Wtf am I doing?

[Slydel]

I can not believe the support that you have received on this forum to join the military.

I think you that you must be crazy. I don't see the logic in it:

1) Join the military
2) Get sent somewhere to get killed for a war that lacks any purpose

Hell, I think it is groundhog day everyday as well, but if you are looking for a purpose in life, or to fill a void that is lacking, the military is not the right way for you. You are already forming the minds of young people, which is much more important than killing people that believe that their cause is just as important as the U.S. military. The only "justified wars", and I say that loosely, that the U.S. has been a part of is the Revolutionary War and WWII. Even those can be argued against. The Revolutionary War was due to taxes (minimal compared to what we pay now.... unconstitutionally) and WWII was due to the fact that FDR could not figure out how to get us out of the Great Depression so he sided with his friends. Why don't you become politically active, first at the local level and then beyond that who knows? Make a difference in everyone's lives instead of just your own. You have the opportunity of being much more satisfied and a whole lot less dead.

On a final note, have you read many novels about the so-called glory of war? It is not glamorous, it is filled with pain and death. It leaves many wondering the purpose of fighting unless there truly is something to fight for.

[outsidelinebacker20]

I think FDR might have been influenced by that whole Pearl Harbor thing as well. Keep enjoying your freedom of speech while someone else does all the fighting for you.

Kevin

[paulwall9]

Good Point - KEVIN

If the military was not supported and people did not want to join we would get no where weather we believe or not the military saves our ass!

[Snusophile]

I think FDR might have been influenced by that whole Pearl Harbor thing as well. Keep enjoying your freedom of speech while someone else does all the fighting for you.

Kevin

I have to agree with you, but also try not to incite any anger here. We're all good people here, and Slydel is entitled to his opinions too.

[paulwall9]

I would just like to add that serving in the military is never an easy thing and is a sacrifice one makes. But, what other job can you join when your 20 and retire when your 40, and recieve a check every mth?
Also on a mental level, the military as with any other career is a job!! Do not bring your work home with you and you will be fine! Yes, you may do some ****ed up things but orders are orders and war and the military and politics, are no cake walk. You may die yes, but it is an admirable death especially considering there are people who care like the man to your left and right and behind you!!! I bet they won't think that you died for nothing!

[paulwall9]

I am not trying to get into a fight but we are lucky it is optional for us to join! Alot, of other countries it is mandatory for you to serve 2 yrs after school! No disrespect slydel I just don't want you to disrespect the soilders/sailors/marines/coasties/airmen, the politics yes, the vouleteers no!

[outsidelinebacker20]

Point taken. Some things just rub me the wrong way. BTW I think the British burning down the White House was enough provocation for the War of 1812. Want to talk about humanitarian causes? Maybe we should not have tipped the balances and let WWI turn into a war of attrition. Let´s see who runs out of young men being slaughtered by the tens of thousands per day first. That would not be the first time we waited too long to put an end to evil. But hey, the good news is that the French appreciate it so much. :-)
Kevin

[paulwall9]

I am also sorry if I caused any trouble!! I apologize slydel!!

[Jason]

Congrats, man......I won't tell you that you made the right decision because I'm not qualified to do so (even though I still think it was a good idea), but I really do think you'll have fun and learn quite a bit. I know I did.....I can honestly say that I am a better person as a result of those years served.

And the Navy was a good choice......sailors do have more fun! :twisted:

[paulwall9]

I think it matures a person in a way nothing else can, and on the plus side certain indiviuals will finally come to terms with there mortality!!lol

[Snusophile]

I think it matures a person in a way nothing else can, and on the plus side certain indiviuals will finally come to terms with there mortality!!lol

Haha, well I'm 31 years old so the maturity isn't an issue. And I came to terms with my mortality when I was a teenager. I will however be one of the proudest guys you ever met. I'll be more confident, cool and collected. etc

[tom502]

Well, we all just sometimes gotta do what we gotta do. I wish you the best.

[Mr. Snuffleupagus]

Phile, you will be a great addition to our armed forces. Thank you for signing up and good luck in all your endeavors!

[Slydel]

First,

I am not angered by any of the posts. No one called me stupid or an idiot (sorry Justin!!!). Being in the military is not easy at all. My dad talks about it all of the time. He felt it was a very important experience for him to become the person he became. If you want to learn discipline and direction it is probably the best place to learn it. I was in no way knocking the military and the service that they provide, the service in protecting our domestic population. I understand that many men lost their lives defending our country. It makes me sick to know about the many lives that were lost due to a few power hungry individuals.

Second, the war of 1812 was a declaration by the U.S. for a further land grab by our country. Yes, they did burn down the White House, but that was only after our declaration of war. There were very few U.S. citizens forced into the Royal Navy, which I believe was the main reason for our declaration for war. The declaration of war was a joke that the U.S. hoped worked out to their benefit.....Also, WWI was met with a lot of opposition by U.S. domestics and they were jailed because of it. Thank you W. Wilson for denying freedom of speech. At that time and I believe still, the No. 1 ethnicity was German in our country. We should have stayed out of it, it was not a justified war. Wilson was swayed by our ties to England.

FDR was one of the most corrupt president in our history. Let me first state that I am not going to cite any possible questionable facts. What I do know is that his humanitarian enterprises were designed to dole out monies and projects to those areas of the country where he was least popular so that he would gain more votes in his successive elections. His attempt at fixing our domestic depression further enticed him into entering WWII. I don't think WWII was an unjustified war, yet it was a savior for FDR.

In summary, I support U.S. soldiers. They are not the ones making the decisions. Politics is were many evils begin and breed. My point being, Phile, I will support you as a military man. I don't think it is the right decision for you. I think there are more important things that you could do to fill that vacancy that you have. I wish you the best of luck whatever choice you have made. Please take care of yourself and come back to us. Hopefully that void will be filled and you will become a fulfilled person that you are striving to be.

[Snusophile]

In summary, I support U.S. soldiers. They are not the ones making the decisions. Politics is were many evils begin and breed. My point being, Phile, I will support you as a military man. I don't think it is the right decision for you. I think there are more important things that you could do to fill that vacancy that you have. I wish you the best of luck whatever choice you have made. Please take care of yourself and come back to us. Hopefully that void will be filled and you will become a fulfilled person that you are striving to be.

Thank you, Slydel. I really appreciate your input, I can see you put some time into that post, and so an equally thoughtful reply is the least I can do. In response to what I have put in quotations, yes I believe every American should at least support the soldiers, even if they don't agree with the political agenda behind them. A soldier is a husband, a father, a wife, a mother, a daughter and son, a sister and brother. They've all got a job to do and I guarantee there are times they wish they were somewhere else. We, as civilians, can up and move on whenever we please, but they VOLUNTEERED to go out of their comfort zone and do their job without complaint. America is such a great place because people like Slydel, choose to defy the status quo and vocally express their opinions, however different they may sound, they are all important to the evolution of this country. I will do my best to stay safe, wherever I end up, and I really do believe that this will help me out. You haven't heard the entire story, some of it I'm not really comfortable sharing, and some of you might find it hard to form an opinion from the info I gave you, but what's there is probably enough to get the gist of it. There's a lot of background to this, but I know I've only got one life to live, and 4 years goes by so, so fast. Whatever the outcome, I'll be better for it and it will be one chapter in my life that I will always remember. One day it will all be worth it...