Need to complain

[Alawen Everywhere]

Originally Posted by fastboy21 [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I don't mean this as any offense to the military for the job they do, but you have to realize that enlisted man is (through out modern history in most countries) a grunt, borderline criminal, uneducated, mailable piece of human existence.

Who do you expect to volunteer to risk their life for less pay than perfectly safe civilian jobs? This isn't a knock for the men and women who answer the call, it's the reality of the nature of our military and its true (unimagined) place in our social strata.

The military is a place in our society where the those on the very bottom have a chance to raise themselves up a few notches out of the gutter...or not.

I hate to say it, but this is specific to America. Many first world countries have mandatory government service, whether civil or military, for all young people. With a strictly volunteer military, it's no surprise that the American military attracts a lot of young people with troubled or violent pasts or very poor economic backgrounds. It's also no surprise that some of them then go on to commit atrocities in other countries.

I think this is a systemic flaw which the OP attempted to correct on an individual level. I respect him for his attempt to do the right thing, but the ridicule for his idealism is not much of a surprise.

[fastboy21]

You're kidding yourself if you think that the people in the military in other countries aren't the dregs of their societies. Yes, the mandatory civil/military service is a very good point...but, it doesn't change the types of people in the military of many "first world" industrialized European countries either. Putting America into this boat alone is an error.

The fact is simple, and exists everywhere---even in places that have mandatory service, the military is not paid in a fair way retrospect to the demand of the job...so who, in any society, is going to agree to live badly, risk their life daily, and get very little pay for doing so??? Its the folks on the bottom who have no options.

[soup]

Originally Posted by fastboy21 [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

You're kidding yourself if you think that the people in the military in other countries aren't the dregs of their societies. Yes, the mandatory civil/military service is a very good point...but, it doesn't change the types of people in the military of many "first world" industrialized European countries either. Putting America into this boat alone is an error.

The fact is simple, and exists everywhere---even in places that have mandatory service, the military is not paid in a fair way retrospect to the demand of the job...so who, in any society, is going to agree to live badly, risk their life daily, and get very little pay for doing so??? Its the folks on the bottom who have no options.

While the people you describe certainly do exist and make up a significant portion of the military, to imply that those are the only people who enlist is naive, at best.

[fastboy21]

I didn't imply that they are the only people. Anyone who has ever served in the military (as I have) can tell you the type of folks you are going to be meeting. I would say 1/2 to 2/3 of the people I went through basic with were borderline criminals that I wouldn't have ever associated with outside of that experience.

[Alawen Everywhere]

Originally Posted by fastboy21 [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I didn't imply that they are the only people. Anyone who has ever served in the military (as I have) can tell you the type of folks you are going to be meeting. I would say 1/2 to 2/3 of the people I went through basic with were borderline criminals that I wouldn't have ever associated with outside of that experience.

I'd love to disagree with you, but I can't. I had exactly the same experience in basic. Some of those thugs also made great soldiers--tough as hell, loved to fight. There were also rampant drug problems, not during basic everywhere else. Never even heard of so many drugs and addicts before or since.

[Grobbin]

I am happy to say that as of tomorrow I am stepping down from my recruiting position to rejoin the line units and likely heading back to Afghanistan.

[Taxi]

Originally Posted by Grobbin [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I am happy to say that as of tomorrow I am stepping down from my recruiting position to rejoin the line units and likely heading back to Afghanistan.

Blow up some civilians for the free world! Make afghanistan safe for the oil pipelines and god speed. Maybe you could smuggle us some heroin from the warlords down south who run the show? Since you guys are all buddy buddy?

If you ever get a change of heart, theres always these guys you can look to for support:

http://www.ivaw.org/

[Gorgetrapper]

Taxi, you're just an uninformed communist. Get the fuck out.

[Hasbinbad]

Nice ad hominem, gorge. Classy!

[rioisk]

Originally Posted by Hasbinbad [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Nice ad hominem, gorge. Classy!

I make sure of freshman philosophy on P1999 forums. Do I get an A+ teacher?