Doesn't every American citizen with a job serve their country?

Isn't being in the military just a job.....Most people who join, I would ventrue to say, join for the sign on bonus, free room and board, and the college tuition money NOT TO MENTION the technical skills you can learn to get that well advertised "jump start" on life.

I suggest this b/c if most people joined up out of sheer duty to their country....we wouldn't need to offer those enticing benefits. This suggests that joining the military is serving yourself.

Can we please stop assuming that every asshole in military uniform is serving their country, or even loves it?

As far as I am concerned military personnel serve their country about as much as any tax paying part time worker in a Walmart vest does. They deserve about as much respect, as I give anyone else whom I don't know.

None.

the difference is the guy at wall mart isn't putting his life on the line for the country. But you got the first amendment a right that we fight to protect so you can say what you want.

I'd say the military are serving the government not the country whereas the Walmart guy is serving the country.

Some of my friends want to join the military soon. I think they think it is some super special super secret society. Even though it sounds like I am criticizing the military I think the military is not bad.

the difference is the guy at wall mart isn't putting his life on the line for the country. But you got the first amendment a right that we fight to protect so you can say what you want.

It's bitterly ironic then that the greatest threat to that freedom, comes from the very government for whom you so willingly risk your life.

I joined the Army because I wanted to.
It was a job and a darn good one to.
I did things I would have never done if I wouldn't have joined.
I seen, been to place I would never had otherwise.
I made friends with a lots of people.
I was hired, trained and did that job to the best of my abilities.
With all that, it included defending the country.
I had to work, they had work, and to me it was a job and very well paid.
And I had to put my life in danger. But now there is less people joining, hence the bonuses to join.

The Army defended the right of people to wine.

So I tell people stop wining, join and serve to protect that right. Or you will surely wine when you loose it.

It's bitterly ironic then that the greatest threat to that freedom, comes from the very government for whom you so willingly risk your life.

Well said.

More irony--many people who "support the troops" wish them to stay in harms' way for NO GOOD REASON, except for Bush's ego and delusional megamania.

You wanna support the troops in Iraq, end the war and bring'em home.

You wanna support the troops in Iraq, end the war and bring'em home.

Yeah, I think that's already happening. We were supposed to go to Fallujah this spring. Now we're on a TBA status.