"John D. Giorgis" schreef:
> At 11:21 PM 5/26/01 -0700 Christopher Gwyn wrote:
> >>>> For each soldier that was lucky enough to survive, they were simply happy
> >>>> to have their lives back.
> >>> that is certainly true!
> >> I'm glad you agree.
>
> {snip}
>
> >> Each soldier that went to war gave their life.
> > Suggesting a 100% mortality rate? That is how most - if not all -
> >people would hear that statement.
>
> NO, NO, NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
> Look above, will ya! I already noted that a great many of the people who
> gave their lives *GOT THEIR LIVES BACK*!!!!!!!
>
> And in case you missed it above, I wrote it again, very next thing!
>
> VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
> >> Those who died never got
> >> back. Those who came back, did. Thus, it is appropriate to commend "All
> >> Those Who Gave Their Lives", with the ", and didn't get it back" left
> >> implied.
> >> QED.
>
> Let me be even clearer. Given that you agree with first statement quoted
> above, it would be appropriate to commend "All those who gave their lives
> for their country, and didn't get it back."
> Because this is a mouthful, however, it is convenient to shorten this
> statement. Since the second clause of my sentence two lines above almost
> necessarily follows from the first clause, as a matter of convenienve we
> commend "All those who gave their lives for their country."
>
> In this manner, the last quote is taken by all listeners to apply solely
> and totally to all soldiers who gave their lives during a tour of duty.
>
> More to the point, this discussion started when I commended "All those who
> gave their lives for their country." Jeroen and yourself disagreed with
> this formulation is inaccurately reflecting the status of our war dead.
> Nevertheless, if you agree that all *living* veterans gave their lives, and
> then received them back (upon discharge), THEN it follows that all those
> who died gave their lives, and did not receive them back. Indeed, while
> you are in the armed forces, you no longer have control of your life (by
> the statement we both agreed to above) - the armed forces have control of
> your life. If you die while in the armed forces by means other than
> natural causes (i.e. something job-related), then you died while having
> given your life to your country.
>
> The commendation is therefore accurate.
>
> QED.
I think this one is fit to be used in a Monty Python sketch.... <grin>
Sonja
