

[Lady's Human]

BTW, "Silly woman" Has not one damned thing to do with it. I've served with male soldiers who i'd never allow near me in a tight spot, and I've served with women who could out perform many male soldiers.

[Cataholic]

Good grief. There are many things, even COMPLEX matters, that I do understand, even without experiencing them. Maybe you two are different, and do need the experience, I can't say. But, to lump everyone together and say "you can't understand cause you haven't been there", or, "I am just stating a fact" when it isn't a fact, it is your opinion, is inane.

Your statement:

ES, there's a huge difference, but it's impossible to explain to someone who hasn't experienced it.

was patronizing. Hey, its a fact! I said so. I can't explain it to you. You just wouldn't understand. It is a lawyer thing. You didn't go to law school.

[Lady's Human]

Cataholic, you will never understand for the simple reason that you refuse to open your mind up to the POSSIBILITY that there are things you can't wrap your limited amount of grey matter around.

Was that condescending enough?

[Cataholic]

You are too much. Really, too much. Soldier on, our little warrior, soldier on....

[RICHARD]

You are too much. Really, too much. Soldier on, our little warrior, soldier on....

Having spoken to Vets from WWII, Korea, Viet Nam, Somalia, Bosnia I have found that “little soldiers, soldiering on” are people who are bigger than life.

Those are the people who have gone into combat, be it an ‘illegal war’, ‘police action’ or
‘invasion’ that are doing a job that some us find necessary, just, distasteful or ???????

These people, men and women, heard the ‘drums of war’ sounding and they went to that sound.

I am sure that all of them also heard the sound of their conscience, the fear in their hearts and idea of traveling to a far off place to face off with another human being.. If you are old enough to remember the sound of the sirens that wailed on the last Friday of every month-the tests of the civil defense system-you’d think about the soviet missle that would soon come thundering overhead. Like the old bumpersticker said- One nuclear bomb can ruin your whole day.

Soldiers watch the news carefully. That little coup, civil war or jets flying into buildings
Bring that same cold feeling into every soldiers heart.

Will I see, in person, that far off place where CNN, Fox, Sky News are telling us about in person?

Please!

We kiss our loved ones in the morning and promise to come back at 5:30 in the afternoon.

Soldiers kiss their loved ones in the morning and promise to come back soon.

When? How?

Intact, a shell of themselves, missing pieces or in an aluminum box?

Winston Churchill said once that there are men out there doing things that we would not do ourselves, so we can sleep in our beds at night without worrying.

There are people who bear arms, travel to a foreign land and try to make a difference, without question, doubt or hesitation.

I admire them because they can set aside their fears and do a job that some of us will not do, cannot do or find to be distasteful.

Then I see someone like Ramsey Clark, American citizen, attorney and lost soul-in Iraq trying to defend a scumbag like Saddam Hussein.

Then things make sense.

Some kid from Midtown, USA who chooses to serve his country as a soldier doesn’t deserve the respect that some b@st@rd dictator gets.


It's funny how we take their service and lives for granted.
--------------------------

I'll pass on the lawyer joke for the moment.

But I will say that you would like the same respect for your career choice.

The men and women in the service are there because they want to.


I support the troops-no matter what.

And I think we all should.

[RICHARD]

Hey!!

As soon as we give Tookie the needle here in Cah Lee Fuh Nee Ah, there will be room for one more "draft dodger"!!!

[Cataholic]

Richard,
My comments to LH had nothing to do with soldiers and war, and supporting or not supporting it. I have great admiration for our soldiers. I do not have any respect for people that talk down to others, and then hide behind some title- be it soldier, doctor, lawyer, whatever. One can get their point across, as distasteful as some might find it, without insult.

As for lawyer jokes? Bring them on. I don't wear my occupation as a badge of anything other than that which brings in income, supports my family, and holds my interest most of the time.

[Lady's Human]

I swore to myself I was bowing out of this, however:

Cataholic, you were the one who threw the insult. You assumed (remember the line about assuming?) that I was talking to ES as I was because she was a female. Wrong. In doing so, you insulted me personally. I do not hide behind my title. You probably don't even know what my title is, as I don't believe I have ever posted my rank on the board.