A book you have to read - please read

Byrnzie

WhoDey wrote:

This is a simple manner of someone who voluntarily signed up to serve his country and fled when things became unstable. This should not be commended or glorified, he should be in jail right along side anyone who commits war crimes.

390th Fighter Squadron
Wild Boars

'When things became unstable'? That's a clever way of managing to sum up an entire persons experience of the Iraq war, and of dismissing his every argument, rather than discussing and/or disputing the subject.

Byrnzie

miller8966 wrote:

Why does everyone think people join the military because they need money?

Sometimes people just want to blow shit up.

True!

slightofjeff

That's interesting and all, but I'm wondering what you think when you read accounts from other soldiers that are positive, who believe in what they are doing, and who are proud of their country and their mission?

Do you put as much stock in what they have to say? Or do you just believe the first-hand accounts that support your preconceived notion?

Not that there's anything wrong with that, per se. Just wondering.

sunless

slightofjeff wrote:

That's interesting and all, but I'm wondering what you think when you read accounts from other soldiers that are positive, who believe in what they are doing, and who are proud of their country and their mission?

Do you put as much stock in what they have to say? Or do you just believe the first-hand accounts that support your preconceived notion?

Not that there's anything wrong with that, per se. Just wondering.

Actually, I'm not totally against war. I wish it didn't have to happen, but I understand that it is necessary and I have a lot of respect for men (edit: and women) in the Armed Forces. However, if what the author of this book describes is true, on even a fraction of the accounts, then something has to be done to ensure that there is some accountability on both sides.

AllNiteThing

slightofjeff wrote:

That's interesting and all, but I'm wondering what you think when you read accounts from other soldiers that are positive, who believe in what they are doing, and who are proud of their country and their mission?

Do you put as much stock in what they have to say? Or do you just believe the first-hand accounts that support your preconceived notion?

Not that there's anything wrong with that, per se. Just wondering.

Do you commend a rapist for making his victim comfortable and having a smile on his face any more than you commend the rapist who yells, spits on and slaps his victim?

It doesn't matter how rosey SOME of the soldiers may be painting the situation (very few are), or the little things that are being done that are good (saving a kitten in a tree :rolleyes: ). The fact is that this was a wrong invasion, it is a wrong occupation, people are being tortured and killed for no reason and the US has created a maelstrom of hate and slaughter.

I'm sorry, but even an ounce of these monstrosities outweigh a mountain of 'positive and proud' soldiers. :rolleyes: But maybe that's just me and my 'morals'.

slightofjeff

AllNiteThing wrote:

Do you commend a rapist for making his victim comfortable and having a smile on his face any more than you commend the rapist who yells, spits on and slaps his victim?

It doesn't matter how rosey SOME of the soldiers may be painting the situation (very few are), or the little things that are being done that are good (saving a kitten in a tree :rolleyes: ). The fact is that this was a wrong invasion, it is a wrong occupation, people are being tortured and killed for no reason and the US has created a maelstrom of hate and slaughter.

I'm sorry, but even an ounce of these monstrosities outweigh a mountain of 'positive and proud' soldiers. :rolleyes: But maybe that's just me and my 'morals'.

all points well taken.

I'm still not sure why one soldier's opinion of the situation is any more or less valid than another. They are over there. We are not. All we know is what we read and see on TV.

Maybe the ones who are proud are completely deluded and brainwashed. Maybe they are just believing what they want to believe, what allows them to sleep at night. I am willing to concede that point.

And maybe the soldier who wrote the book in question isn't a conscientious objector. Maybe he's just a coward. Maybe he just wants to sell books.

We all have our agendas, is the point I'm trying to make. I believe in using accounts from both sides of the divide to paint a more accurate picture of what might be going on.

I'm not flaming you, or the original poster. I'm just saying is all.

AllNiteThing

slightofjeff wrote:

all points well taken.

I'm still not sure why one soldier's opinion of the situation is any more or less valid than another. They are over there. We are not. All we know is what we read and see on TV.

Maybe the ones who are proud are completely deluded and brainwashed. Maybe they are just believing what they want to believe, what allows them to sleep at night. I am willing to concede that point.

And maybe the soldier who wrote the book in question isn't a conscientious objector. Maybe he's just a coward. Maybe he just wants to sell books.

We all have our agendas, is the point I'm trying to make. I believe in using accounts from both sides of the divide to paint a more accurate picture of what might be going on.

I'm not flaming you, or the original poster. I'm just saying is all.

Points taken as well and agreed. You never do know, and I don't know the background of this guy, my comments were meant as a whole, and not for or against any certain individuals.

It is expected, almost seemingly mandatory for a nations' people to believe they are in the right when it comes to international conflict. This is not new. Even aggressor nations, who are obviously aggressors and wrong, throughout history, have with alarming consistency had the support of its people. What is the cause for this? Why does it continue to this day, with our access to information?