Do you think John Kerry's statements about the military and those who join it are true?

Question

Everyone in the media seems to think that John Kerry should do damage control. I think he should be hammering home his message. I thought the media was supposed to prefer the truth over the conservative view of the status quo, but hey, that's just me. Now I know there are some people who join our military out of patriotism, but most smart high school graduates don't join the military because they want a lower probability of dying young, or because they have a deep stance against war. Both of which are very intellectual stances with regard to math and international relations. So I'm with intellect, and not with stupid.

if only we had those great minds in the e-8 and e-9 ranks with all of those masters degrees or better working on medications and stem cells as opposed to uranium atoms and poisonous gasses....

Answer 1

Yes and no.

Or no and yes.

Wichever one is more likely keep the rabid dogs from going nuts!

Definately bad form from Kerry!

Answer 2

I would have expected no less from Senator John Kerry. He is a fool and even though he was in the military he has no concept of what he is talking about. I served with honor in the US Army and I never met as many stupid, uneducated people as I have in civilian life. Kerry has continually thumped his chest and yelled he is against the war when he voted for it (yes, the first time). I think as Senator of Massachusetts and after the comments he made he should go to Iraq and Afghanistan and live there for 6 months and then come back and tell what a bad idea it is to be there. War is bad, it is supposed to be or we would have one every other weekend. No one likes it but sometimes it is a necessity. Like when Kofi "the clown" Anon and the UN gave Saddam 9 years to get rid of the WMDs and harbor terrorists.

Answer 3

I think you are making unfair generalizations. My husband is Air Force. He has a college degree. The job he does for the military requires top scores and he scored the absolute top score possible. I'm a military spouse and a stay-at-home mom. I'm so sick of the generalizing. People assume we're uneducated, poor slobs because we decided to opt for this career path. I have two degrees and run my own business. We are debt free. We have a nice nest egg set aside. We're not uneducated. We're not poor. My husband was tired of being a student and the job market wasn't great. So, he decided to give the military a try and it was the best thing we could have done. He is doing a job he loves and we've been able to live here in Japan for a number of years.

Few people join the military because they are uneducated or stupid. Many join for the challenge. Some join for the money it gives them to get through college. A lot of them join for the travel opportunities. I've been able to tour all over Japan and much of Europe mostly on the military's dime. Despite what you may think of the military--there are a lot of opportunties to be found. I admit, I'm not always happy with the politics of it and many of their policies suck. But the young men and women who join are not idiots.

As for Kerry, I think this entire thing has been so blown out of proportion. I listened to his remarks and I have to say that it sounds to me like he meant that towards the president. I cannot believe how so many are quick to jump to the conclusion that he meant the actual troops. He meant that Bush didn't study hard and do his homework (think the whole WMD issue) and now we're stuck in Iraq. It seems clear that is what he meant and yet everyone and their damn dog has decided to come down on this guy. It is ridiculous. Don't get me wrong--I've never been a fan of Kerry's but this is just too much. I lean closer to the right and I'm disgusted by the republicans right now.

Edited to add: My husband is not an officer. He is enlisted and, yes, he has a degree as do many enlisted troops. Why does everyone assume people who enlist fail to have a degree or fail to get one while in the military?

As to the asker of this question: your update reflects greatly on your ignorance. I think maybe you are with stupid. I think you should do YOUR homework before you start spouting off about things you know nothing about. Many of today's conveniences and many life saving breakthroughs within the medical community came from military research. You see the military as a bunch of grunts with guns who are war happy. You are very mistaken. I'm not saying those people do not exist but they make up a very, very small percent of our military today. You sit here and post as if you are above everyone but I think most of us can clearly see how ignorant you really are.

Answer 4

Statistics stand against your assumptions Mr. Lib. Our military are proved more intelligent and educated than the general population. Our commissioned officers are required to have college degrees before they can qualify for their posts. Just because you don't have any sense of honor or duty, doesn't mean that everyone else must have been squeezed into a position in the military. Or that nobody else would find sufficient reason to join besides a whopping paycheck or a ticket to a greater education. This is the very attitude that Kerry is in trouble for. Its called contempt for the military.

Answer 5

Kerry should just stick to ketchup with his stupid wife. I don't know exactly what Kerry said, but he should be very thankful that he lives in a country where he can shoot his mouth off and insult our country, president and military.

All officers have a college degree. Enlisted military don't have degrees, but it doesn't mean they are stupid. My brother (not military) doesn't have a degree and makes way more money than I do. It doesn't matter why they join the military. Maybe patriotism, maybe adrenaline, maybe help with college. I don't care, I'm just glad they're there.

In the movie "A Few Good Men" Demi Moore is explaining why she likes the men she is defending. She says, because they stand on a wall, saying no one is going to hurt you tonight, not on my watch. I love that line.

I am so thankful for the men and women who defend my country. Protecting my rights and my way of life and my children. I am so thankful that I live in this country. I can go to sleep tonight knowing that our military is out there, on that wall, in harms way, protecting me.

Answer 6

Absolutely not . You'd never hear John Kerry say a bad word about the enemy-just American Troops . He's got it down to a science now when he slanders our military . Lord knows he's had enough practice -what with taking the side of the enemy in the Viet Nam War- Lying about his fellow soldiers ; lying about those in Iraq . The biased liberal media does not concern themselves with truth either .

Answer 7

John Kerry is an old fool. At his age he should have at least learned that everyone has an important role to play and together make America the great nation it is. OK.. the really smart guys build the bombs and fly the fighter jets, so who is going to be on the front lines? . I guess he also look down his long face on farmers and garbage collectors.

Answer 8

This man is such a joke! No not all in the military will win a Nobel Peace Price, but I believe they are the most brave men & women in the world. There is more honest ,intelligent military men/women in the service, then there are honest,smart men &women in Congress/government. I think we should pay close attention to this guy, and not ever to vote for him, It doesn't take much to realize that this man is not very intelligent, and we sure don't want a non-smart man. leading this nation. Ya think????

Answer 9

i'm a Persian Gulf Vet Yeah! Kerry became in all likelihood on a short medal searching Vietnam challenge yet a minimum of he went to Vietnam as did Max Cleland and as did John Murtha the position the hell became Bush? in Alabama nationwide Air safeguard in basic terms as Dan Quayle and such diverse different "fortunate ONES" As a VET, I help our troops! i do not help sacrificing them for a BS u . s . a . progression project ( which Bush became adverse to in 2000) that has not something to do with U.S. protection! The warfare is adverse to Bin weighted down and Al Quaida. once you help fat CATS , they in basic terms get fatter even as something human beings get leaner, must be an engaging election day next tuesday.

Answer 10

Just because Mr. KERRY served in Viet Nam has noooo bearing whatsoever IF this lil joke was aimned at President Bush why didnt he say Bush for the record President Bush did Graduate from Ithink Yale was it or something NOOOOOO Mr. Kerry was reckless in his sayings sorta like what is really in his heart of hearts. APPOLOGIZE MR KERRY TO OUR TROOPS

Answer 11

What Kerry said is insulting regardless of whether or not you support the war in Iraq or the president -- plenty of really, really smart men and women are part of our armed forces by choice, and we should be grateful to them for doing that. What Kerry said is exactly what he meant, and now he is backpeddling.