# Re: Supporting military action that you are able but not willing
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-supporting-military-action-that-you-are-able-but-not-willing/834511
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [May 25, 2019, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-supporting-military-action-that-you-are-able-but-not-willing/834511 "2019-05-25T19:02:19Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2019, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-supporting-military-action-that-you-are-able-but-not-willing/834511/1 "2019-05-25T19:02:19Z")
This [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=875833)
There are like a dozen men of military age suggesting that they should be able to send other men of military age to die in a war. And that it’s wrong that they be judged for wanting to send other men to take risks that they can’t be bothered to make.
We have freedom of speech, you’re free to say that. You’re free to suggest that others risk their lives and livelihood to protect your freedom while you sit on the couch eating bonbons and being the assistant regional manager of whatever.
But the rest of us are also free to judge that, if you want others to make existential sacrifices that you won’t do, you’re a garbage person and should be forced to eat your own asshole as dinner from this day until your last day.
Carry on. I won’t be following responses to this because fuck you, you shit-eating cowards.
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### Author:  [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2019, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-supporting-military-action-that-you-are-able-but-not-willing/834511/2 "2019-05-25T19:10:39Z")
Suppose someone is a coward, in the most pejorative sense of the word. Not merely pacifistic, but utterly and irredeemably chickenshit. And that person examined the situation at Pearl Harbor and determined, after much thought, that military action was the only reasonable response.
He’s wrong?
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### Author:  [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2019, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-supporting-military-action-that-you-are-able-but-not-willing/834511/3 "2019-05-25T19:18:18Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#):
>
> Carry on. I won’t be following responses to this because fuck you, you shit-eating cowards.
It’s not like you bothered to actually read the posts that you did respond to in that thread, but rather, just rushed to judgment about them without bothering to actually follow them.
Rather be a shit eating coward than one that fires on friendlies because he was too lazy to tell friend from foe.
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### Author:  [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2019, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-supporting-military-action-that-you-are-able-but-not-willing/834511/4 "2019-05-25T19:28:25Z")
> [@elucidator](#):
>
> Suppose someone is a coward, in the most pejorative sense of the word. Not merely pacifistic, but utterly and irredeemably chickenshit. And that person examined the situation at Pearl Harbor and determined, after much thought, that military action was the only reasonable response.
>
> He’s wrong?
The thread is not about right or wrong – someone might be 100% correct about a proposed military action, yet still be a coward. It’s possible to be brave and wrong, cowardly and right, or any other combination. I think some shaming might make some folks rethink a relatively blind and casual approach to making war. Right now, our society and culture tends to see war as no big deal. This is a big problem, IMO, and that thread is about one possible way that might help change that.
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### Author:  [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2019, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-supporting-military-action-that-you-are-able-but-not-willing/834511/5 "2019-05-26T06:31:07Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#):
>
> The thread is not about right or wrong – someone might be 100% correct about a proposed military action, yet still be a coward. It’s possible to be brave and wrong, cowardly and right, or any other combination. I think some shaming might make some folks rethink a relatively blind and casual approach to making war. Right now, our society and culture tends to see war as no big deal. This is a big problem, IMO, and that thread is about one possible way that might help change that.
Those with the power to choose war often don’t choose to personally sacrifice for it. You believe this is some revelation? If only others knew! If only awareness was raised!
I agree with most of this message board about most things, but god almighty can it be a sniveling self-absorbed group of ineffectual whiners sometimes.
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### Author:  [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2019, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-supporting-military-action-that-you-are-able-but-not-willing/834511/6 "2019-05-26T15:35:38Z")
> [@Sitnam](#):
>
> Those with the power to choose war often don’t choose to personally sacrifice for it. You believe this is some revelation? If only others knew! If only awareness was raised!
>
> I agree with most of this message board about most things, but god almighty can it be a sniveling self-absorbed group of ineffectual whiners sometimes.
I do not believe that iiandyiiii believes that this is a revelation, but rather, a problem to be addressed.
Do you agree that this is a problem to be addressed, and if so, what are your thoughts on how to do so?
If you do not think that this is a problem to be addressed, then maybe this isn’t the right thread for you.
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### Author:  [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2019, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-supporting-military-action-that-you-are-able-but-not-willing/834511/7 "2019-05-26T16:41:25Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#):
>
> We have freedom of speech, you’re free to say that. You’re free to suggest that others risk their lives and livelihood to protect your freedom while you sit on the couch eating bonbons and being the assistant regional manager of whatever.
NITPICK: Assistant\*\*\* to\*\*\* the regional manager.
Get it right.
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### Author:  [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2019, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-supporting-military-action-that-you-are-able-but-not-willing/834511/8 "2019-05-26T17:34:42Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#):
>
> This [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=875833)
>
> There are like a dozen men of military age suggesting that they should be able to send other men of military age to die in a war. And that it’s wrong that they be judged for wanting to send other men to take risks that they can’t be bothered to make.
I followed some of that thread. What I wanted to post there but didn’t is this:
You don’t need to be of military age. You don’t need to be able to pass the induction physical. If you really support this war, then volunteer your time to support those who will be required to fight it. Volunteer to support the families of those who die in it.
Give a few hours a week volunteering at your local VA hospital. Drive vets to their doctor appointments. Work with local charities that renovate homes to be wheelchair-accessible for vets. Cut the grass, shovel the snow, rake the leaves of the home of a war widow.
There are hundreds of things to do to support. Giving money is good, but giving time is better. Put your free time where your mouth is.
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### Author:  [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2019, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-supporting-military-action-that-you-are-able-but-not-willing/834511/9 "2019-05-26T17:39:13Z")
> [@Anny\_Middon](#):
>
> I followed some of that thread. What I wanted to post there but didn’t is this:
>
> You don’t need to be of military age. You don’t need to be able to pass the induction physical. If you really support this war, then volunteer your time to support those who will be required to fight it. Volunteer to support the families of those who die in it.
>
> Give a few hours a week volunteering at your local VA hospital. Drive vets to their doctor appointments. Work with local charities that renovate homes to be wheelchair-accessible for vets. Cut the grass, shovel the snow, rake the leaves of the home of a war widow.
>
> There are hundreds of things to do to support. Giving money is good, but giving time is better. Put your free time where your mouth is.
I endorse this!
---
### Author:  [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2019, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-supporting-military-action-that-you-are-able-but-not-willing/834511/10 "2019-05-27T21:54:50Z")
> [@elucidator](#):
>
> Suppose someone is a coward, in the most pejorative sense of the word. Not merely pacifistic, but utterly and irredeemably chickenshit. And that person examined the situation at Pearl Harbor and determined, after much thought, that military action was the only reasonable response.
>
> He’s wrong?
The question isn’t whether he’s wrong. The question is do we care what such a person thinks, and I suggest no.
---
### Author:  [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2019, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-supporting-military-action-that-you-are-able-but-not-willing/834511/11 "2019-05-27T21:55:55Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#):
>
> It’s not like you bothered to actually read the posts that you did respond to in that thread, but rather, just rushed to judgment about them without bothering to actually follow them.
>
> Rather be a shit eating coward than one that fires on friendlies because he was too lazy to tell friend from foe.
If I did that, then I’m sorry, that’s on me.
---
### Author:  [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2019, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-supporting-military-action-that-you-are-able-but-not-willing/834511/12 "2019-05-28T00:18:01Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#):
>
> …Carry on. I won’t be following responses to this …
Why is the NEVER true?