I am not saying you have to serve, but if you are capable & patriotic do you choose not to serve the military?

Question

I will state it again. You do not have to serve to be patriotic, but, what is the justification, besides fear and cowardace, for a capable person who enter military service, especially in a time of need?

Answer 1

Chris Matthews on Hardball asked a group of college students at a conservative college how many people support the war . apprx 85% raised their hands and clapped . He then asked, 'who is willing to join the military?' 16 people rose their hands in a crowd of 3000. people were sheepishly giggling. whoops. didn't know you were going to ask me that.
We are allowed to blindly follow as long as we don't get asked to make the ultimate sacrifice, that is why the war has gone on as long as it has. no draft. nobody cares. everybody supports without even thinking.
i choose not to join the military because I'm a pacifist, which is why I joined the peace corps instead.

Answer 2

I went through the process of enlisting in the Marine Corps. I spent 5 days from 0500-1700 doing just that. I wanted an intelligence position so I could learn a foreign language and do something more interesting than guarding a pile of BBs in the desert. The expereince turned out to be one of the worst weeks of my life. Here's why:

1.) The military is woefully inefficient. People are not kidding when they say it's all about the "hurry up and wait". I spent about 60 hours at the processing station. Everything I did could have been taken care of in 8 hours. There's no way I'm trusting my life and livelihood to some organization that operates like a broken machine.

2.) Recruiters have free rein to be dishonest and deceitful. I had a DUI arrest four years prior to enlisting. The recruiting sergeant said that wouldn't matter. Then another guy at the station let's it slip that I'll never get a security clearance with an arrest on my record. I was about to sign away 6 years of my life and this *#&^@ was deliberately misleading me.

3.) The military is full of idiots. I'm not saying all people in the military are idiots or even that intelligence is a virtue above all others, but I have never seen so many morons in one place as I did during that week. The inanity was painful. Granted, these kids were dragged in from the boondocks, but they were clearly enlisting because they couldn't do anything else. Kerry's comments about the military being a place where you get stuck when you have no other options wasn't 100% true, but it was pretty close. (There was more than one person there taking the ASVAB *again* since he couldn't pass it the first time around.)

Once I decided not to join the recruiter harrassed me for months. He would call my house at least 10 times a day. He found out where I worked and called me there repeatedly as well. He was way out of line, but he proved to me that I didn't make a mistake when I decided not to join.

Answer 3

What time of need?
Our forefathers didn't want a standing army, with the argument, if there is one, it is going to be used. In the last 120 years of our history, the USA has not been attacked by any serious contender and will never be. Its just absurd to think, that some army would come over the Bering street or 3000 miles of open water to attack us. It's complete lunatic to think, they wouldn't be detected at the first movement and destroyed by defenses. We don't need an army for protection, all we need is a capable missile system and satellite observation.
If there really would be the need for men, I think that you could count any real man in the USA standing up and giving his blood for its defense. But our current army is just a pawn for political games, which usually backfire.

Answer 4

It really has little to do with being fearful...it has to do with common sense. Our military, unfortunately, has become little more than a part of our human mgmt. system, as well as pawns for bureaucratic d-ck fights--there is no honor, or true reason for our being part of these things. The only purpose being served anymore, is the fact that our prime breeders are being annialated, if not by a contrived "enemy", then by our own. Who wants to join in this political nonesense? Who would send their children off to such? They even have to advertise college assistance, or threaten a draft, just to get recruits anymore,...doesn't that tell you something?

When they return to being a true military force...protectors with honor of purpose...I would be more than willing to add my support. Till then, I, along with many other Americans stand ready right here at home, well armed & with courage, to uphold our rights & our country.

Answer 5

At one time, I thought about it, even took my test. But now there is absolutely NO WAY I would serve under this administration. I am very patriotic but I'm not about to work for the biggest group of liars that this country has ever seen. I support the fact that our troops are doing their job. I have nothing but respect for them. But I also want them home. This war is BS! George & his buddies suck.

Answer 6

Because I have a wife and family and I need to be there to support them. I have a good job that that pays well and has benefits and a retirement plan.

I also don't agree with how the military has been used lately by the administration and it would be hipocritical of me if I were to join up to do something that I disagree with.

Answer 7

To be honest with you, I can't see a reason to do so. And I think I can help my country better as a lawyer, an inventor or something to that degree than shooting someone. Perhaps when one comes along worth fighting for, I'll rething my answer.

Answer 8

Military is a waste of time. Skills they teach you are rarely usuable in the workforce. i Disagree w/ the war that is going on right now. Also i don't like being told what to do like some b*tch. I'm not a coward. i have been shoot at a couple of times when i was a kid, and to be honest its kind of exciting.

Answer 9

When I was young I chose not to serve because it is wrong.

Soldiers are murderers. I prefer not to be a murderer.

And how are you? How is life in an online recruiting brigade?

Answer 10

My reason... selfishness. I preferred to get married and have kids without having to leave them home alone for extended periods of time. Plus, there were really no wars going on at that time of my life.