Topic awaiting preservation: True American Patriot? (Page 1 of 1)

very interesting story http://www.nandotimes.com/sports/story/412551p-3282790c.html

Very interesting in deed. It's ashame he has no one around to tell him that their are other ways to protect your country besides fighting for it.

if you think he's a "dumb jock", the guy got
grades that would blow you away.

you guys are funny.

=)

True american patriot?

Nah.

Sounds more like someone with something to prove.....

DL:
Not sure what you mean by something to prove. Apparently, one
of his "conditions" to join the army was NO Media coverage, no media circus
this guy is not a media hound.

so if he has something to prove , well, it's not to get attention (although he is)
he's kept his intentions very low profile
kept it to himself
pretty mysterious stuff

I think having "something to prove" could also mean "something to prove to yourself"--ie, he feels inadequate and feels like he must do something heroic with his life to prove his worth to himself. Not saying that this is necessarily, true, I just think that's what DL-44 was trying to say. Could be wrong, of course.

Gilbert: There may be other ways to protect your country besides fighting, but that does not mean you should disparage those who choose to serve in the armed forces. If I may, I would like to offer a friendly piece of advice. While the Asylum may be a very open place, and people express themselves freely, the inmates generally have little patience with people who refuse to see any point but their own. In other words, we are all free to believe what we believe, but we don't go around thinking we know so much more than everyone else and pity the ignorant fools. I'm not trying to be hostile here, but I've noticed a trend in your posts--they strike me as a tad close-minded. I know that's probably going to shock you, but that's just the impression I've gotten.

It's good to have new voices and new opinions--that's how we learn. I just hope that we can all learn together. And I hope you don't take this as a personal attack. I think you've got some good stuff to contribute, I just wanted to give you an idea of what the atmosphere is like around here.




Cell 270

Suho:
I have no idea. The guy graduated summa cum laude (which is not a porn movie about a sumo wrestler) and is an NFL safety...that's pretty damn good for a start no?

not going to play pop shrink though and question his motives
good night

Yup.
I don't think he is dumb, just misguided.

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ShootingStar: None of us can know his true motives, and they're probably pretty complex anyway. I was just pointing out that having something to prove doesn't always mean something to prove to society. Personally, I think it was a gutsy move, no matter what his motives may be.

Gilbert: And who of us aren't misguided in our own way?


Cell 270

Army Rangers, eh? I could be wrong, but that isn't something you just up and join. He has to join the regular Army first and then try to qualify for the Rangers later, right? Seems to me his Army recruiter did one hell of job on the sales pitch

Guys, I don't question the man's motives at all. It is honorable what he has given up for what he wants to do. I see signing up with the military as a very honorable thing to. I come from a family that has been in the military. Both my grandfathers enlisted during world war II, my dad and his brother were drafted during Vietnam and all of them came home with honors. Plus just recently a cousin of mine joined the Marines three weeks before 9/11 happened. I see if a man joins up with the military, especially the Army Rangers, then he has the heart of a lion. I myself would join up, but the military would not take me because of medical reasons.

Plus on top of that, he not only turned down one multi-million dollar contract to say with the team that he likes, which shows loyality... but he also turned down another contract for several Mil just to join the Army! Money that other people would be clamboring for and he turns them down. That to me says alot. The guy's got guts, and I only wish we had more men like him.

That is just my opinion on the subject.



'Me no here. Me go bye. Leave me message. Me reply.'

Wolfen's Sig Site

Suho1004 - Your right...we have all been misguided. I guess the true test is to follow your heart.

Wolfen - And following your heart is the most important thing. Who am I to try and convince people that world peace can only be gotten by peacful means. I mean, look at all the wars we have had in the past, and look at the positive things that have come out of them. Oh, wait...I can't think of one positive thing that has come from a war. Maybe if you can think of something positive that has come from the wars that have killed or scared for life so many of our ancestors and our future children, maybe I will start supporting the military. I mean I support a military that protects its borders from intruders, say like the Swiss military, but a military that goes into other peoples lands, usually angering those people to the point of them plotting out mass murders in our country, then I do not support the military at all. I mean if it was not for our military being in other countries in the first place, the world trade center would still be standing.

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Just noticed my smile was a bit off center, got that all fixed up now.

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Maybe this one?

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Ok, last time..........sorry

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BeeKay...yup, you're right...he can't go directly to the Rangers...that's why he went into the military at age 25...because I think (unless they've changed it since I was in) that he must first serve 2 years minimum before he can qualify for Ranger school...that means he needs to complete basic and advanced training, and then needs actual experience in his training field (2 years, I think)...so he would then be 'pushing the limits' age wise...27 or 28...depends on which career field he goes into, of course...so no, I don't think he was 'duped' by a recruiter...seems like he knows what he is doing, and what he wants...

As to whether or not he is a 'true American patriot'...who knows? Certainly he has his own reasons for doing what he did...I think one should respect that...after all, it's his life, right? Let him live it as he wants...as long as his wife is ok with his decision, I don't think it really that important what anyone else thinks about it...maybe he has the long-range plan to go into the secret service, who knows...

Gilbert: See those three icons up at the top of your post where it gives the time? The one on the far right (with the pencil) allows you to edit your posts. Too many posts in a row and the Mad Scientists will think you're talking to yourself.

Nothing positive out of a war?

How about the fact that the official languages of France, Britian, and possibly Russia are not German right now?

Gilbert: If it were not for our military, we would either be

A. Under a monarchy
B. Speaking Japanese
or..
C. Speaking German, kissing Hitler's butt or being crushed under his boot heel.

Then again, who knows how history would have turned out.
Plus you do have to remember, we are not used to terrorism on our home soil. There is really only 3 times that I recall that we have had terroristic acts here. 2 were on the trade towers alone. So what does that tell you?

Sorry if I am sounding so terse right now, but I do think that these are valid points. (Plus I apologize if I insulted anyone.)

Gilbert: also, welcome to the asylum. I do respect your opinion man.



'Me no here. Me go bye. Leave me message. Me reply.'

Wolfen's Sig Site

If hitler had won the war you might not be speaking german.

you would only be speaking german if you could trace
back your ancestry to Thor. If you were not able to prove a
100% aryan bloodline you would have been gassed
and had your teeth and body organs harvested.

so, yeah..war does serve a purpose sometimes.
can u image if the U.S. did not have an army?
none of the women in North America would ever
wear mini-skirts again, or wear make-up, or go to
school, or vote.....yep, pretty good arguments
for having an army i'd say.

quote:

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See those three icons up at the top of your post where it gives the time?

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damn, i thought the pencil icon thingy was for a waitress to take your order!

DL: I LOVE that sig... oooo its so comforting, the eyes, I LOVE EYES. I have been trying to make an eye sig for a while.

quote:

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I mean if it was not for our military being in other countries in the first place, the world trade center would still be standing.

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Thats not true at all but you could make the argument that if it wasn't for our military being involved in places outside the US, a lot fewer buildings would stand.

BTW, it sounds as though he's just trying to do his part. Lots of luck to him and all of the military.

-Jestah
Cell 277

[This message has been edited by Jestah (edited 05-31-2002).]

Yeah. Maybe he'll get a chance to die in service to his country in a political melee that has little if anything to do with true freedom.

It's his constitutional right after all.

I'll respect the decision as following his heart, if not his head...nor his arse. It's what he wants, and whether that's "patriotic" (A word I associate with blatant stupidity most times) isn't a question for me. I wish him luck in what he wants to do...misguided or not.


Could be worse, he could be the pathetic sort of Amerikan that sits at home typing up missives about how honourable and effective the American Military is, yet never moving their ass away from the beer fridge long enough to do anything more than fart the star spangled banner, and then pledge allegiance to it over episodes of Survivor.

Peter

One thing I would like to mention here, merely for posterity, as resolution will be impossible without intelligence: The Second World War wasn't just won on battlefields, not just by Americans, and could have been avoided succinctly if it wasn't for other people displaying that same sort of "patriotism" that's being lauded in this thread.

Lest we ever forget that Nazi is merely a shortening of Nationalsozialistische deutsche Arbeiter-Partei (National Socialist German Workers' Party)...or "National Patriot" from the standpoint of the reigning political party of the time.

Now where's my flag?

I think it's the one with the maple leaf, if I'm not mistaken...

Yup, that's pretty true about Nazi Germany...with the exception of the fact that you left out 'fascism', which was sweeping Europe (and the world?) at that time...and is coming around again *sigh* (Why does history have to repeat itself...?)

And I don't ever recall Pat Tillman (the man in question) ever calling himself a patriot...but then, I guess your post wasn't really directed at him, was it?

Who knows why he decided to do it...I'm sure he has his reasons...and as an American, it is his duty to serve...(all americans have this duty...it's the law). Maybe he just decided to get that out of the way...I don't really know. Glad it's behind me...no more wars for me...and they can't call me up...I've served my duty...

Wonder what he will think of his decission after being in a real war? Hope he never has to go through that...

Ok, yea.
You guys are right.
We do need our military to protect our borders, but do we need it to enforce our beliefs on others? Isn't that sort of what Hitler did?

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DarkGarden - Awesome

Webshaman - I feel that the fact that a country has to make it a law that we have to die for it, shows in itself how wrong most people think this is. Most peole do not want to die, or kill for anyone, because most people know that it is wrong, despite how our dominent religions try and teach us that it is OK to die or kill in a war.

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