I just turned 18 this month. I’m definitely considering joining up if something happens. The idea of my dying doesn’t bug me too much, but the very concept of my friends and loved ones having their lives stolen by people like Bin Laden fills me with a cold rage.
Just got out of the reserves a couple of years ago, but my golf game gives me plenty of practice walking in the woods.
If they need me, I’ll go back in.
I took my Navy uniform off for the last time in 1993. I really don’t relish the thought of putting it back on.
I am, however, willing to support the troops that do fight. I am happy to write letters, send cookies, volunteer, whatever it takes. Time away from home is lonely, be it at sea or in the field. I am willing to do what I can to help make the time a little less lonely.
Robin
I can and I probably will. I’m planning to join the Marines when I graduate from college in any case, so what difference can a few extra months make?
Bottom line: Someone thought that it was a good idea to mess with the US of A and they need to be taught differently.
If it comes to a real ground war, count me in.
–==The militant sax man==–
Look what happened in 1995 when Oklahoma City was bombed. Who did it, was it Iran? Nope, it was an American, and of course we are all jumping to conclusions, for all we know it could be someone America is really close to. Would I fight in a war, hell no, why would I kill an innocent life who probably has the same feelings as me.
Bull.
Fucking.
Shit.
You wanna talk fucking ignorance? How about the ignorant cumstains that lived through today and STILL refuse to acknowledge the existence of evil.
How about we tell the families of the poor bastards that did nothing to deserve their horrible deaths that if maybe they were more tolerant or less prejudiced their loved ones would be alive today?
Do you think evil only exists in fantasy novels? Do you honestly believe that there are NOT people whose whole focus in life is to bring pain and suffering, to serve evil, wrapping their bloodlust in some political, religious or social agenda?
Evil is real. It must be resisted. It must be exterminated. It is our duty not to forget this.
Kumbaya, my lord… Might as well get up against the wall now for your nine grams.
-Rav
If I was called upon to fight, to kill, I would. But I would not use a weapon that would put distance between me and my target, keep me from seeing whom I am killing. If I have to kill, for whatever reason, I do not want to chance it becoming impersonal, or run the risk of dehumanizing myself and my targets. I want, need perhaps, to be up close and personal with those that I would deal death upon so that I can remember why taking a life can be so very horrible, and why life is so precious. IMO, dealing mass distruction from afar merely makes it easier to do more killing… you start lose the connection between your actions and your consequences, since it is no longer as immediate.
My trusty (if a bit rusty) bayonet would be my weapon. And I would do my damndest to get it over with quickly and cleanly. I do not want to reduce myself to the sub-human status terrorists have. I do want to have the nightmares afterwards... to remind me that I am human, with all the flaws and greatness that implies.
(Apologies if this doesn't make much sense, running on too little sleep.)
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I took off the uniform for the last time in 1988. When I got out of the active reserves, they told me that the 2 stainless steel plates in my right arm meant I would never be eligible for active duty again. I was not eligible for medical reasons during Desert Storm and was glad for that. I wasn’t going to kill anyone for Texaco.
Someone attacked My Country this morning. That changes everything. Tomorrow I will check with the hospital down the road about donating blood (They turned me away today–they had more donors than they could process).
The real question is not ‘who will fight’ but ‘who will we fight’. AFAIK nobody has claimed responsibility for this act. If we can gather evidence that it was Bin Ladin, then we can either:
A) bomb Afghanistan (dumb)
B) Send the Rangers/Seals to do a raid on his compound and bring the command of his organization back to the USA in chains or darken the sky with their ashes. (smart).
Today I’m 37 years old, bad back, bad knees, out of shape. I am not the man to do that. I lack the skills, training and fitness to be an Elite soldier.
I will support the war effort, but I’m too fucking old and weak to fight anymore.
I’m an 20 year old girl who’s never held a gun in my life, but if the miitary was to start drafting our guys or something I’d enlist in a second. Why should I expect my brothers or boyfriend to go to war to protect this country if I’m not willing to do the same? But hopefully it won’t come to that, we have to figure out who we need to target before we do anything anyway.
I think gato was ascribing ignorance, prejudice and intolerance to the ? who committed today’s atrocities*, not to their victims.
Okay, curiosity has overcome me: Nine grams?
*I’m not going to waste time thinking of a way to refer to the ? as something other than “people”.
I was referring to the commonly held delusion that fighting ignorance, prejudice and intolerance is equivalent to fighting evil. Fighting ignorance, etc, is noble. Fighting evil is a moral imperative.
Russian slang for a bullet. If we swaddle ourselves in noble aims, it’s a fait accompli.
-Rav
I’m ready to go right now. Send me off in a sub to Afghanistan and I’ll help fuck some shit up. Fuckiin terrorists must die.
y’know, i always figured if a war broke out in my generation, i’d do whatever it took to not be involved. i couldn’t understand the point of killing for any reason. all well and good when you’re 20 and have no real concept of war or terrorism.
today completely shifted my mindset. yes, i would fight. i’m in college, and i don’t know if enlisting would mess that up, or put it on hold, or whatever… but i’d definately try to find a way to get that stuff together and do what i have to do.
to be honest, i don’t think it’s gonna come to that. but if it does… well, you can count me in.
I am afraid not to fight…
Ironically, the thing that I fear, is fear…I fear a world where no one is safe…I fear a world where a handfull of men can stop a nation…I fear this kind of thing continuing because those responsible feel that we are too weak to stop them…I fear those people demanding less freedom in favor of safety…most of all, I fear my loved ones never knowing peace…
Thousands of people were killed for the crime of where they happened to work…many others will die for no greater a crime…Both here and abroad…the realization today should be that we are at war, and have been for decades, we just didn’t know it…Because, you see, there are no innocent people in war…
Who are we at war with? Sure, the terrorists, but that’s like saying in WWII we were at war with the German Army…there are nations behind this, rich nations who at best tolerate, at worst condone and support, this enemy army…these nations, Middle Eastern or not, Islamic or not, should be held accountable and treated like the enemies they are…or they should jump through flaming hoops to prove they are our friends…Neutrality is not acceptable…they gave up that right when they allowed an enemy army to operate within thier borders…
So yeah, I will fight…I will fight the people who wish me dead for no reason other than my birth place…I will kill to hopefully protect life, and I will die to end the fear of others…
This is not about country, honor or pride…this is about my family, friends and loved ones…This about my Brother-in-law, who flies the United SF-Newark route, but was luckily off today…this is about my girlfriend’s mother, who had a meeting the Trade Center today, but luckily decided to go out for a bagel…this is about the millions of people who wanted nothing more for today then to get one day closer to the weekend, and suddenly had their lives turned upside down…
Should someone pay for this? Probably, but arresting the principles will do very little…other madmen will just spring up in their place…we are going to have to make it so that people won’t listen to them…
Even if it mean’s breaking an entire culture…
I really try to respect those who would absolutely refuse to fight, but I can’t help pointing out that their right to do so is a luxury dependent upon others being willing to fight for it if necessary.
So yeah, provided we actually establish there’s a country to go to war against in all this, I’ll go fight. I’m almost 38, 80 pounds overweight, and my right ankle is destroyed–I’ll probably get killed as I try to limp out of the personnel carrier. But I know how to use a rifle, and while they’re shooting me they aren’t shooting at somebody who can maybe do them more damage.
Absolutely nothing…
People are dead. Killing others doesn’t change that. We are a country of immense power and we should not lose that power by getting in a pissing match with what ever nutless bastard is behind this.
Track the responsible parties down. Put them on trial for crimes against the nation. Find them guilty. Then throw their pathetic ass in jail where I’m sure they will be worshiped by the other inmates.
Or we could just bomb the hell out of them. Whatever is more economically feasible.
[sub]My WAG[/sub]
There won’t be a war. This wasn’t an attack by a nation, and if so, not by a very large and influential nation. Ok, influential in the sense that they can cripple our financial and military centres in a few minutes but that’s what you get for putting all of your eggs in one basket. The Pentagon and the WTCs were/are sitting ducks.
There is practically no way to defend against these kind of attacks. The terrorists attacked the US in a way that required very little preparation on their part. Child’s play. What is there to stop copycat terrorists now that they know an easy way? What would stop me and a couple of my friends from doing the exact same thing next month? Nothing.
There won’t be any kind of ground war on US soil, nothing more than terrorist attacks. Not all out combat. Who would be the opposing army? The Afghani-Americans? Is Afghanistan going to send over a boatload of Jihad fanatics? If there is any kind of retalitory action it would likely be some small kind of SEAL infiltration, like Jack@ss said.
Personally I am concerned for myself and my countrymen . It seems to me that we the people had it comming. :mad:
I was talking to my father today about the situation. He was a U.S. fighter pilot/photographer during the first threats in Korea. He told me that before Pearl Harbor went down politicians were warned about the invasion. This threat was ignored. We suffered.
I have my own opionions about what we should have done in the gulf to rid ourselves of terrorisum and oppression, however the hard emotions involved would need the start of another thread. We are here to speak about who would fight. (Although I can’t see any other option in the matter.)
If I can remember correctly, shortly after the crisis in the gulf ended several terrorist influenced organizations were left alone. (Why?) To me this decision by our politicians is catastrophic to us. When we decided to let terrorisum alone, (If you remember the news concerning these countries reported increasing terrorisum after the gulf.)we added fuel to the fire.
I say we had it comming because I remember less than two years ago these terrorist countries were reported in the news to say we would be invaded. We would be struck in Washington and New York. I cannot tell you where I viewed these reports because this a new situation and I have not researched the matter. Most news domains are clogged as of now. It is like my father and I concured we were warned and we ignored these threats again.
I reach out to and plea to all who will come and fight all terroristic actions with me. You can find a reply of mine on page one of this thread that explains my situation with waiting on my ride out east. Terrorisum must be stopped !
If you are against fighting for your country I suggest you leave the U.S.A. Love it or leave it…:mad:
As another conscientious objector, I would respond : to avoid falling to their level.
I would reconsider my choice if I felt it was obviously necessary to avoid a greater evil. But sorrow or desire for revenge doesn’t fall under this category.
Oh, I don’t know…
Ending slavery…
Toppling Fascist regims bent on Genocide…
Determining which culture makes the rules…
Allowing a certain upstart group of colonies to govern themselves…
Driving invaders out of countries…
Keeping a madman from controlling a good chunk of the world’s oil supply…
Freeing oppressed peoples…
Not condoning war really, but is a very real and often final solution to things that diplomacy and politics can’t solves…can it solve this? Frankly, I don’t know…but not responding in kind will only spawn more attacks by people who believe non-aggression is weakness…
On another note, I think a side-effect of this attack is going to be oversees terrorism sponsered by US interests…I could see Ross Perot buying a Russian Nuke and sticking it on a Leer jet which some Tim McVeigh type will land in Downtown Bagdad…
This is only the begining, folks…