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On a scale from 0 to 5, how much do you agree with George Washington's statement? (5 totally agree, 0 do NOT agree at all.)
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." George Washington
On a scale from 0 to 5, how much do you agree with George Washington's statement? (5 totally agree, 0 do NOT agree at all.)
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." George Washington
Nah. Veterans were treated terrible in his day, and not so good right up to the present. Yet young people seem to stampede when they ring the bell for more troops. People have a lot of faith at 18, the age they like to get 'em.
PCM - I wonder just how many folk have any idea how veterans are treated in this country. My WW2 buddy was treated fairly well. (He is 90+ and his war stories scare me.) Us Vietnam guys less so. The current bunches are mostly ignored.
I believe that our soldiers have been abused by politicians sending them to Wars of Economic Empire and not using them to defend our country. This is a betrayal of the highest order. Our Army is to be used to defend us not for some oil mogul’s private profit.
If I were a young man starting my career I would not chose the military. I am basing this on what I know of the current options for a young man from a poverty background and not on my personal military experience.
I would find a job that would support me in a community college. Then I would transfer into a state sponsored university using any scholarships I might obtain. I would still study environmental science because that was and still is my interest. After graduation I would look for a Federal professional position. I would advise any kid to study what interested him and look for that government job. I would also advise him to never trust a private employer.
being drafted into a war of necessity and honor to defend the homeland is totally different than being military personel... forced into unecessary combat because your name happens to be on the roster.. I agree with Greg.. it is betrayal of the highest order...
Vietnam is one of the most disgraceful times in american history.. The drafting of young impressionable patriotic young men to fight a war that was promoted as vital and important to the defense of america and american values.. when it was not our place or was not a threat of such magnitude... Only to have these poor service men being treated badly when they got home because of political viewpoints on the issue... Talk about being between a rock and a hard place...
Such Political unrest from the vietnam era is present in political views today... where there is a lot of anger, mistrust, and baggage in the way of seeing eye to eye as Americans...whatever political views we might have... it is a shame and downright sad... My heart goes out to them, because they are victims of the highest order....
Wars ranked by total deaths
Rank War Years Deaths Deaths per Day Deaths per Population
1 American Civil War 1861–1865 625,000 599 1.988% (1860)
2 World War II 1941–1945 405,399 416 0.307% (1940)
3 World War I 1917–1918 116,516 279 0.110% (1920)
4 Vietnam War 1964–1973 58,151 26 0.003% (1970)
5 Korean War 1950–1953 36,516 45 0.002% (1950)
6 American Revolutionary War 1775–1783 25,000 11 0.899% (1780)
7 War of 1812 1812–1815 20,000 31 0.345% (1810)
8 Mexican–American War 1846–1848 13,283 29 0.057% (1850)
9 Iraq War 2003–present 4,243 1.96 0.001% (2007)
10 Philippine–American War 1899–1902 4,196 5 0.006% (1900)
I doubt Washington said this. If he did, I don't especially agree with it. People tend to sign up for wars because they are young and gullible and easy to fill up with jingoistic sentiments. And usually the citizens of the country are too, in the beginning, so I don't think that new recruits really think about the possibility that they might face public obloquy down the road.
I think the statement is pretty accurate. If you can do no wrong and come home a hero then being a soldier wouldn't be such a bad deal. If you do everything right and you come home to people calling you a war criminal then I don't know why anyone would ever serve in any war. I feel bad for anyone in the military right now. They don't get the respect they deserve.
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