What is your opinion on the fact that people today aren't as interested in fighting for their country?

roos_rule06

It's mainly because people are less trusting these days of the governments that involve them in these conflicts.
In day's of old, many believed that their government had the peoples' best interests at heart but now we know differently and are ready to question that.
Why lay your life on the line for the big guy's buddies and their selfish business interests? THAT my friend is the real question.

lucyanddesi

Today's battles are over nothing. People have no stomach for fighting and dying so politicians can talk crap about how "they" did this and "they" did that.

Iraq, for instance. Let's say bush isnt just talking crap when he says "it was the right thing to do." Let's say he believes that horsepoop. The right thing for whom? Him, politically, or so he thought. But for who else?

And why isnt fighting against genocide in Sudan "the right thing to do." Maybe because there's no political upside fighting in Africa, no oil, no oil money to be spread around?

DC D

Im going through ROTC and then going to a career in the Army in 2 years when i graduate High School..And a few of my friends are enlisting in the Marines..But your right alot of people dont feel the need to serve their country and EARN and FIGHT for their freedom

maybe Cowards

bushfan88

THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH VIET NAM AND THE LEFT-WING HIPPE MOVEMENT...UNFORTUNATELY...STILL AROUND STINKING UP THE PLACE.

zhadowlord

They have been taught by a biased media and liberal (communistic) attitude of their parents that the military is evil and that war is never an option, even when the enemy is attacking.

People lik this will always and forever be indebted to men and women who are better than they are.

Dont bother me one bit...In the military you learn how to accept the situation and overcome so if there are less people to get the job done it will still get done.

I actually feel it makes the people that are in a close knit group.

one8swayze

i don't know about other countries, but our soldiers aren't fighting for america, regardless of what they think, or what the conservatives want all of us to think. they're fighting because our president is a retard.

brainstorm

What for , just to make lying politicians feel good?

supervfive

that's what happens when single woman of today raise a boy with no father, raise em like little wussies, the broken home and the continuing wussifacation of America, sicking, that's why children need both parents to have a good balance in there lives, and not grow up to be tree hugging, vegetarian, mamas boys

LN has3 zjc

I have two cousins in Iraq (active duty) and they volunteered.
My 3 sons are already signed up with different branches of the Military to join as soon as they graduate High School.
I am willing to fight any S.. of a B.... that comes here and tries any more S...! Get me close enough to them ...!
I don't know about other people but my Family is willing to Fight for our Country!!!
If other Families want to sit back and watch us fight that is their prerogative. They will not be welcomed into our bunker if the War comes here!

Agathe

Ln, your sons will be died before you need any bunker.

What a great mother.

Helga J

The US armed forces are supposed to be defending our country from enemies foreign and domestic, and to defend the Constitution of the United States. Yet, they're off fighting a war that has nothing to do with that, on orders of enemies domestic, who have corrupted our Constitution and if they voice their objection they face a court-martial. Enough said.

Mephistopheles

Maybe because 'fighting for your country' means anything the Politicians say it means which is not necessarily a good reason for putting your life on the line. Have you noticed how many of these politicians who promote War and criticize people who don't sign up are the same people who would go to any lengths to avoid fighting themselves? Have you also noticed that a Senators son won't be called on to 'fight for his country'? Something stinks. Leaders should lead by example, if they can't they should get out and stop corrupting the political landscape. Then maybe more people would be prepared to fight for their country in the knowledge that the fight was essential and not trumped up by hallucinatory WMD.

nerdyjohn

I believe there are many reasons why not many people are signing up for the military today.

The first reason is that some people do not want to risk their lives for a government which they consider sends servicemen and women to fight for no good reason (or donâ€™t trust the government to handle their lives). This is partially caused by the perceptions after Vietnam when the American people were deceived about the progress of the war. Also, skeptics donâ€™t buy the reason why we went into Iraq and believe that the conflict should never have happened. Nor do they buy that fighting in Iraq helps defeat our real enemy: Al Qaeda. Some also believe that the â€œwar on terrorâ€ is fabricated by the military-industrial complex and greed-hungry politicians.

The second reason is that the majority of Americans is soft, which is ill suited for soldiering. As a comparison to the Greatest Generation, who fought in World War II, the current generation of Americans never had to survive the Great Depression and do the same work that our predecessors have done. Machines help us do much labor and we have become accustomed to the nice air conditioned office buildings, etc. The increase of obesity and other heath problems in our society goes to show that some people simply cannot meet the requirements for service.

The third reason is that the majority of Americans and has grown to embrace instant gratification; therefore they are more selfish. Capitalism has not helped the concept of social responsibility and promotes â€œwildingâ€ in all parts of society (I am not saying it is â€œevilâ€ or is all the reason for it, but it needs to be controlled somewhat). The results of globalization are only a glimpse of uncontrolled capitalism. A constant drive for money and comfort at any cost is spreading in our society today. Take for example, Enron or the military-industrial complex, Scott Peterson, or even the reactions of some Katrina victims (looting, using FEMA money to buy rings and purses instead of food/shelter/etc). Another reason why the majority of the current generations of Americans lack social responsibility is because of the breakdown of the family structure and failure of the other social institutions to imbue cultural values and qualities into the newer generations.

The fourth reason is probably that some people see the military as too much of a challenge and while they want to serve their country, they lack the confidence or ability to join up. But there are other reasons Iâ€™m sure that they cannot join (only child, etc).

Whether it is a problem or not that not many people are joining the military depends on oneâ€™s perspective. I personally believe that all Americans ought to be required to do some sort of community service or federal service. When they are involved and have something at stake, they will act. After doing their years of community service or federal service, then the American citizen should be able to vote and hold public office. This is like the Federal government in Heinleinâ€™s novel Starship Troopers. Those who have served will be the only ones to vote and hold public office while those who do not serve will still retain the basic rights protected by the Bill of Rights. A draft may have it disadvantages, but may otherwise get intelligent people who might not have otherwise joined. As well, it will ensure that our military is made of citizen soldiers (like ancient Greece, the origin of real democracy) who wonâ€™t take the bullcrap of politicians and careerist â€œsoldiersâ€ within the system. They keep everyone honest. Of course, there wonâ€™t be any more pesky recruiters trying to recruit you since there would no longer be a manpower issue. The most important is that people will pay more attention and be more informed about the role of the military and have greater assertiveness on when it will be employed rather than on the whim of certain politicians who recklessly start and cannot wage wars properly.

Riss

what a shame. my father was a world war2 veteran and very proud of his country.

First Lady

It's not that people don't want to fight for their country, but they just don't want to fight for something they don't believe in.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: