OK, less Hubris, and more honesty. Don't we all "serve" our country/society in our own ways, army, navy, ect.

Question

When people say "serve" your country, what exactly are they talking about??

Of course, they are talking about spending time in the military,
AS IF the only way to "serve" society or humanity was by taking THEIR career path.

Let me ask you:

Doesn't doctor in an emergency room at 1:00 a.m. "serve" the people?

Doesn't a pro bono lawyer, representing a poor person that can't afford legal services "serve" the people?

Generally, aren’t soldiers being vain when they say "serve" as if they are the only ones that serve the community?

We all "serve" in our own ways, and to say that MY way is better than YOUR way is just looking down on other people's roles in society?

Bottom line, people take the military career path because the nature of the work suits them (and other practical & economic reasons), not because they chose to do something LESS profitable OVER something MORE profitable in life, all out of altruism? Please

BTW, I "served" in USMC reserve 1996-2002, 8th Tanks

Doctors, for example, also take an oath to serve humanity.

They forget that you can't on one hand say that you humbly serve society by putting its needs ahead of your own, BUT THEN say that you are more worthy & noble than any of the constituents of that society.

That is hypocrisy, and HUBRIS

Answer 1

I agree; without civilians, who are military folks protecting, exactly??

Answer 2

I think a conscientious person feels an obligation to altruistically "serve" humanity in some way. But as you suggest, people have different ideas of what "service" is.

For better or worse, military service connotes serving the needs of the nation's leaders more than those of the people. Ideally, I'd expect them to serve the national Constitution but that's not how the chain of command works. Military personnel temporarily sacrifice their self-determination to the command structure, a noble idea simply because it is a greater degree of sacrifice than, say, employment in the private sector. But the hazard of self-sacrifice is that the will of one's commander may be defective or misinformed. (On the other hand, what's to say ours is any better?) The best we can hope for is a promise that each member of the chain will do their best to conscientiously serve those above and below.

But everyone who participates in the culture "serves" somehow. President Bush once suggested that civilians can serve in the "war against terrorism" by shopping. Peace protesters serve by attempting to keep politicians honest by presenting an underrepresented point of view. Peace Corps volunteers serve the people of their host countries as well as enhancing the image of their home countries abroad. And ordinary people serve to keep the country functioning by building, cleaning, moving, teaching, healing, entertaining, etc. Otherwise there might be nothing for soldiers to come home to.

WIth no disrespect intended, the only thing different about military "service" is the unquestioning acceptance that everything they are ordered to do is in the public interest. We should honor their commitment and genuinely support them for their sacrifices, but we should be able to separate their humanity from the political motivations behind their missions.

Answer 3

i think that any decent person that tries to help when they can, and isn't hurting anyone else serves their community.

but i don't see any reason why they can't say that they "serve". my brother was a marine, but he wasn't all vain about it. it depends on the persons attitude more then anything else.

Answer 4

And it is civilian income taxes that pay military wages/expenses.

Answer 5

Well said.