Does it really matter WHY?

Published on December 2, 2005 By dharmagrl In Current Events

*I'm fighting a stomach flu today, so if this is disjointed and doesn't flow well, please forgive me*

I've been doing a lot of thinking over the past few days, about the kerfuffle over patriotism, honor and people's reasons for being in the service.

Does it really matter WHY people are in the service and are going off to war? Does it really make a difference to their service? Is being there out of a sense of self-interest any less worthy than being there for love of country or love of battle?

I don't think so. I think that service is service is service, regardless of the motivation. I think that ANY person in the US military is deserving of respect. Apparently I didn't make myself clear. Apparently I got caught up in semantics and either I missed the point, or other people missed MY point.....and then one person in particular felt like they knew my husband's reasons for being in the military better than I do, which really ticked me off.

So, for the record, it doesn't matter to me why people are there. What does matter is that they ARE there. They go, and they do....and people like me, we stay and we do. In our own way, we are in the service too. We just don't wear a uniform, get promoted or awarded medals.

Do I do this because I love America? No. I do it because the man I love has decided that this is the best way for him to live his life and support his family.

The reasons are irrelevant. The service isn't.

Comments (Page 2)

MarcieMoo

on Dec 02, 2005

I think you're right, Karen. I think that being in the military has some perks, as well as some disadvantages, much like any career. It's not something *I* would choose (other than the fact that I'm a whale), regardless of the perks. But a "free" education, medical and housing benefits, the chance to travel (if you call going to a war zone travel)...those things look really good to people. Had my fatness not been an issue, I might have actually considered the military.

I think the benefits do lure lots of young men and women into the military. And I think that's a *GOOD* thing. How many people would enlist if there weren't those benefits--on sheer love of country alone? We *NEED* our military. We *NEED* you and Tex and your guys and your families, you know?

bakerstreet

on Dec 02, 2005

lmao...

dharmagrl

on Dec 02, 2005

But a "free" education, medical and housing benefits, the chance to travel (if you call going to a war zone travel)...those things look really good to people. Had my fatness not been an issue, I might have actually considered the military.

I think the benefits do lure lots of young men and women into the military. And I think that's a *GOOD* thing. How many people would enlist if there weren't those benefits--on sheer love of country alone? We *NEED* our military.

Okay, first of all....I wish that you'd stop being so hard on yourself about your weight. Yes, you're heavy, but you're not HUGE. You're certainly not the biggest person I've ever known, and you're not the ugliest either.

So, now back on topic....if the military had patriotism alone as it's selling point, I honestly don't think many people would enlist. It's the college tuition, the travel, the pay, the security, the benefits....those are some of the things that, when coupled with the honor and patriotism aspects, make the military a very attractive proposition for some people.

lmao...

At me? because I got frustrated? or at marcie?

dharmagrl

on Dec 02, 2005

lmao...

At me? because I got frustrated? or at marcie?

MarcieMoo

on Dec 02, 2005

So, now back on topic....if the military had patriotism alone as it's selling point, I honestly don't think many people would enlist. It's the college tuition, the travel, the pay, the security, the benefits....those are some of the things that, when coupled with the honor and patriotism aspects, make the military a very attractive proposition for some people.

Exactly right, K. Like you said...I don't think it really matters why people enlist, its the fact that they DO enlist. I think our system of offering those good incentives is much better than requiring young people to do it like some other countries do.

HC1240

on Dec 12, 2005

The reasons are irrelevant. The service isn't.

Amen and Amen!

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