December 7, 1941

[Peaches]

Originally posted by [Labret]@Dec 7 2003, 10:56 PM
Get off your soap box. Most people now join the military for college money or vo-tech skills. Nobody with an IQ over 40 in this country wants to die in a jungle somewhere, hunting an ideological boogey man. Willing? They have no choice.

Interesting. I have a good friend who owns several multimillion dollar businesses (electronics, home theater installation, security systems, etc.). When business was booming, he joined the reserves because he was thankful for what he was allowed to do in this country. He's been to Libya, Afghanistan and recently returned from Iraq. He didn't need to join in order to get money OR skills and I can promise you, his IQ is WELL above 40 (he's one year older than you, BTW and getting ready to retire and he didn't have to make his millions doing something illegal....of course, he also didn't go to college, so I'm sure YOU think he's an idiot and a failure, lol! ). And I can promise you he is one of thousands who joined up for the same reasons he had.

I would love to see the results if they voluntarily let active duty decide whether or not they would go to Iraq. There would be no war in Iraq right now.

Do you read newspapers or just textbooks? It's a proven fact that more people have joined the military in the last few years when we've been actively engaged in combat than in peacetime. Most branches are experiencing record recruitment levels. Many of these recruits are college graduates as well as those with masters and PhDs.

In fact, many RETIRED military, who already have careers, training, education, etc. signed back up.

Since my son is attempting to enlist, I can tell you it is NOT easy. He has genius IQ (hope he's not reading this....), took AP classes in HS (including AP calculus - he obviously got his math skills from his GA Tech father and NOT from me) and he very well may not get in because he broke his arm 5 years ago and has a metal plate in it. The lines are so long at the recruiting offices that they can and do cherry pick who goes into the military.

In addition, I read a popular military message board almost every day. It's an anonymous board, so there would be no retribution, and I bet out of
500+ posts a day, I've seen 10 posters in the last 6 months who were being deployed to Iraq have any hint of misgivings for signing up OR going to combat. Again, you're so out of touch with the caliber of men and women currently serving in the military that I wonder where you get your information from. Surely you're not making statements without some frame of reference.

Seriously, it does amaze me how out of touch with ACTUAL human behavior and society you are for someone who has spent so many years studying it. Do you not have a wide circle of friends and family you can discuss things with or must everything come from a text book or lecture?