Why are we Americans so lazy and not willing to defend our country?

Mom

Thats a very good question, kids today have no respect. They want everything done for them.

firewomen

Who the heck do you think is the majority of young men and women over ther fighting?

smack

if i thought for 1 second that the war was for a just cause and we were actually defending our country i would sign up tomorrow ... im not going to be a part of an imperial conquest for energy and go murder arabs for that though ....

The real question is, Why are most Americans so ignorant? Thats the reason we are at war. The majority of the population is too ignorant to think for themselves and believe everything they hear on Fox News.

daisy2green

We declared war??? Better bring back the draft then so we can get 100000's more young men and women killed for nothing, huh? Young men can serve their country without dying for it, SIR............

ElOsoBravo

Maybe, because this horrendous mess that is unraveling in the Middle East is not about defending the country; at least not HOW to defend it. Of course, you are reading the latest released intelligence briefs; right?

planksheer

I don't think we are really at war. This war on terror stuff is bogus.
This colonial occupation of Iraq is a mistake. If we really were attacked it would be a different story but most Americans are not being called on to sacafice anything. I will and do defend our Constitution and country against the Bush Administration... as I would against all enemies - foreign and domestic.

chas_see

The primary reason young people are not volunteering NOW is that they will be sent to fight in the Iraq War, which, many believe, has nothing to do with protecting their country. 5-6 people I know signed up after the 9/11 attacks because they felt an obligation to defend their country. However, it is becoming very clear that Iraq was not a threat to the United States. Thus, I do not believe our nation is "soft". I think they are practical. Americans understand that when our nation goes to war, it isn't always right. In fact,it is my firm belief that the Iraq War is wrong. It has not made the world any safer. In fact, since the war began, terrorist attacks world wide are up, not just in the Middle East. 6/10 Iraqis SUPPORT attacks on US troops. Slightly more than that want the US to go home within a year. These people are not grateful that we have freed them from Saddam. A majority of the populace (remember, Saddam Hussein supported the Sunnis, or 25% of Iraq's population. 75% he oppressed: the Shiites and Kurds) wants us to go home. And with good reason. Though Saddam was a brutal, murerous dictator, there was no sectarian violence on the scale that there is now. Hospitals were open, electricity flowed, and there was running water. Such things are now a luxury after our invasion of Iraq.

So, why won't America support the Iraq War? Because they know that the people they are trying to help don't want them there. Why fight and die for a country that wants you to go home?

Jason

Im a young man a pacifist, so i don't want to go work for the immoral institution called the government. I respect you choice of joining up, but Im not willing to fight and die for a government that has grown outside the constitutional boundaries. I'd like to again thank you for your service.

Bigboi47

That's why it is called a voluntary service, and there are plenty of them. Police and Firemen serve their community's there are more ways to serve our great nation than just military service.

answer faerie, V.T., A. M.

This is a letter from a reader of Salon in response to an article written by a mother who'd lost her son in Iraq.
--------------------------------------...
I just finished 28 years in the Air Force but when my 17 year old showed up with Army literature last month, I told him he wasn't allowed to join any branch of service (other than Coast Guard or Public Health Service) UNTIL I WAS CONVINCED THAT THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE WOULD WATCH OUT FOR HIM.
(emphasis mine)

another reader wrote:
we spent over $1000 of our own money to buy equipment he needed for (their son's) deployment.

when will we allocate the funds to treat the men and women who fight for us with the respect they deserve, the funds to protect them to the full extent we're able, instead of hemmoraging that money through Haliburton and it's contractors?

stuart81262

Everytime in the past, when americans felt that there was a real threat to our nation, they signed up in droves and went off to fight. The Civil War, WWI and WWII are prime examples proving americans are willing to serve when needed. A lot of people signed up after 9/11 because they rightly thought the country needed protecting. However people have also realized that the war we are fighting in Iraq is bogus - that there is and never was a threat to our security. To join the fighting would be to join in the waste of lives and money that the incompetent republicans in washington have led us to.

corwynwulfhund

We Americans want to defend our country...not go kill other people that posed no threat to the US. Defence is important. I would be the first to join in case of an attack on our country. However, the US has not joined war as defence since WWII, and that was caused by Prescott Bush creating and funding Hitler.

We have had a tendency to jump to war at the slightest provocation ever since. We never gave Afghanistan a chance to serve up Osama. We attacked them within 30 days of 9/11! They probably couldn't have found him that fast if they wanted to. They were not Al'Quaida. Osama and Al'Quaida are in business because of US support (cold war). It's OUR fault that 9/11 happened! We have been stirring up trouble in the middle east for the last century, non-stop!

Saddam never posed a threat, and had nothing to do with 9/11! He hated Osama! There was a death warrant for him! Saddam didn't have any missiles that could reach us even if he did have wmd...which he didn't.

There is not one person in this country that doesn't believe that the US should defend itself. Most people believe that we should only go to war if there is a real and present danger. But many people were convinced by this administration's outright lies (proven over and over) and supported these two bogus, non-self-defencive wars.

Silly!

stevetotter

That's a very good question sir. The truth is that there are two types of people in this world. Person number 1, is a person who cares enough about there country and others that they would give up there life for it (people like yourself). Then there is person number 2. There are those who care so much about their life, they would see the country and others go to hell.

I am a 17 yr old from NY. I am an early graduate of high school at the age of 15 and now am 17 and have an associates degree. I have my whole life and a legal career ahead of me but this very day, September 27th, 2006, I signed up for the Army. I signed up for the same reason you did: I am Person number 1.
Thank you for your service.

koolhand_kent

I do not mean to exclude altogether the idea of patriotism. I know it exists, and I know it has done much in the present contest. But I will venture to assert, that a great and lasting war can never be supported on this principle alone. It must be aided by a prospect of interest, or some reward.

George Washington

doodlz

There are plenty of Americans that have voluntarily joined our armed forces. Americans are not lazy. after 9/11 the rate of people signing up was astronomical

Irish Eyes

You can hardly refer to your country as "soft!"
As for more young men not volunteering to serve in this war?
You might want to ask yourself, "is this war just and deserving of my life's blood, and that of my brother?"
Afghanistan, was a different case history!
Iraq, another, and as far as I'm concerned, should never have been entered into in the first place!!

elizabeth_ashley44

Signing up to put your life on the line is a decision that shouldn't be taken lightly. It doesn't make a person soft or lazy for not joining. It makes their priorities different from yours. Besides, there are PLENTY of people who don't feel the current war is justified. I'm not just talking about "wussy leftists" either. The country is basically split in half regarding the war.

RayRay

It only takes a few good men and women. I would not want someone I did not trust with me in a fire fight.

purpleheart3@verizon.net

I volunteered after 9/11 also and was told that they had plenty of YOUNG men in my former MOS's ( 11B, 18B) I really don't believe that our nation is soft or that all of our young people are lazy. Have you looked at the ones going over and then coming back. I always wondered if I ever looked that young when I went and did I really age that much on my return. I firmly believe that the majority of our Armed Forces are the best trained and educated servicemen and women in the world. Why don't others flock to the banners of patriotism in this day and age? I guess not having any trust in our elected leaders (who aren't young and argue about this war among themselves everyday) Yep! That would make me gung-ho to join. Seeing and hearing only what the media lets us see and hear about this war( and that is usually not good). I mean really, who wants to hear about the good things our service men and women are doing anywhere in this world? Well, enough of that. I have unbounding faith in America's youth because throughout our country's history when ever the chips fall hard the vast majority of our youth will answer the call. My 17 year old grand-daughter just enlisted in the USMC. My second oldest grandson is a Midshipman at the Naval Academy. My oldest grandson served in the US Army for four years, my two nephews served in the US army and I, at the tender age of 18, recieved my second induction notice in 1966 and then enlisted in the US Army for the Infantry Branch, and made it through Airborne, Ranger, and Special Forces training and made it through three years of combat in Vietnam. I was going on 22 years old when I returned to the states. A VERY OLD 22 years old. No, the generations of youth must have done their jobs at war very well throughout our history for when it comes right down to FIGHTING for OUR country I believe that the majority of the youth of today and tomorrow will as others have done before them. You did, I did. Some by choice. Others, because they had to. But fight we did and I believe we always will. Have some faith.

xochinadoll

I think you are absolutely WRONG about this. my husband joined at age 17 and was blown the **** up in Iraq, he survived but many of his friends did not. I think a majority of young men serve, most under age 20, usually straight out of high school. and those that dont its because they know they need college and can still get help from there parents, and because they dont want to die. if there werent volunteers we would have a draft, and that has not happened yet, i absolutely appreciate every person (not only men serve) that serves and i pray for them but i know i could never do it myself so i dont blame those who cant either. many might think mhmmm go to college and get a 6 figure income or go to war and die or go crazy.

Bryon K

We have come to the point of just giving the newer genration everything on their plate and never having them work to get things out of life

catch22_burningbush.bible6669

What?!?! Are you nuts, this is a STUPID ILLEGAL WAR and more Americans have died in it than in 9-11 (not counting thousands of innocent civlians). And its just spawning MORE terrorists. ANd they are using radioactive waste in the ammo. Who would volenteer, sign their life away to be lied to and die for nothing.

scarlettt_ohara

The young to not understand what it takes for them to have what they do. They think that they are smarter than they are.

palazzolojr

The young people today are just scared or they are unwilling to get into a war that has been criticized so much. Or, their parents don't want them in the service.

Kokopelli

Because it is easier to lay on the couch, watch TV, drink Budweiser and burp than it is to go out into some hellhole and shoot a terrorist between the eyes with an M-16.

blindogben

I share your feelings entirely. Every one had a duty to serve our country. I am amazed as I read the questions here where young people criticize the war and the military without considering they just might not understand the whole picture. I wish they would do their share and help their peers despite their opinion of the war. I am a Vite Nam veteran and I joined to help my brothers even though I didn't agree with the politicians at the time. I used to begrudge draft dodgers but at leased they had the guts to go to Canada. Compared to a lot of the young people today, I've learned to have a little respect for the dodgers. At least they showed some guts, even if misguided in my opinion. I'm proud of you and hold you and others like you in deep respect.

Philip

It's the liberal influence. They have convinced them that their alliegence is to the democratic party, not to the country. I joined the army days after turning 18. You learn to think differently, patiently, logically, and without emotions clouding your judgement.

Whitlew

I plan on joining the marines or navy, i also know many people that plan on doing so also. if i could, i would join now, But i think your are right that a lot of people aren't wanting to join. I think that television and just technology and fast foods, and everything make everyone fat so that they are more lazy and stuff like that. so then they are out of shape and from watching things on TV they have decided that its too hard to protect our country, so they will let someone else do it. I have noticed in our schools that when we do the pledge of allegiance, half of the class doesn't have enough respect to stand up, it makes me sick to watch the lazy bums sit there and ignore the pledge of allegiance, not that that has to do with joining the army, but i think if most people wont even do that, I'm sure they wouldn't want to serve our beautiful country.

Andy

I'm sixteen and I love America. I love being free. I love being able to go where I want, listen to what I want, eat what I want, be what I want, and etc. I'd be willing to fight and die for my country and all of it's blessings if I had to. Despite America's flaws with it's people, I love the country. But I know what you mean. A lot of us kids are spoiled little brats that know nothing but freedom.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: