From: Terry W. Colvin (fortean1@mindspring.com)
Date: Tue Sep 03 2002 - 18:20:09 MDT
Brian D Williams wrote:
>
> >From: Alfio Puglisi <puglisi@arcetri.astro.it>
>
> >Brian D Williams wrote:
>
> >>a) I'm dropping this discussion since the list consensus is that
> >>there is nothing special about service to one's country.
>
> >>b) In fact if this consensus reflects national opinion, then
> >>anyone who goes into the military is obviously some sort of an
> >>idiot.
>
> >I don't see any cause and effect between a) and b). There's
> >nothing special about military service, in the sense that there's
> >nothing special about other hard works. If you choose that career,
> >great. Why are you asking for some special consideration, beyond
> >a mild gratitude for doing something not pleasant that someone or
> >someother have to do. Military actions can do a lot of good, or a
> >lot of bad, for a country. If you see it strictly in a "let's
> >defend us from the evil outside", no problem. But the way most
> >countries (US, Europe, etc) interpret the word "defend" can suck,
> >at time. I see no "special" value in taking part in this. No need
> >to be idiots, either. Just ordinary folks like most people.
>
> If being in the military is just a job, it is the worst job in the
> universe, and a job only a fool or very very desperate man would
> take.
>
> I was completely unaware of how prevalent this attitude is.
>
> In the new issue of GQ in a food article of all things, Hugh
> Kretschmer states "I realize that the youth of today view time in
> the military and time in a penitentiary as essentially the same
> experience".
>
> If this sort of thing is true my time spent in the military was
> nothing more than an extremely destructive waste of four valuable
> years of my life.
>
> A society that continues to believe this way is probably doomed.
>
> Brian
>
> Member:
> Extropy Institute, www.extropy.org
> National Rifle Association, www.nra.org, 1.800.672.3888
> SBC/Ameritech Data Center Chicago, IL, Local 134 I.B.E.W
Brian,
Thank you for your service. Your sacrifice is AP-preciated.
Universal service should be the norm, especially in a democracy or republic.
The Roman Empire dissolved in part due to mercenary armies.
The extropian ideal(s) are all well in good; however, we do not live in that
future utopia.
Terry
--
Terry W. Colvin, Sierra Vista, Arizona (USA) < fortean1@mindspring.com >
Alternate: < terry_colvin@hotmail.com >
Home Page: < http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Stargate/8958/index.html >
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