> Wayne wrote: > but if my wife was in danger for example I would do > whatever was needed to get her out of that danger - using the minimum > force that I could. >
By your definition, the US is a pacifist in that it is using the minimum force it sees as necessary to get out of danger. Also by your definition you're a soldier, just not military, as you would fight to protect your life or the life of your wife. The military exists to protect you and your wife - if you don't respect them then you don't respect yourself. NOW. About praising those in the military. I think it's great that we have volunteers, but let's not fool ourselves: how many actually joined out of some selfless principle to protect others and are sticking with that? Very few. Maybe even none. How about John Kerry? Wasn't he accused of joining and faking injury so he could become President? Many pre-9.11 folks, if not all, joined for a bunch of reasons and maybe one of them was to serve, but that's not the core. They joined for a career, or to shoot stuff, or to learn discipline, or training, or college, or any number of reasons. But they joined to work. No different than why you you're doing your job now. And if you don't like that, think of Medical Students. How many join to help people? Really? Because what percentage go into family practice? Not many. I don't mean to be cynical, but let's be honest: we're all greedy and we all have psychological problems. Our spouses and our careers are chosen to fix those problems. That doesn't diminish the good that may come of that selfish greed (which is what capitalism excels at), but it's still based on greed. There is no such thing as true benevolence in the military or anywhere else. In fact, one might argue that even benevolence is selfish as it provides an emotional reward. Flame away :) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Discover CFTicket - The leading ColdFusion Help Desk and Trouble Ticket application http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=48 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:188547 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
