Which are you?

[cynatnite]

Poll question: Which are you?

[The Straight Story]

1. I play a soldier in computer games :) (nt)

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

2. Never Served, Never Could.

I simply don't have it in me to take the life of somebody intentionally. I know the whole 'but they are trying to kill you' theory, but most often they are just troops of another country fighting with orders same as our troops are fighting for our country. The only difference is their the geography of the soil in which they live. Since I wouldn't ever have it in me to take the life of an american soldier, I shouldn't have it in me to take the life of another country's soldier either. They are one in the same to me: Fighting for what they believe to be a national cause.

[cynatnite]

3. If someone points a gun at you...

(no matter where you are at) are you going to stand there on your political beliefs and let them kill you?

Unfortunately, that's war.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

4. Those Beliefs Aren't Political.

They are just me. I value life greatly but couldn't do so if I didn't value other's just as greatly.

But yes, in a situation of emergency, when faced with a gun and no other alternative of disarmement, I'd be able to do so.

But I meant it more from a voluntary point of view, as in volunteering to sign up for military service with knowledge I may put myself in a position to shoot first, before there was a gun at my head.

But that doesn't make me superior morally or otherwise. It would just be too hard for me. That may make me weak in that sense in fact. But do know that I respect the hell out of you and the rest that can fight for our country when called upon to do so, cause we couldn't exist without you. I just simply couldn't do it. After seeing my first corpse at my own doing I'd be forever damaged as a human being.

[cynatnite]

7. I do get what you are saying...

I still have a few friends and family members serving in Iraq. Majority don't support the war at all, but will do they have to do in order to come home alive. My nephew told me a few months ago that when somebody's shooting at you, the last thing you're thinking about is politics unless your cursing george bush. He says that happened a lot.

While in the army, my husband and I were never faced with having to take a life and while killing happens in the heat of battle, it's the afterwards that I think the military doesn't do enough to help our troops.

I couldn't imagine having to live with the taking of another life...even in self-defense. That's someone's husband, father, son, daughter and so on.

When it comes to going to war, I want the ones in charge to comprehend what it means. A five minute prayer session ain't the way to go.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

10. "When it comes to going to war, I want the ones in charge to comprehend

what it means."

Fucking hear hear to that one.

:toast:

[madokie]

5. Killing isn't what serving your country is all about, sure for some it is

it is a decision you have to make but for most it never is. I know a lot of Veterans who never had to fire a shot but they served nevertheless
sounds like there may be deeper issues at play here
peace.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

8. Damned If I Know What Deeper Issues You're Talkin About.

No deeper issues at all. Pretty clear cut sentiment if you ask me. It is the knowledge that by signing up I volunteer to do so if necessary, and like I said, I simply don't have it in me to do so. Just the fact that if someday I would be called into war and by doing so might take the life of some mother's son, father's daughter, sister's brother etc who were in the opposite military or were collateral damage, I simply don't want to be in that position, ever.

Nothing deeper there whatsoever. I don't like war and don't ever want to be part of it, period. I don't like seeing any human being in pain.

When necessity dictates such, I can do what I gotta do. But doing so voluntarily is different.

Peace to you as well.

[cynatnite]

11. It makes one wonder how many young people truly comprehend...

their service when they sign up.

You have a clear enough understand of what could be required of you should you ever join. When I entered the Army, I was fortunate to have a wonderful recruiter who had served in Vietnam who took the time to explain what would be expected of me.

Thinking back to some of the stories I've read since this war started over recruiter misconduct, I am concerned that many who sign up aren't being told enough of the truth to make an informed decision.

[madokie]

13. I doubt that many in Iraq or Afghanistan for that matter volunteered

to go kill innocent people in Iraq or Afghanistan, they are mostly there because of their leaders. Serving your country as such is not about killing people. Most don't want to be in that position either. sorry. I was lied to like a dog years ago as the kids today are.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

14. So Be It.

But your belief of lies is not connected to my awareness of truth, and I mean that with no disrespect.

What you've gone through, who you are and what you feel personally has nothing to do with me or who I am or how I feel.

I also never said serving your country is about killing people, as that would be an absurd statement while cheapening the entire concept of military service. No, I never said that. But taking a life is an inherent risk in signing up for military service and by signing up you put yourself in a position to one day under orders be forced to take another human being's life. I choose to simply never want to be in such a position because I am aware to what being in the military means. There is much nobility, honor and bravery that goes along with being in the military. I do not demean such things. I simply choose to never do anything in life that increases the odds of me having to hurt or kill somebody someday. It really is quite that simple of a sentiment.

[Mountainman]

6. they are just troops of another country fighting with orders same as our

Troops


That's true, but they are still trying to kill you. I thought much like you until I was drafted and sent to Vietnam. If I didn't fight back I not only endangered my life but also the lives of others in my platoon. I fought back knowing that the other guy was forced into the same place I was. I simply wanted to go home alive. To me it had nothing to do with country or war or what was right or wrong.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

9. No Shit.

But you missed the point entirely. You fought back because you had to. You were already there. You had fight or risk endangering your life and the lives of others in your platoon, because you were a member of the military involved in a war. You did what you had to do so that you can go home alive, and I would've done the same.

My point was that I never want to be in that position to begin with. That way I don't have to kill them while having the guilt of the sentiment of mine you quoted. You said you had my sentiment in mind but had to fight back anyway: kill or be killed. But just remember you could've been the memory and that soldier you took out could've been the one on the message board saying he did what he had to do. I'm glad that's not the case and that you are here and alive. I'm just saying I'm glad I've never had to make that choice and hope to hell I'm never forced to.

[AndyTiedye]

22. They Would Have Sent Me Home In A Box

If the draft had gotten me, I would have been sent home in a box.

[TahitiNut]

17. Congratulations ... the military needs medics.

:shrug:

[johnaries]

12. I was lucky. I served when Carter was in office,

so I never had to see combat.

[Chipper Chat]

15. Luckily I had a high lottery number in 1968.

So I escaped being drafted. To any smug-faced lurking freepers: this doesn't mean I WOULDN'T HAVE GONE if drafted. Also, I was in college the day the Russians were about to run the US blockade of Cuba. Three of my fraternity brothers and I left class and went home to pack so that we were ready to enlist if things got worse. I'll never forget that day.

[TahitiNut]

18. Interesting. The draft lottery didn't start until December 1969

:eyes:

[Chipper Chat]

21. You're right. Actually it was for the year 1970.

Guess Country Joe & the Fish still sticks in my mind.

[TahitiNut]

16. USCGA, 61-63; US Army (draftee) Viet Nam, 68-69

[Qanisqineq]

19. never served but spouse of active duty

I couldn't serve, I can't stand people telling me what to do!

[cynatnite]

20. Hubby's older brother couldn't either...

He tried with the army and then with the navy. He's got a problem with one of his eyes and it was enough to disqualify him from service. My hubby and his younger brother both were in and Jon, the one who was turned away, was mad for a good month. He wanted to be in because of both of his brothers.

[NMMNG]

23. Have never served, though I thought of doing so more than once

I grew up next to a military base and my father and grandfather both were veterans so the military was not a foreign subject to me. I went as far as going to a recruiter once when I was nearly 18 but ultimately decided not to enlist. My personal views have changed over time and I would no longer see military service as an option for myself. I will resort to physical violence to the least extent possible only to extract myself from danger, and killing only if unavoidable for self-defense.