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Post by bookaddict on Nov 11, 2006 20:21:47 GMT -5
I'd just like to say to all those people who know someone in Afganistan, I hope they all come home safe and sound.
Tonight, I heard something important. Even if you don't support the war, it's imporant to support the troops over there.
My bf's cousin is over there, and we pray that she comes home safe. Her parents are constantly worried....and many other parents and people are going through that.
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zeldafitzgerald
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
ancora imparo
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Post by zeldafitzgerald on Nov 11, 2006 21:27:32 GMT -5
I definitely agree. As opposed to the war and all the lies and horrors wrapped up in it, I hope our troops come home safely.
I can't imagine the constant worrying involved. The thought of losing someone in my life to a war is absolutely horrible.
I can't wrap my brain around why humans have not evolved enough to solve problems without killing each other. It seems like insanity to me.
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Isa
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Post by Isa on Nov 11, 2006 21:54:04 GMT -5
My cousin's over there, but he's in the navy so I think he's pretty much out of harm's way. My friend's boyfriend just came back, he was there for 9 months... I agree with the whole support the troops not the war thing, but it gets complicated as the soliders who are there (at least the Canadian ones, not sure how it works in other countries) have chosen to be there and do believe in the war. I've heard many of them say on TV and on the radio that they were tired of going on peace-keeping missions and would much rather be fighting in a real war. So I don't wish to offend or hurt anyone but sometimes I don't know what to think of our troops anymore.
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Bina
First novel published
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Post by Bina on Nov 12, 2006 13:13:42 GMT -5
I don´t wish anyone harm and having someone you love in the forces has to be horrible but why did they join in the first place? I don´t have any positive experiences with troops. The interviews on tv aren´t making it better.
I think the soldiers from most countries will be busy for a while, how long do they get leave to see their families?
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
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Post by Kristie on Nov 12, 2006 13:21:27 GMT -5
my cousin just joined the army about a year ago. he's not been anywhere yet, and i don't know when he will be. he's got lots of training ahead of him before he can go because he's going into the army airborne division which is considered special forces so he has lots to learn first. but i really do hope that everyone comes home safe. i do support the soldiers, not the bush administration though.
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Post by Dominique on Nov 12, 2006 17:50:47 GMT -5
I don´t wish anyone harm and having someone you love in the forces has to be horrible but why did they join in the first place? ? My understanding of it is from watching American documentaries is that many people who join live in communities with very little opportunities and joining the army is their ticket out of them and one of the only career options available to them. In Australia the war in Iraq doesn't affect us too much in terms of troops, we've only had one man killed and it was some sort of mysterious accident in his own regiment. I have a friend in the navy and an uncle in the army but neither of them are in Iraq. |
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zeldafitzgerald
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
ancora imparo
Posts: 1,948
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Post by zeldafitzgerald on Nov 12, 2006 18:38:10 GMT -5
I don´t wish anyone harm and having someone you love in the forces has to be horrible but why did they join in the first place? ? My understanding of it is from watching American documentaries is that many people who join live in communities with very little opportunities and joining the army is their ticket out of them and one of the only career options available to them. In Australia the war in Iraq doesn't affect us too much in terms of troops, we've only had one man killed and it was some sort of mysterious accident in his own regiment. I have a friend in the navy and an uncle in the army but neither of them are in Iraq. My cousin is in the navy and he joined because he was incredibly smart, but his family could not afford to send him to the kind of college he should go to. He joined over 6 years ago, and traveled around Europe with the Navy and now he's back in the US, married to his high school sweetheart, and almost done with school. |
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Bina
First novel published
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Post by Bina on Nov 13, 2006 14:00:39 GMT -5
It´s not that great a bargain if they can send you away to kill or be killed. There should be other options. It´s a bit different here since fees for uni are new and before education was basically free to give everyone a chance. It´s great that it worked out for your cousin.
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zeldafitzgerald
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
ancora imparo
Posts: 1,948
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Post by zeldafitzgerald on Nov 14, 2006 23:28:12 GMT -5
It´s not that great a bargain if they can send you away to kill or be killed. There should be other options. It´s a bit different here since fees for uni are new and before education was basically free to give everyone a chance. It´s great that it worked out for your cousin. Yeah, it's definitely not the option I would choose. And many stories are not like my cousin's - you're definitely right in saying that a lot of times it's that they don't have any other prospects.....they don't want to (or can't) go to college, and the military presents something to do, a new goal, and steady income. (This is definitely not all cases, but is fairly frequent.) I also think the Navy is a lot different that the situation people are in when they are in the Army. Especially in the current war. |
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Post by Dominique on Nov 15, 2006 2:18:56 GMT -5
that's true the navy seems kind of out of harms way
my friend, who is one of my close friends ex-boyfriends, got offered a position on a sub, and he'd go like months and months at a time without seeing daylight. He was tempted to take it because it payed so well. Money is a great motivator for a lot of people I guess.
I was like Dale, how are you going to spend the extra money if you're under the ocean? Watch K19 and see if you're still tempted...
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Isa
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Post by Isa on Nov 15, 2006 9:37:25 GMT -5
The after-military life is not exactly great either. I've read an article about an Iraq war veteran who came back and couldn't find a job because no company would recognize the experience he had gained during the war, they said it couldn't apply to the real world. So basically all the years he spent away were time wasted and he had to settle for a minimum wage job, like any other kid fresh out of college. And although it doesn't apply to everyone, people in the military generally have more psychological problems to deal with, like depression and substance abuse, and a higher divorce rate.
My cousin's been in the army for over 20 years now and it seems to suit him well (still happily married, no problems) and he still loves his job so obviously it can work for some people, but it's definitely not a lifestyle I would go for.
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Bina
First novel published
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Post by Bina on Nov 15, 2006 13:36:39 GMT -5
Yeah, I can´t imagine being in the military. I was very much in favour of women getting the rights to join but it´s more about the principle for me, I´m too much of a couch potato for the army. Playing war in the cold and carrying heavy equipment-no thanks.
I think it´s good that the psychological problems of veterans are not that much of a taboo anymore, like it was with Vietnam.
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
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Post by Kristie on Nov 15, 2006 16:31:37 GMT -5
we're talking about stress and coping in psych right now, and post-traumatic stress is a big deal. my cousin's been in the army for just over a year now, and he's not sure if he wants to make a career out of it or just do his 5 years and be done. but i'd support him either way.
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Post by bookaddict on Nov 15, 2006 16:33:49 GMT -5
That's hard...to sign your life over for 5 years. Especially right now in the world. I really don't understand why people join the military, I would think it was something they believed in. Knowing that you just can't come home if you want.
I think they are strong people.
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
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Post by Kristie on Nov 15, 2006 16:52:09 GMT -5
i admire them for their courage and strength to be out there without anything they know near them, except their fellow soldiers. it must be hard. i don't know if i would want to ever be the wife/fiancee/girlfriend of a soldier. 2 of my friends from high school just got married a couple months ago. he's in the army, but he's stationed in mannheim, germany and his wife is lucky enough to be there with him on base. that's the only way i could be with a soldier: if i could go with them everywhere when they weren't on active duty and then i'd worry about them like crazy. but nick's gonna be a mechanical engineer so i don't have to worry about that i suppose
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