[meteorite-list] marines....OT

From: David Freeman <dfreeman_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:31:59 2004
Message-ID: <3FFC555E.5050007_at_fascination.com>

Well I don't know about the rest of my veteran and non veteran
associates but I "joined" before I was drafted. I also enlisted to get
some fantastic schooling opportunities. I also went for it to get away
from mommy and daddy and to travel at government expense. I went
because I was young. When I enlisted, we had enjoyed indoor plumbing
for only 6 years, I had never seen a peterbuilt truck, did not know what
 a "Howard Johnson's " was. To see greater things is good.
Joining the military is the single best thing that ever happened to the
hick kid from the back woods of Michigan.
I advocate all post High School students to see the world and travel at
government expense.

Meteorite plug....now when I learn of meteorite activities in foreign
lands, I can visualize and dream about the adventurous meteorite
hunters. Many countries I did not visit, but many many of my
associates of the military that I served with did travel to these exotic
lands and thus by second hand stories, I have been a bit closer. There
are not many places around the world that the US Navy hasn't been close to.

Witnessing other cultures sure makes me appreciate the one we have here
in the USA.

Come on all of you big strong men, Uncle Sam he needs your help
again.......................


Dave Freeman


LITIG8NSHARK_at_aol.com wrote:

> Good day Folks,
>
>
>
> In response to a few of the posts to this thread, and to
> perhaps address some possible misunderstandings, I feel compelled respond.
>
>
>
> Based on my own experiences, I can say without equivocation, or mental
> reservation, that the reasons men and women join the United States
> Armed Services are as varied as those individuals themselves. While
> certainly there are "underprivileged" members of the armed services,
> and that may have been a reason for their enlistment, it is certainly
> not a socioeconomic trait shared by all service members. Many service
> members are drawn to duty by feelings of obligation to their country
> and their extended families, to educational opportunities both in and
> after service as well as the opportunity to learn more about
> themselves and their fellow brothers and sisters around the globe.
> Military service, at least in the US, is not a panacea for a depressed
> socioeconomic standing. Military life is often fraught with
> sacrifice, both personal and financial. There is opportunity, true.
> Concomitantly, there is risk. Risk of injury or death in times of
> conflict, risk of physical separation from family and loved ones and
> risk of being placed in a position where duty conflicts with personal
> feelings regarding what is right and wrong.
>
>
>
> I believe that the "cause of the USA" is a fluid thing. One which
> swings like a pendulum; often depending on the politics of the
> day....both within and without the US. The term "freedom" is often
> bantered about as the "cause" for the US military being in existence.
> But "freedom" means different things to different people and depends
> on their mind set. Freedom to a dictator may represent the ability to
> run "their" country, and to treat "their" people as "they" see
> fit.........a viewpoint diametrically opposed by others in the world
> who see it more as an individual right. A right to be safe in one's
> person, one's opinions and one's beliefs. As long as the inhabitants
> of our planet have disparate "causes" to champion there will continue
> to be conflict. Both political and physical.
>
>
>
> If we can agree that glorification of members of the military is not
> the same as glorification of the political motives of the country they
> serve, then I believe it is appropriate to glorify them. We can
> recognize those military members for the personal sacrifices they are
> making; not necessarily for the "cause" they are ultimately serving.
>
>
>
> Best Regards,
>
>
>
> Paul Martyn
>
> Savannah, Georgia
>
>
>
> In a message dated 1/7/2004 9:54:29 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> rendelius_at_rpgdot.com writes:
>
> With all due respect for the people serving in the US army: Most of
> them, I believe, do not join the marines because they want to
> sacrifice
> their life for the "cause of the USA" (what's it anyway?), but because
> it's about the only chance for the underprivileged to get
> something like
> social security, education and medical care. There's no need to
> glorify
> their service, as little as there is need to ridicule it.
>
> Just my 2c
>
>
> _____
>
> Best regards,
> Bernhard "Rendelius" Rems
>
Received on Wed 07 Jan 2004 01:52:14 PM PST