On Sat, 20 Nov 2004 14:06:02 GMT, "Eisboch"
wrote:


Short Wave Sportfishing wrote in message
.. .


I'd love to have Harry look my oldest son in the eye and tell him just
how lame he is. Or my oldest daughter who was in the Navy.

I like Harry, but sometimes, he just jumps and doesn't look and it
sours his relations with people who would be friendly.

Live long and prosper,

Tom


I don't dislike Harry. I dislike or disagree with some of his statements and
assertions.
Sadly though, the statement in question here was not a "jump" on his part.
He truly believes what he says and has made similar comments often over the
years. It is obviously a result of his own background, education and
experience and is consistent with his basic political views.

I am not offended because my son is currently in the military either. What
Harry doesn't seem to understand is that many, including both my sons and
frankly myself served because we felt an obligation to do so, driven by
personal reasons that include old fashioned patriotism. More importantly,
the experience of giving something of importance which is greater than one's
own self interests is an important lesson that serves one well in life in my
opinion.

I agree with you. I'm not offended either, it's just that a
particular viewpoint from somebody who is clearly smart and well
spoken is offensive in that it's driven not by fact but by ideology.
Ideology is all it's facets offends me a great deal. It's almost as
if ideology forces you to become what you most despise - if that makes
any sense. To put it another way, the lefter you go, the righter you
get. :)

My two are incredibly smart, one is still in (career) and one is a
Reservist who, incidentally, is married to a career Naval Officer.
The fact that one graduated from Suma from Case Western and the other
Magna from Tufts kind belies Harry's reasoning, yes? :)

It is not unique to the United States and it does not necessarily mean you
agree with the policy makers. For most, it's a short, four year experience.
In my case, I managed through nine years of active duty, driven primarily
because the Navy kept offering interesting schools. I realize now that I
got a lot more out of my service than I gave. What Harry thinks just doesn't
matter.

Finally, from personal experience, I attended college for a while after high
school, then entered the Navy. (I guess to Harry I was a non-hacker). I
finished my degree requirements at night after I was discharged and the
majority of those I took classes with had also been recently discharged.
(Thank you, GI bill). The attitude and motivation of those attending after
military service was very, very different than the knuckleheads (including
me) that attended right out of high school.

I had a similar experience, only I was offered an Lead
Instructor/Trainer slot which are highly prized in the Corps and I
took advantage of it. I reenlisted for two years, taught one week in
three and made arrangements for that week with the professors where I
was attending. When I finished my six years, I was a year and a half
shy of graduation as a General Engineer and when they credited my
advanced math/science placement, I had to do one semester in
humanities and a half semester electives - which in my case was more
math. :) I even got to play a little college baseball (taxi squad
unfortunately).

Even with two combat tours, I wouldn't trade the experience for
anything.

And with that, I shall remove myself from this discussion permanently.

Peace. Out.

Later,

Tom

"Beware the one legged man in a butt
kicking contest - he is there for a
reason."

Wun Hung Lo - date unknown