Serving your country.

Status
Not open for further replies.
I didn't serve. As for why not my parents were dead set against it and my uncle who did serve told me not to. I regret it though I'm 31 now. My uncle enlisted in 1970.
 
The four years I spent in the Navy was one of the best things I ever did with my life. I definitely wouldn't be where I am today if I didn't join. Taught me some very real values that I follow to this day. I'm very patriotic and am proud to say that I served. Plus I've seen things and done things that my friends will never be able to and I owe that to the time I served.

Once I got out I attended college and got my degree. The biggest mistake of my life was that I didn't re-enlist as an officer. I talked to a recruiter when I graduated and due to my grades and prior military service, I was actually able to secure a chance at flight training. Unfortunately though I was stupidly in love with my ex-wife and I knew that marriage and a military career didn't mix. So I chose marriage instead of re-enlisting. Notice how I say EX-wife. What a waste. Oh well, live and learn.

Unfortunately I'm to old now to join and help in this conflict. If I could, I would. My new wife thinks I'm nuts when I say that.
 
PlayboyPenguin said:
As for activism...I do not see that as serving your country so much as serving yourself. We tend to only fight for things we believe in ourselves and alot of activism tends to be either too far right or too far left. I see a difference in fighting to defend everyone and their rights in contrast to fighting for a cause only some (often a minority in most cases) believe in and want to come to pass. I am not saying that people should not fight for what they believe but remember that not everyone believes the same thing. So activism is often hurting more people than it helps when a vocal minority gets it way.
Click to expand...

Sir,

This is a two-front war. Jihad abroad, against foreigners who would enslave us, and liberty at home, there being those of our own people who would in a different way destroy liberty. It's discouraging to read the implication that only those fighting abroad are doing their part. Perhaps you're feeling that the military doesn't have the material and political support it needs from home. If so, please know that I agree with you. Nevertheless, I cannot help but feel that you look down upon those who have not served. I can't stop you from that, and I'll still do what I can to make sure that the armed forces get what they need, and that they have a republic worth coming home to.

Thanks again for serving.
 
WayneConrad said:
Sir,

This is a two-front war. Jihad abroad, against foreigners who would enslave us, and liberty at home, there being those of our own people who would in a different way destroy liberty. It's discouraging to read the implication that only those fighting abroad are doing their part. Perhaps you're feeling that the military doesn't have the material and political support it needs from home. If so, please know that I agree with you. Nevertheless, I cannot help but feel that you look down upon those who have not served. I can't stop you from that, and I'll still do what I can to make sure that the armed forces get what they need, and that they have a republic worth coming home to.

Thanks again for serving.
Click to expand...

I do not look down on those who do not serve and I never would do so. I do not feel that "serving ones country" is for everyone in any form. Some people are just not cut out to be soldiers, LEO's, firefighters, EMT's, teachers, nurses, etc....but I feel that if you want to beat your breast and waive the constituation, get out there and defend it through more than trite and tired one liners on an internet board.
 
Currently serving my four (maybe more?) training for one of those MI type jobs. Learning some funky language with squiggly lines and dots everywhere. Let me tell you, whoever said military intelligence is an oxymoron hasn't been around the folks here!

The military definitely isn't for everyone. I almost lost it at first, but I'm glad I'm in now. I don't know if I'll do more than four, but... I'm glad I'm here and I know I'll take something away from it; hopefully I'll be able to give a little, too.

I feel we grow up in such a priviledged society self-imposed hardship is something most people need to go through.
 
Rockrivr1 said:
Unfortunately I'm to old now to join and help in this conflict. If I could, I would. My new wife thinks I'm nuts when I say that.
Click to expand...

My friend and I have this figured out.
The Army/military needs to create some Old Fart's Units.
My friend and I are too old to play Marine Sergeant and Army Airborne anymore but I can still fly a helicopter with the best of them and my friend can be my gunner.

Just don't bother us with any military crap. When there's a mission call us, then leave us alone until the next mission.

I figure we could take all the bad flights, what do we have to lose. It would be a ball.:D
 
I'm 23 now, and this is one of those ideas that's floated through my mind occasionally. I dismiss it after I give it a little thought, though. I'm kicking too much ass in graduate school to simply leave (I'm a 17th grader now!), and I think most of you would rather have me serve by completing my Ph.D and teaching your kids.

Still, I'll shoot at the bad guys if they make it to Minnesota!
 
PlayboyPenguin said:
get out there and defend it through more than trite and tired one liners on an internet board.
Click to expand...

Why is it that sometimes in threads like these, the ugly "get out there" criticism of being on "an internet board" comes out? Does anyone see the simple irony in that? It is just another form of people coming together and chewing the cud, like it might be at the gas station, or at the shooting range. Of course though we cannot see each other, and well maybe there's more to their personal story than you know about their support in our nation.

People have opinions, and while yes there are some who seem to go over the top with the patriot verbage in their calls to arms, I don't think that they have any less right to post than do you.
 
odysseus said:
Why is it that sometimes in threads like these, the ugly "get out there" criticism of being on "an internet board" comes out? Does anyone see the simple irony in that? It is just another form of people coming together and chewing the cud, like it might be at the gas station, or at the shooting range. Of course though we cannot see each other, and well maybe there's more to their personal story than you know about their support in our nation.

People have opinions, and while yes there are some who seem to go over the top with the patriot verbage in their calls to arms, I don't think that they have any less right to post than do you.
Click to expand...

Odysseus...the point was here 5 minutes ago...you just missed it.:D My whole point (besides taing a minute to hear from all the vets of the board and get them a little kudos) is that unless you are actively defending your country you better be able to come up with something better than quoting the 2A and singing god bless america when defending your gun rights. Makes you patriotism just look like a smoke screen for what most people see as just a violent desire to "blow things away". Alot of the people I know always ask "if these people care so much about the constitution then why aren't they fighting when the country needs them most?"
 
some of us are not able to

not all of us are able to serve, i wish i was, but i've been informed i cna't even be drafted, unless the army intends to give me a pass on all that running etc in Basic.....

i wanted to in the worst way, and my ASVAB scores had recruiters hounding me for 6 months to lose 60 pounds and enlist. and if i hadn't been diagnosed with a congenital defect in both my feet (the tendons that are supposed to keep your foot aligned to absorb the shock of walking are not attatched in their proper places in my case), btw this condition was at least partly uncovered by the fact that i DID lose a large portion of the wieght i needed to, but my feet and ankles never stopped hurting. i'd likely be in the guard now if not enlisted with the Air Force.:banghead:
 
PlayboyPenguin said:
I do not look down on those who do not serve and I never would do so. I do not feel that "serving ones country" is for everyone in any form. Some people are just not cut out to be soldiers, LEO's, firefighters, EMT's, teachers, nurses, etc....but I feel that if you want to beat your breast and waive the constituation, get out there and defend it through more than trite and tired one liners on an internet board.
Click to expand...
Get out of my face.

What is your problem? Don't you have a mother, or do you think that mine shouldn't beat her breast about the constitution?

What about cripples? The insane?

Or, that most American of Americans, the ones who don't serve because they don't WANT to?

You, I believe. You sound just like a junior officer.

READ the constitution. UNDERSTAND it.

Then get a grip, and look up the definition to the word "choice".

If you served to preserve anything else, get away from me. People might think we have something in common.

Your condescension reminds me of my son. When he was about 15.
 
What If Your Country Doesn't Serve You?

I was of military age (18) when Jimmy Carter ran against Ronald Reagan. I'm ashamed to say I voted for Jimmy Carter.
When I saw the Twin Towers burn, I wished I were young enough to enlist. To this day, when I see our (insert every praise here) soldiers, I wish I could go with them to fight. I think about "free-lancing". I think about fighting with something other than the mouse-gun. I think about fighting without a command structure that says, "No, you can't fight balls-to-the-wall".
I live in San Diego County, and it makes me nearly weep with pride when I meet our brave Marines. What peerless fighting men!
But, what about the feeling I get that dot-gov is not what the flag ought to mean?
Have any of you seen a movie called "The Long Riders"? Jesse James' gang was hiding out from the Pinkerton's, in a barn belonging to an honest farmer. One of the "gang-members" is complaining about breakfast, another meal of "cracklin' grits". Jesse says he oughta have respect. The "gang-member" says, "I have nothing but respect for Mister McCorkindale."
I have nothing but respect for our fighting men, and the Mister McCorkindale's who respect and support them.
But, I wonder, do the gangsters in Washington, D.C. have any respect for Mister McCorkindale? Or our brave boys?
 
PlayboyPenguin said:
Odysseus...the point was here 5 minutes ago...you just missed it.:D My whole point (besides taing a minute to hear from all the vets of the board and get them a little kudos) is that unless you are actively defending your country you better be able to come up with something better than quoting the 2A and singing god bless america when defending your gun rights. Makes you patriotism just look like a smoke screen for what most people see as just a violent desire to "blow things away". Alot of the people I know always ask "if these people care so much about the constitution then why aren't they fighting when the country needs them most?"
Click to expand...

I'm not defending my country to retain 2A..
If 2A were not there anymore or had ever been there, I'd still give my life in service to my country. Anytime, Anywhere and Anyhow.!
You can die for the 2A if you want to, it's your life. I'll be damned if I do for the sake of the right to keep and bear arms. I got stuff to do, places to be and important things to accomplish. Good riddance!:evil:
 
Rpriestlyjr said:
L= Low
E= Energy
G= Ground
S= Soldier

"What holds up a chicken's ass?" "LEGS":neener:


Airborne,...... All The Way!
10 yrs., 2 mo., 2 days.
Click to expand...

"Is everybody ready?" said the pilot looking up,
Our hero bravely answered "Yes" and then they hooked him up,
He jumped right out into the breeze, HIS STATIC LINE UNHOOKED,
And he ain't gonna jump no more! :eek:

I heard two things fall from the sky--bird poop and something else? :neener:

Just busting YOUR cookies, bro!

Yours,
Powderman
1977-1992 (11B, 16D, 24N)
 
After reading some of the later posts, I think I can chime in.

I enlisted for one thing, and one thing only...to serve the greatest Nation on this earth. Nothing else.

I welcome the comments and thanks of all those who appreciate my service.

I welcome EVEN MORE the comments of those who DON'T appreciate it, the comments of those who criticize, and those who are dead set against the military AND our government!!!

Why? It's actually very simple.

The fact that someone can post on the Internet that they don't like the way our government is run; the fact that we can and do say ANYTHING WE WANT about our elected officials; the fact that we can criticize our laws and rules and actively protest against the military, IN PUBLIC, proves to me that without a doubt, our Nation is the greatest on earth--

Because we have the FREEDOM to be able to do all of this without fear.

And this validates the reason I served. My thanks comes in small ways; a handshake, a smile, a kind gesture--and in watching someone speak their mind, write what they want, WHATEVER!!!

My biggest thrill, though, comes every day; when I see our Stars and Stripes standing proud, snapping in the wind that comes from the Cascades bearing the very breath of Freedom itself!

As long as we live, and exist as a Nation, the flag embodies what we all are and what we believe and have done. Long may it wave!

So disagree with me, protest, argue if you wish. I welcome it.

You're still my brothers and sisters, and I will defend to my death YOUR right to do what you wish.
 
You're still my brothers and sisters, and I will defend to my death YOUR right to do what you wish.
Click to expand...
Exactly.

I wouldn't defend a country in which you couldn't burn the colors if you wanted to.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

P
  • Locked
An adult question...?
Replies
19
Views
1K
Larry Ashcraft
Larry Ashcraft
B
  • Locked
Book Recommendations
2
Replies
37
Views
1K
flatdog
F
T
  • Locked
LEO's and BUG's
Replies
20
Views
1K
Sapper771
Sapper771
R
  • Locked
When should I start the kids?
2
Replies
26
Views
1K
Bonker
B
J
  • Locked
other gun-friendly countries?
2 3
Replies
65
Views
5K
Wanderling
Wanderling
Back
Top