Responding to people who question my decision to join the military.?

Question

When ever the topic of me joining the military comes up in conversation with someone I know or even a stranger, most of the time they ask me why I would make that decision. When I tell them for the educational opportunities, the structure, the experience, motivation, money, etc...they say I can get all that without joining. Then they say that i'm going to end up fighting in Iraq. Then I say that i'm going over there to fight them over there so you can be safe here. Then the conversation dies...I think it's cause they can't think of anything else to say after that. I want to get my point across, but I don't want to kill the conversation...how do i respond properly (without killing the conversation) to people who disagree with joining the military?

Answer 1

I am liberal. Very Liberal. And I would encourage any one to join the military (except those kids selling meth down the street). You see, the best thing I got from the military as a medic in the Army, was that I got more responsibility in my first two years in than I would have gotten in the first ten years of my adult years. There are some civilians that will not give you the responsibility when you get out, but there are some that will. I had written o my congressmen and local school boards recomending that thay hire retired Army Drill Sergeants and Retired Marine DI's as jr high and high school teachers, not because they are tough, but because they know how to be patient and have the techniques to get through to troubled students. But, of course, there is no school system that I know of that is actively recruiting these vets to teach sch school. Some people are just not cut out for it. Would you want Dick Cheney carrying a SAW next to you on patrol? Hey, I joke about Marines, but when I was in Iraq, I never saw a better group of people and I would include the Corp as an Elite group. How ever, would you want your daughter to marry one?

Now, if it was my child? I would encourage them to go to college and then join the military.

Answer 2

I joined the Marines about 2.5 years ago and I ran into the same types of responses.

I joined to....
Fight for My Country
Fight the Jihad
Put my money where my mouth is (I am vocal)
Protect my Family
Experience
I wanted to experience combat
God Told me to

You should never lower your expectation but make others meet them.

You are having problems, because most people are uneducated about the military. They only see what they see on the news or movies. They dont realize the valor and honor one gets from serving.

Some people dont possess the courage or willpower to take the hard road, so they make other reasoning up to justify their lack of motza bawls.

Regardless,

You shouldnt have to think up ways to keep the conversation going. Just say what is in your heart, if it stops at your conversation killer line, then you know what kind of people they are, or maybe you just made them realize something.

Selflessness. They havent had that in a while.

Answer 3

Just tell them simply that you know the risks and this is something you have been called to do. Then change the subject and ask them a question they have to answer. (like their favorite sports team.) If they want to continue the debate about your decision, just nod at their comments and change the subject again. You don't have to be rude and you don't have to defend your decision. just keep politely changing the subject until they get the hint.

Here are some helpful comments to people being stupid.

"Perhaps your right. Hey, did you catch that game last night?"

"Thank you for worrying so much about me. I know the risks but this is something I want (or feel called to do or need to do, etc.) What do you think of that new car Alfred bought?"

And thank you for your upcoming service and good luck.

Answer 4

Hurrah!

Forget them, those people are ignorant.

I've been in the Air Force over 8 years and I love it. I am currently serving in Iraq and NOW I know that what we're doing over here IS really important. I wasn't sure what to think before because all I really had to go on was what I saw on the news and such. I see it first hand now....

Stick with your decision... I joined in 1998 and people told me the same things (and we weren't even at war then!)

Answer 5

First off God bless you, thank you, and I will pray for you!
Second there is not much you can say beyond what you have already said. People who don't respond to your answers just don't want to hear it and no matter what you say the conversation will end. Be proud that you are a true patriot!

Answer 6

Well I would be one person who would talk to you like that EXCEPT I wouldn't stop.

My response would be quite simply put:

You aren't making me safer here in any way shape or form. Terrorism has increased SINCE invading Iraq, our medicare and social security systems are going bankrupt, our education system needs an overhaul and we aren't investing enough money into alternative fuels. The USA has one of the biggest deficits in history.

Would that money have been better spent somewhere else?

You can then respond how you want and we can continue to have an adult conversation. I don't know what kind of people you are talking to but clearly they either feel that your comment of fighting to make them safer is based on a false pretense so to them it means you aren't educated enough to see the truth OR they may really and truly not have any other facts to counter your point, in which case they should have left you alone.

Either way, you can't answer any differently if that is what you truly believe and you should only answer what you believe, not alter it to continue a conversation.

I respect your decision to join but don't tell me you are making the World safer for me because we can see that is a blatant lie. Give me the other reasons and I am fine.

I see no honour in killing innocent people, supporting a war machine that drains the resources of the country based on the lies of politicians or making war a higher priority than the welfare of the people.

If you wanted to protect us, then the army would be on the Mexico border to stop people from crossing - you do realize they can easily bring weapons across to attack INSIDE the US right?

Answer 7

You can't appease these people. They don't understand that have you have free will and are doing something you believe in instead of doing what "everyone else" is doing. I commend your decision to join. I have been in 14 years in the Air Force, and wouldn't trade it for anything!

Good Luck

Answer 8

you have to remember they have an agenda. it's to show that you have no opportunities outside military service and that sending you into combat is wrong. they can't admit that everyone in uniform today went in with their eyes open. if that's what they want, you don't want to talk to them anyway, right?

Answer 9

I feel your pain.

We are ridiculed, cursed, accosted and called names by the very people we swear to protect.

Just keep your bearing and push forward. You'll make it through.

Answer 10

"Then I say that i'm going over there to fight them over there so you can be safe here"

your fighting in Iraq because the U.S. invaded

there were no terrorists per se before that invasion.

I agree that the military can get you all those things you mentioned, but to say your fighting them there so you won't in America tells me you don't even know why the U.S. is in Iraq, as if anyone really does now