why do the ones who never serve so eager to send those who do into harms way?

Question

why is it so easy to send someone else's son to die? why do people think war is a sporting contest or video game? why are those who say "bomb 'em to bits" or "lets invade" the same ones who never been there? the ones who never held their best friend by the hand and tell him everything will be okay, while you try to hold his guts in with the other other? why do think watching the history channel qualifies them to send those of us who serve into harms way?

Answer 1

Using your premise, let's go back a few wars.

Civil war. Abraham Lincoln had never served. So do you think he shouldn't have sent troops to fight.

How about World War I. Woodrow Wilson was president. He had never served in the military, yet he sent troops to fight in Europe.

World War II. Franklin Roosevelt. He was appointed Secretary of the Navy by Woodrow Wilson but never served on active duty. Maybe he should have just said, "Oh Gee. To bad we got the crap bombed out of us at Pearl Harbor. Don't want to fight back though so we won't declare war on Japan." In the case of Hitler, Germany declared war on us, not the other way around so I guess after Germany declared war, Roosevelt, who had never served on active duty, should have called ole Adolph up and told him "sorry, I can't have a war with you because I've never been in the Military. It's a requirement before I can send troops into harms way."

Now we'll go to Korea. A war that has never ended. We've been in a Truce since 1953 but this war is okay, by your definition, because Harry Truman actually was in the Army and fought in WWI.

Vietnam. Another good war, by your definition because John F. Kennedy served as a PT boat captain in WWII so I guess it was good that he considered his time in the Navy before he sent troops to Vietnam.

Answer 2

1. Can we agree that Al Qaeda plotted and planned for years to conduct the 9/11 operation?

2. Can we agree that biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons are becoming easier to make and obtain by any country?

3. Can we just assume that there is a possiblity that terrrorists sponsored by Al Qaeda can get their hands on this stuff and do something even more destructive than 9/11 in the future - after all they are dedicated to destroying the US and Israel?

4. What is best form of defense? - all Americans should know this.

5. If the best form of defense is offense, then why not Iraq? Iraq had had a history of belligerence.

6. How many American military lives are worth saving an American City or possibly group of cities?

7. Is the price in Iraq really that high giving the potential of destruction by terrorists in the modern age if they go unchecked?

Answer 3

Let's take this one premise at a time.

First of all, until you have a Constitutional amendment stating that only military veterans can serve in congress or be president you will continue to have men and women in those positions who have never worn the uniform.

While I submit that such an amendment would be a) ridiculous and b) unacceptable to the majority of citizens who have no military experience, I must also argue that your original question is equally ridiculous.

No one is "eager" to send our troops to war. It is never "easy" to see our finest young people suffer and die. Combat is not a game, video or otherwise.

Sometimes difficult decisions have to be made which result in such suffering and loss of life. Would you argue that only combat veterans are capable of making those decisions?

America's military has for many years been an all volunteer force. That means that you have the CHOICE whether or not to accept the RESPONSIBILITIES and the HONOR of being a Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine, or a member of the Coast Guard or the National Guard or Reserves.

No one knows of the hardships and sacrifices required by military service better than our military personnel and their families: separations, deployments, frequent reassignments that require uprooting and moving the entire family, injuries and rehabilitation, even the possibility of losing a loved one every time he or she walks out the door to go to work.

And yet these brave men and women keep lining up at recruiting offices and re-enlistment offices every day ... amazing, isn't it, and awe inspiring ...


To answer your inevitable question, Yes, I have served in the military. I was, and am, a United States Marine.

I have also spent the past 20 years in the medical field, first as a paramedic, then as a Registered Nurse. I have spent the majority of that time working in Emergency Departments. I don't know if it's harder to comfort a friend in pain than to care for an injured or grieving stranger, but having done both I can assure you that neither is any fun.

I take pride in my military service, in fact I tried to go back after 9/11, but my age and several injuries made that impossible. I also feel a great deal of pride in and for the men and women with whom I served, as well as those who are serving today.

To these brave men and women I say Semper Fidelis, and may God bless you all!!

Answer 4

I don't think anyone takes the decision to send troops in harm's way lightly. And the thing that you don't see is how much compassion the President has for the soldiers.
My neighbors are predominantly military and they support the war almost to a man and yes, almost all of them have been deployed. Their point is why don't we ever show the good things happening, instead of the bad?

I didn't serve, I only risked my life as a cop for 20+ years in the U.S. so I guess I'm not qualified to make decisions either.
The good thing is using your logic, I don't ever want to hear you complain about the police or even call them in an emergency, since you never served in that service.

Answer 5

Well, for starters I served for 6 years in the USN. Does that not qualify as having served?

I'm not in favor of sending men to die. I do believe the military has a unique mission that most civilians don't understand, & don't WANT to understand.

I enlisted in the USN , as did every man now serving . War isn't pretty, it's not always fair , predictable , or even absolutely necessary.........but the fact is people in the military are always in harm's way, even during "peacetime"

My honest answer would be a question. Who should make the decision to send our troops to a combat situation?

Answer 6

I pray that our soliders will be safe. Never served. Though I want to after I finish college. But I am not a fan of going to war. But with that said. War is a neccesity sometimes. We have to make sacrafices to establish peace. An though I do not want to except that. It is true. An I hope with more troops going over they can bring safety to Iraq, and help make America being closer to being safe. Semper Paratus.

Answer 7

Somehow you got some bad information. Most war supporters are former or current military or families thereof. I am Here in Iraq US Army. My father Served, Many of my uncles served. All the Hawks I know are members or family of. We seem to lack Libs here in uniform. Sorry I disagree with your basic premise.

Answer 8

My wife and I both served in the Navy. She for 3 years, me for 6.

Neither one of us agree with the war in Iraq. Primarily because it is based on a false premise. There was no end game strategy. There still isn't a strategy. And we are basically screwed whether we stay and ride out the storm or leave as the dems want by 08.

Answer 9

People are so accustomed to violence on television and in the movies that they become insensitive to real brutality and death.

During Vietnam, many of us asked "What if they gave a war and nobody came?"

It is very often about money-the military industrial complex. Do you know about Cheney and Halliburton?

Answer 10

Great question! I live in a big military town and 80% of my neighbors are military personell. From a large majority I have spoken to they are against the war. They know we are only there at the whim of corporate America.