I think what Deanna is saying at least in part is that war is the failure of dialogue and diplomacy and wouldn't it be nice if those warriors didn't have to die. It may sound naive to some but you know if we put as much enthusiasm and painstaking effort into dialogue and peacemaking of the diplomatic kind as we do to military build-up then the world might be very different. I think the skills required for such efforts are still relatively new and unknown and thus are there to be explored and exploited. In my view war is all about the less fortunate being manipulated by those in power into protecting their interests. If you want to know how noble that is perhaps it is time to reread Wilfred Owen's "Dulce et Decorum Est".
Patrick >-----Original Message----- >From: Randell B Adkins [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Sent: June 11, 2003 9:54 AM >To: CF-Community >Subject: Re: A good american > > >being Ex-Military, I will chime in on this one.... > >I joined because I love my country and wanted to serve and protect >our country and the way of life as we have it today. We have the RIGHT >to do a lot of things that some third world countries do not have. >Which >a lot of people take for granted. > >I was not escaping my parents, debt, raising money for college, or any > >other reason. I choose to join the armed forces. I was going to >college. >I was living at home with zero debt. > >Now you say you pity Americans whom have died for their country. >So you pity those Americans who fault at Pearl Harbor to protect our >country from the Japanese. A lot of the battles and wars we have >fought >as an Armed Forces, regardless if I agree with why we are there, some >are >to serve a political purpose. Therefore is not a needless event. > >Unfortunately at times bad things happen to go forth into the future >and >bring good things. Now I for one, are sad that ANYONE has to die in >ANY >war that comes about. I wish things could be resolved during peace >talks >and within reason. However this is not a perfect world. Everyone has >beliefs. >Everyone has their opinions on how their perspective countries should >be >ran. That's fine. However when it does come down to fighting to save a >country >in need per-say Kuwait to be freed from Iraq, some nations would come >to the >aid for them. Thus strengthens the bond between countries. > >So that way no people from those countries would did come to the aid of >the >needy are better off as they (those countries) get along with one >another. > >I may not understand one's culture or practice what another one >believes >in whether it is religion or anything. But I do respect their choice >and do not >condone them for their beliefs. > >>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 06/11/03 09:41AM >>> >I pity the Americans who have served and sometimes died for our >country. I >think they're often put in harms way needlessly. I wish none of them >would >have died for anyone's agenda. I don't "respect" them simply because >they >are military. People join the military for a multitude of reasons, many >of >which have nothing to do with noble causes. People join the military to >get >away from their parents (my dad), to escape looming debt (a good >friend), to >make money for college (lots), etc. None of those reasons has anything >to do >with patriotism. Does that garner my respect? No. > > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "John Stanley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: "CF-Community" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2003 8:35 AM >Subject: RE: A good american > > >> >While I hardly think >> >that my survival depends on the sacrifices of the military, >> >> Let me clarify, do you mean that you do not respect the veterans who >have >> served and sometimes died for the Untied States? >> > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?forumid=5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?method=subscribe&forumid=5 This list and all House of Fusion resources hosted by CFHosting.com. The place for dependable ColdFusion Hosting. http://www.cfhosting.com Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5
