tat2jay wrote:DISCLAIMER:understand that this is NOT an argumentative statement, just something to think about (i am SOOO not wanting to start a flame war - i do however enjoy a good debate)
so using this logic, you think that we should have fought the revolution alone? without the help of the french?
My husband, Codeine Coma, is descended from those French, so my guess is he would say no. He'll get back to you himself when he's awake again.
Jay, I hope we haven't offended you or made you feel like more of an outsider when you are truly among friends. I feel very strongly about defending the rights of everyone to be able to say what they please, too. That's the true glory of this country, is the right to respectfully dissent.
Anyone of us would gladly stand shoulder to shoulder with our peers, regardless of other conflicting views with them, to defend our homes & our families & our way of life. Don't think for a minute that we wouldn't. We're the damned volunteer state for a reason.
The real issue isn't a willingness or unwiilingness to fight, it's a fundamental objection to what we're supposed to be fighting for. I'm sure there are certain situation in which you would not be willing to take up arms & strike a defensive or aggressive posture. If a leader who you felt great trepidation about gave orders to take actions that you morally objected to, I'm sure you might at least pause to consider the validity of his cause. If you, likewise, knew a cause to be bogus, or one that you fundamentally disagreed with, you would have the right to say no to it.
Let's look at good ol' Germany for an analogy. When Hitler came to power, he was enormously supported, but still some Germans felt his ideology & course of action were wrong & wouldn't back or fight for him. These were folks in the minority, German gentiles who didn't agree with their countries leader & therefore didn't agree with the course their country was taking. These people weren't cowards or trouble makers. They didn't love their country any less than the rest of the German population. They simply refused to do what they felt was wrong. Much like the Americans who didn't run away or go to college or get fluff jobs with the Guard, but stayed & made much noise about how they disagreed with our presence in another country & more importantly, our governments actions towards that country.
Now, don't think I just called anyone a mean name or anything, because that most certainly was not my intent. I'm just trying to offer up some examples to illustrate my point. Sometimes the greatest thing a patriotic American can do, is to refuse to fight. If a person is doubting their purpose & convictions to be engaged ina conflict, I can't imagine them being an overly valuable asset in a combat situation.
It's okay for us to not agree with everything our government says, but to disagree & go along with it anyway, would be hypocrtical. These individuals who don't agree with the political reasoning for occupying other countries, would be liars if they went along with it anyway. I will defend to the death their right to protest what they cannot agree with, just as I will defend to the death your right to express you dessent with them, & anyone else's right to speak their mind as well.
My mother was in the army, my step dad was army & navy both, my grandfather was navy, so was his youngest son, who saw combat in the first gulf war. I have the utmost respect for the military, & a few years ago, I would of been very proud if either of my children had expressed an interest in serving their country in the armed forces. Now, I would be terrified that they'd shipped out to do someone's political bidding & be killed for injured by people who didn't want them where they were in the first place.
There are many ways of helping folks in other countries. Instead of buying more military equipment with which to wage more war, we could take that money & just give it to charities or governmental agencies who'd actually do real, tangible good with it for the populus. Invest in a country's future & humanitarian concerns. Folks are less likely to shoot at you when they have a full belly & a happy family. Then there's that whole diplomacy thing. I really think we need more great diplomats in these conflicts. People who don't need interpreters & who truly understand the culture of the people they are trying to persuade. We've always been content with too little information when it comes to the middle east, even historically back to the crusades.
So, to sum up my long winded rant, there are many ways to serve one's country. Fighting for it in a war is a most noble & glorious method, indeed. But standing up to your government & voicing your concerns & opposition to a conflict, is a noble course as well. It shows someone who is true to their convictions in both cases, therefore both should be heartily applauded. If those in uniforms think less of those who refuse them, that is their right, but know that those of us who refuse the uniform have the greatest respect for those who wear it, regardless of the apparent conflict in ideology.
Jay, you may not agree with what I'm saying, just as I may not agree with every single one of your beliefs, but I know we will both defend to the death each other's right to say what we need to say. That's why we live in the greatest country on the planet... even if the greatest could still be a bit better.
Change how you see, not how you look.
