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I am not going to belabor the point, but what he was doing during that time was not exactly out partying with the frat boys and having a big time. I won't compare to being in Vietnam, because I had many relatives in that nightmare and I am not sure Hell could compare, but he was doing something very honorable just the same.
Imagine if Romney was a Democrat who did "missionary' work in France in lieu of military service to America when it was desperately needed, what would conservatives say about him? Romney certainly fits the bill as a French elitist.
Romney did what a lot of upper class kids did during the Vietnam War---he got a deferment so he didn't have to serve. Whether you like it or not, it wasn't hard for the wealthy to do and perfectly legal.
So I'm not quite sure what the point of this thread is. If your children don't join the military, you're unpatriotic?
I'm not saying he is unpatriotic. He just looks less credible as a political candidate running on a platform as a patriot when he and his 5 sons never saw it fit to serve their country as true patriots often do.
You also have no understanding of the LDS and what they all are expected to do as a devout LDS member. Do you not understand that all of his sons went on a mission as part of their faith and the duties involved? They are required to do this around the time some join the military.
LDS young men are not required to serve missions, but strongly encouraged to. Roughly 1/3 of those who are eligible to serve end up doing so.
Actually, I'm having a hard time seeing what the fact that none of Romney's sons have served in the armed forces has to do with anything. In times when the draft is not in effect, most young men don't sign up. The Romney boys are certainly not unique in their choice not to.
Then how is it that other LDS young men managed to join and serve their country? What makes the Romney boys uniquely exempt from military service?
Seriously, why should they be compelled to do something that hundreds of thousands of other young men of various religions choose not to do? It sounds to me like you think they should be treated differently than other young men, and I can't understand why. The choice to join the military is a personal one and not choosing to join is nothing a person should be ashamed of.
I am not going to belabor the point, but what he was doing during that time was not exactly out partying with the frat boys and having a big time. I won't compare to being in Vietnam, because I had many relatives in that nightmare and I am not sure Hell could compare, but he was doing something very honorable just the same.
What does it matter what he was doing while on a deferment? The point is he chose to avoid the draft by getting a deferment. I don't judge him harshly for doing it, BUT its disingenuous for you to try to make Romney into some kind of saint for taking a mission trip to cushy France to sit out the war instead of going to college. And for the record most of those kids who got deferments for college weren't partying much because they knew they had to get good grades to stay in college to keep their deferments.
What his sons did or didn't do is a non-issue as far as I'm concerned.
What does it matter what he was doing while on a deferment? The point is he chose to avoid the draft by getting a deferment. I don't judge him harshly for doing it, BUT its disingenuous for you to try to make Romney into some kind of saint for taking a mission trip to cushy France to sit out the war instead of going to college. And for the record most of those kids who got deferments for college weren't partying much because they knew they had to get good grades to stay in college to keep their deferments.
The main flaw in your thinking, Wayland Woman, is that there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever to support the notion that Romney's served an LDS mission in order to "sit out the war" in "cushy France." Whether there had been a war or not, Romney, as a believing Mormon young man, would have almost certainly chosen to serve a mission. Furthermore, when he informed the bishop of his LDS ward (congregation) that he was interested in serving, he would have had no choice whatsoever as to where he was sent. He could have been sent anywhere in the world. Many missionaries are sent to third-world countries, and it doesn't matter one darned bit who you happen to be or who your dad is.
What does it matter what he was doing while on a deferment? The point is he chose to avoid the draft by getting a deferment. I don't judge him harshly for doing it, BUT its disingenuous for you to try to make Romney into some kind of saint for taking a mission trip to cushy France to sit out the war instead of going to college. And for the record most of those kids who got deferments for college weren't partying much because they knew they had to get good grades to stay in college to keep their deferments.
What his sons did or didn't do is a non-issue as far as I'm concerned.
Fair enough. I can agree with your point of argument.
It doesn't matter if your kids serve. It matters if he, himself serves. Anyone that has served knows that being related to/knowing people who have served and actually serving is entirely different.
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