Quote:
Originally Posted by Sarcasmo
And I wont disagree with you on any particular point in your message, but I think you either misread where I was going with my argument, or I explained it too obtusely, which I've been known to do.
I've held the opinion for a while now that some kind of semi-compulsory social service should be the norm for young adults in this country, for only a couple of years. Of course, this would not be limited to military service, but would extend to the Peace Corps, Habitat for Humanity, the Red Cross; any charitable organization in need of volunteers would do. And with a little re-working, such service could easily mimic military service in terms of pay or time served, and the many benefits that military members earn through their service would be offered as well. I just see a real problem with the way young people are developing with no sense of civic responsibility or pride. Very few people have the kind of experience in a culture where you're not only responsible for yourself, but for those around you, and for those you serve. Ours is one of instant self gratification and obsession. That's more to what I was getting at. Hopefully I've explained it a little bit better. Think what you want of the war, the motivation, the legitimacy, the management. The men and women who have dedicated their lives to honorably serving our Nation as Her warriors are deserving of everything good that our society has to offer. I think that we'd be better off as a nation if we encouraged and rewarded our youth for voluntary and selfless service.
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i don't think I misread your post. I was more just responding to how I just felt fucking awful hearing about what you're going through and just a little pissed that its going on. especially when i have argued myself into thinking that the foundation of the war is cracked and rotting.
btw i added this..
What I'm really trying to say is this. I'm personally grateful for your service, everyone I know who hates the war are grateful for your service, and the role for each of us, citizen and soldier, is to come together against the real enemy - the prevarications and lies of our leaders. You deserve the same support enjoyed by the soldiers of ww2, our grandfathers and grandmothers who lived off of rations. We aren't that generation but we aren't being asked to be that generation either. And you have to fucking wonder why.