Isa
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Post by Isa on Aug 11, 2009 7:23:37 GMT -5
Hanna asked a really interesting question in the Random question thread, and I'd be curious to find out everybody's answer to this one. Besides, it's been a while since we've had a discussion on a serious topic So what is your opinion of the military, in general or in your own country?
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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 Aug 11, 2009 9:03:46 GMT -5
I don't really have many particular thoughts about the US military. I think they're "don't ask, don't tell" policy about homosexual people is not exactly the best way to advocate for acceptance of all people.
I think it's a little old-fashioned/sexist that only men can be drafted, if the president decides to initiate the draft--although, I admit that I really wouldn't want to be in the military, especially if I was forced to. And I know that men are stronger than women in more ways than one, so I understand it at the same time.
As far as what my military is actually doing right now, in the Middle East, I don't really understand enough to have an opinion on that. I think it's about time to pull out of Iraq and give them a shot to run their own country. I don't really agree that we implemented a democracy with military force. I mean, I think democracy is the best form of government, in some form or other, but it isn't necessary. There are plenty of countries in the Middle East that have less representative governments and that are successful. But that's more an opinion of politics than military, I suppose
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Halie
Collection of short stories published by an independent editor
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Post by Halie on Aug 11, 2009 14:39:16 GMT -5
I'm kind of a pacifist. I understand the military is necessary, and I respect the men and women who risk there lives to make ours safer. But war doesn't just hurt soldiers. It hurts civilians, it hurts families back home, everyone. It makes me sad that some people are very pro-war, pro-nuclear weapons, etc. Killing is never okay. I don't care if someone is a criminal. It's not okay.
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Michelle
First novel published
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Post by Michelle on Aug 11, 2009 19:47:38 GMT -5
I guess I somewhat agree with both Halie and Kristie. I would love it if we didn't need a military. And I don't like the gender discrepancies but I understand they developed through history.
I also really dissapprove of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy (you can be gay in the US military as long as you don't tell anyone). One of my good friends from the Obama campaign is now the main organizer for the group trying to overturn this and I try and support him as much as I can.
I think there are some flaws in the way that military policy has been handled in the last 8 years or so but I have full respect for all the men and women who serve our country so bravely.
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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 Aug 13, 2009 10:11:02 GMT -5
I agree with you, Michelle. I respect any person in the military and feel proud of them, even if I don't know them. Whenever I see anyone in uniform, anywhere, I always find myself thanking them in my mind for doing what they do--it isn't easy. I have nothing against anyone in the military, but I sometimes disagree with the way the government decides to use the military.
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Isa
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Post by Isa on Aug 13, 2009 12:45:59 GMT -5
Here's the answer I gave in the other thread, more or less: I used to have a really good opinion of the Canadian army back when all we did were peacekeeping missions. I thought the job that these men and women did deserved a lot of respect and was not well recognized. People used to laugh at the Canadian army back then, saying we didn't have much of a real army, when really I think we did an amazing job in countries where no one else wanted to go because there were little to no economic interests - it really was for the good and safety of the people living in chaos. Now that we're at war in Afghanistan, I'm definitely not as proud as I used to be of our politicians and of the military in general. I really don't get that more people are interested in joining the army now that we're at war, and to be honest it makes it hard for me to support our troops. That level of interest sort of warrants the government's decision to leave our troops in Afghanistan. My opinion is that people in the military chose to do this job knowing what was involved and obviously fighting overseas is something they were interested in. It's not something I condemn, but it's not something I'm going to praise either. I hope I'm not offending anyone, it's just my personal opinion.
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Post by Hanna on Aug 13, 2009 14:07:34 GMT -5
I think for a lot of elder Norwegians, having a functioning military is important, because we were so caught off guard when invaded by Germany in WW2. However, a lot of young people, especially the socialist movement which is strong here, want to abolish the military altogether. I don't believe that can be done, though. I think we should have a military for defense purposes, but not for expansionist purposes, such as the military may be seen these days.
In Norway the military is theoretically compulsory for all boys at 18, so I know a lot of people who has been there, and most of them loved it. I think it is very different from for example the American military though. My impression of the Norwegian military is that they hike, ski and eat good food. I only know a few who's been to Afghanistan or Iraq, and then only as peacekeepers.
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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 Aug 15, 2009 13:24:33 GMT -5
I suppose that while I'm often proud of the people in the military, I should remember that some of them do join for reasons that aren't the greatest. I'm not saying that a lot of people join because, for instance, they don't like Islam. But I'm sure there are some people out there who have joined for the sole purpose of "getting rid" of the people that cause problems.
I guess I would rather think that people join the military to truly help, but I know that isn't true. I've never asked my cousin why he joined the army or why he went even further into it with the special forces. I don't believe he's one of the people who joined to fight or rid the world of "problem people." I think he just wanted to help do something for the greater good, but who can really say what that is exactly?
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Post by Dominique on Aug 16, 2009 2:11:08 GMT -5
I don't really have a lot of opinions about our military, we're in Iraq at the moment still and it would be great if we could leave, but at the same time the area might be too instable for that right now, I feel like I don't know enough about it either way. I think I read that to pull out of Iraq now would create further instability in Pakistan, which would obviously not be in the area's best interests. I can understand that.
Other than that I think there's a major drinking culture in the armed services in Australia, pretty much everyone I know who has joined the army or the navy has become an alcoholic. That's something that should probably be addressed.
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Post by Dominique on Aug 19, 2009 7:10:33 GMT -5
The legal age is 18 here so that isn't a problem in Australia. Yeah it's really bad! Some guys I know from the navy go out drinking all night, get incredibly drunk, wake up the next morning and start drinking again right away!
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oureternity
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
bam.
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Post by oureternity on Aug 20, 2009 9:29:48 GMT -5
Wow interesting thread. I guess it's really relevant to me since I'm actually a soldier myself now! I live in Israel so being drafted is a must to anyone who graduates from high school and turns 18. I think in my case army is really necessary since we're constantly in a war (even when it isn't very 'official') but the fact that they make everyone get drafted isn't always a positive thing, because some people are totally against it and I think the country should let them go, not only because it's democracy but also because it can be harmful to the country. Anyway, I think military here is absolutely different from other militaries, it looks different on the inside than it does on the outside. Before I was drafted a lot of things the military did pissed me off but now that I'm in it I see that the army, being humanitary has to face a lot of dilemmas which make us sometimes look bad. And that just sucks because nobody knows what exactly happened and we don't like to look bad!
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Post by Hanna on Aug 20, 2009 13:47:54 GMT -5
Wow, that is so interesting, Oureternity! I didn't know you were a soldier. So, what is your job in the military? Are you allowed to answer that?
I think too the Israelian military is different from other militaries, by necessity. I mean, being such a small country under constant threat I would guess the military in Israel has to be more alert at all times.
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Halie
Collection of short stories published by an independent editor
Posts: 982
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Post by Halie on Aug 20, 2009 19:16:47 GMT -5
I think too the Israelian military is different from other militaries, by necessity. I mean, being such a small country under constant threat I would guess the military in Israel has to be more alert at all times. I agree. Also, I think that if I were Israeli I'd be more willing to fight, because I'd be fighting for freedom, rather than something I don't really agree with, like the Vietnam War or the war in Iraq.
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Michelle
First novel published
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Post by Michelle on Aug 21, 2009 8:21:32 GMT -5
My cousin in the army is a big drinker. He told me that when he was on base, there's not too much to do. The last base he was at, he only had an hour of stuff to do every day. So the drinking and strip-clubbing was popular He can drink like 10 cans of beer and still be normal...and not in too short a time either.
Drinking in the military is one reason some people believe our drinking age should be lowered. If you only have to be 18 to fight for the country, why do you have to be 21 to drink? Responsible enough to handle national security but not to drink? Plus, when some guys/girls get out of the military they can't drink because they're not old enough, but they drink a lot in the military. But that's just like college. Any 18 year old that goes to the military or to school is going to end up being exposed to alcohol. The higher drinking age helps keep it out of high schools as best you can (I know that it's there. I was in high school once, too. But it could be worse.) Sorry, I know that was a little off topic.
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