Appeal for draft board volunteers revives memories of Vietnam era

[BLUEHAWK]

Skeeter -
Dunno, there are times when I do think we are led to believe that all countries should be like us, those times when certain ambitious leaders appear to be insisting not just on Democracy, but on a particular BRAND of it... saying out of one side of the mouth one thing and meaning another to themselves, with a high-minded agenda that has nothing at all to do with what the rest of us think is being fought over.

But also, somehow it is not just the USA that will always be at war... war just is, like flies and chiggers and mosquitoes and fleas... cannot get rid of it... the little guys will always be taking shots at the big ones, some of the big ones will always be trying to acquire or control the little ones, and some folks are just plain sadistic bloodthirsty murderous criminals with charisma or bigger guns.

There is a sense in which I might imagine a draft would not be useful... when the war gets close enough to one's own front door it has a tendency to awaken the juices sufficiently for man or woman to pick up any stick handy and do their best to beat back an invader... at which time no little order from a Draft Board is gonna mean one damn thing. Preparedness, then, is the matter at hand, so far as I can reason it out... some of us prefer to be ready, some of us prefer to let other people get ready because we know they are gonna do so, and it is (to those who believe that way) our hope and prayer that they are mean as hell adequately to fight off the terror... it's a gamble I myself am not willing to take... my memory of war history says to me that actually it is a VERY small percentage of all soldiers who ever see combat in any conflict, and of that number the total amount of their stint spent in actual battle is also (usually) relatively brief, albeit it utterly decisive in whether or not the folks at home MUST pick up that handy stick...

So, given that war or battle is inevitable, it seems to me that it would be wiser to accept that reality as being as much a part of human life as is food... and find some reasonable way for there to be a routinely ready support and combat force.

Having said that, I will never get accustomed to the idea of females in battle (PF had a long thread debate a few months back on this topic), thinking as I do like Boats, about my two daughters... I know there are a few of the ladies who are cut out for it and God Bless 'em Thank You... but most are not, by far. Women have shown over the centuries their valor and devotion in war and peace every which way, no doubt. I just do not like the idea of them being sacrificed, raped by the likes of Saddam's Baathist sadists... or (pardon me while I indulge myself) the Russian army entering Berlin, among other countless examples. Doesn't sit well...

For that reason alone, since PC would call for males and females to be drafted... unless the ladies could opt in or out of combat duty, it'd be enough to make me agin' the whole concept.

[Boats]

LT,

That's the parent in you (and all of us who are parents) and your prior military experience talking.

Your time and mine has gone by - we did our bit and they are not going to let us back in - even though we would offer.

We are now the home front or the old guard. We've become past tense (not a very nice to say) but we've gone beyond our prime.

Some may be contrary to that statement and more than capable but the reality is they aren't going to take us back.

This thread has been very interesting and these are not new issues but issues that have plagued mankind since the first persons life was taken. When hunter's would go out for food and some became food for others.

Humanity is the issue here and how one man feels about another. Race issues - Religious issues - the issues of those who have nothing and those that have everything. The whole world is divided by mistrust - hunger - and power struggles.

Skeeter says' we will always be at war or in some conflict and thats the dread that we all feel.

Hawk says' - it is not just the USA that will always be at war... war just is, like flies and chiggers and mosquitoes and fleas... cannot get rid of it... the little guys will always be taking shots at the big ones, some of the big ones will always be trying to acquire or control the little ones, and some folks are just plain sadistic bloodthirsty murderous criminals with charisma or bigger guns.

But like Stick said - If they say 'sorry John, your too old but we could use your sons or daughters to help out because they are more than capable,' I would do whatever it takes to prepare those kids and be real proud of them.

That's about all we could do.

I wish it was as simple at Mort said - It is a simple matter of connect-the-dots.

My best to you all -






Each generation will contribute to this country for issues we most likely will not have an control over - yet to be totally understood until put into that predicament

[BLUEHAWK]

Bless you Boats, and ALL here...

Ya know, if that day came, and I had to choose to send myself or my kids... I'd send myself... but I ain't worth a damn any more for what they'd have to do... I am not sure we grey beards could win it for 'em Boats, don't think so... but I'd giv'er a try with all my heart if we were all of us together again out there - we've got some real fine warriors among us, still...smart wise ones too.

Let 'em take me, I'll go.

[MORTARDUDE]

Boats :

Very well stated. Things > ARE < really very simple. I have a few theories. Ever notice how mankind just keeps renaming things ( actually everything ) over and over and over every 20 years or so ( linguistic anarchy ). Prime example. Ever struggled thru the Old Testament with all the odd names given for the tribes and people...and all the different translations of the Bible which make it very difficult to determine the exact meanings of words. Even the word "LOVE" is difficult to understand in many contexts. Jesus said "GOD IS LOVE". Probably the single most profound statement in the history of humankind, but an incredible concept to comprehend in totality. We humans just by nature make things complicated, every day that rolls. The universe and physics and mathematics and light and dark and matter and energy and atoms never change. We just keep renaming things and making it all a big puzzle. Started with the Tower of Babel and continues to this day.
I profoundly enjoy working out the puzzles of infinity. Many times what you find is uncomfortable, even frightening, but I derive immense satisfaction from the search and ultimately finding... the truth.

Just take a deep breath, laugh hardily, and let God guide you...then the dots will connect....trust me.

Larry

P.S. : Or as one we all know and love once said : "It depends on what the meaning of the word "is" is" ? Heavy stuff, but not really.

P.P.S. :

In a famous radio broadcast in 1939, Winston Churchill pronounced, "I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma."

[BLUEHAWK]

The Arabs have a saying I have found myself returning to in the past 50+ years now and again:

"Trust God, but tie your camel first."

[skeeter]

I may be too old (73) and have lost some of that military background since I retired in 1974.. But I still have the desire to push for what is best for mankind... I'm like Mike,, I cannot understand why our country decided we needed our women situated in a combat position.. If we cannot equipt of fighting forces with men, and men should be the only ones in that position, than we should be held respondsible for some of our misdeeds we have caused in marriages.. There are many, many wives in Irag, and their husbands at home taking care of the children... There is no way our government going to show me that works..
Somwhere in the last 40 years or so, our leaders in this country have gone to the wrong meetings. We are going have to start a new education system on how to act, search, and come to a better conclusions for the sake of our country.

[Boats]

Skeeter - you're one hell of a man and I salute you for your service to country and your wisdom.

Your line: If you think you are beaten, you are.

Is so very true. Many American's who stay home night after night and watch the news and go to work are getting into a "rut." It becomes a vicious cycle or a redundant ritual that happens to most of them each and every day - its mental stagnation.

I find myself getting into this cycle every now and then and it only takes a little conversations with individuals (like those from this site) to snap me back into reality. Another way I get back on track is talk with the veterans at the VA clinics.

Our conversations have become an inner strength of which rank and file no longer carry the same meaning. We are universal in our way of thinking and we care about one and another.

It's a club or sorts (some call it a Brotherhood) the truest meaning of a soldier is his ability to communicate with others.

I think soldier's have more compassion then they'd like others to know. They have things they know and want to share without having to worry about other's calling it nonsense.

What's important to us doesn't mean a thing to a civy. Time doesn't mean much to us either ever notice the issues we discuss are topics that are common and have been a subject matter for generations.

These kids who are fighting today will cover the very same subjects in later years. We can only hope that they will have better news to report during their life cycles.

We can only hope that they become smart enough to find other's like them to communicate issues (like ours are to us) amongest themselves.

To come to some conclusion about the wars past or present. To better find answers that we have pondered here on this subject.

To hope that mankind has come to learn something from all its mistakes. The future belongs to them and their kids and their kids - God willing.

[Arrow]

Skeeter and Boats...

Much appreciated thoughts from both of you...

Arrow>>>>>>>>

[skeeter]

Boats, thanks for the kind words and your very accurate thoughts.
I firmly believe our government should raise the military pay for many reasons. One, get the pay up so our military can live and enjoy a lifestyle equal to corporate pay. Two, any serviceman going into a combat zone, get extra pay. Three, increase the pay for the number of years in the service, even if the person did not go up in rank. If the government would just stop sending our tax dollars (foreign aid) to every country that complains to us and demands the money, we could efford to pay a very good salary to our military. And you are correct, give them good health benefits and a damm good pension.. If we would do this, we would get and keep quality people in the military, and for damm sure, we would never have to draft another person.
By the way, I like your post script: " War doesn't determine who's right, just who's left".

Great posts Boats and skeeter.I agree completely.A Nation that can afford to give away money like this Nation does,and spend millions per bomb or rocket as this Country does,could afford to do right by the boys and girls willing to use the things if it chose to do so.A person who believes in a cause is not going to ask for the moon in exchange for doing the right thing,but they understandably don't want to see their family have to go on food-stamps or go hungry either.