<p>I was wondering what the percentages of different political viewpoints would be. I am personally very far to the left (socialist) but may apply the Naval Academy since it provides such an excellent education. It's pretty obvious that it will be majority right wing, but is there even close to a balance?</p>
<p>I doubt it.</p>
<p>Don't apply to the Naval Academy because it provides an excellent education. Apply because you want to be a Naval officer. If you think your political viewpoints will get in the way of your willingness to follow orders or service to your country, leave them at the door or don't apply.</p>
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[quote]
Don't apply to the Naval Academy because it provides an excellent education. Apply because you want to be a Naval officer. If you think your political viewpoints will get in the way of your willingness to follow orders or service to your country, leave them at the door or don't apply.
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<p>Precisely.</p>
<p>If you keep turning left eventually you will end up heading to your right.....right about the time you get your first pay check and wonder where the other half went... right wing? I take it you mean conservative perhaps? Thankfully military service has little if anything to do with political orientation. One of the reasons we as a country have managed to survive this long has much to do with the diverse make up of our military and the fact they serve this country and it's citizens by choice....and not the other way around. If you want to serve this country and if you want to be a Naval officer then by all means apply.</p>
<p>Good counsel. And no doubt those labeling themselve liberal in our government could use, if not welcome, articulate advocates for a strong, well prepared military. Please start with our man ex-Marine Murtha. :eek: Despite purported experience, he still fails to "get it", imo.</p>
<p>Indeed, the key to great learning is genuine open-mindedness. Truth may wane but always prevails.</p>
<p>Interestingly, it seems that a significantly higher percentage of Democratic Party men and women in congress have served in the military than have their Republican peers. Service in the armed forces is not a Conservative value or a Liberal value, it's an American value.</p>
<p>As for Murtha, he volunteered for service in the Vietnam War, receiving the Bronze Star with Valor device, two Purple Hearts and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. He retired from the Reserves as a colonel in 1990, receiving the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. Back in those days those who hadn't served, but beat their chests about how our nations future depended on defeating the North Vietnamese, were called Chicken Hawks. There are more than a few of them in politics today.</p>
<p>For example, Vice President Cheney was of military age and a supporter of the Vietnam War but he did not serve in the war, applying for and receiving five draft deferments. In an interview with George C. Wilson that appeared in the April 5, 1989 issue of The Washington Post, when asked about his deferments the future Defense Secretary said, "I had other priorities in the '60s than military service." </p>
<p>Also, there are no ex-Marines, only Marines.</p>
<p>But all of that aside, politics won't enter into the equation any more or less than you want it to; the same could be said of almost any college or university. Go for the right reasons, service and to become a commissioned officer, and forget about politics until election day; then vote.</p>
<p>Oh yeah; Murtha's "purported experience" in the Marines is 37 years long.</p>
<p>This is killing me!</p>
<p>Murtha is like John Kerry!! I served--so don't criticize me!! That's like saying--I am a mom--so don't criticize me cuz you don't have kids--or God forbid--you don't think people who don't have children do not have the right to make a judgement on whether you have a right to choose to have children!!</p>
<p>If the mantra is--Once a marine--always a marine-- still holds true--How do these guys still get to say semper fi?!!! Murtha and the rest want to hold up the a big white flag and say--OK you guys win--we can't win this thing and you are on your own--talk about Chicken hawks!!!!</p>
<p>To the guy that is,in his words "socialist" and wants to apply to USMAs for a good education--PLEASE send him down the line!! The Academies are for those who are the best and the brightest who want to serve their country--NOT get a good education and pursue their socialist agenda!!--or political agenda!</p>
<p>I am new to this post as my son is a wannabe usna plebe--but for altruistic reasons--not to get to the best education and pursue fame and power like those in the Democratic party--see John Kerry and Murtha...</p>
<p>Please DO NOT question our President and vice President as to their service--they are serving our country right this minute and in a very difficult time in our history--I for one feel blessed and thankful they are in the positions to keep our county safe--and I feel the men and women applying to the Academies at this time are are doing so because of our executive leadership and NOT because of their "popularity!@</p>
<p>You're right, military service is not a conservative or liberal value. Socialism, however falls outside of this spectrum. By the nature of socialism, socialists tend to disprove with the current type of government. Because of this, it is questionable as to whether or not, socialists, when given the responsibility, can be trusted obeying, without question, the orders of the government they most likely disprove of, and possibly seek to change. Democrats and Republicans disagree over how to use the government but socialists tend to disagree with both parties over the very existence of the government.</p>
<p>rightofcentremom-
your comments are great. however, i find it highly unlikely that this kid is going "pursue his socialist agenda" at a military academy. and let's not act as thought their positions makes them inviolable: the president and vice-president do work very very hard. that doesn't mean its unpatriotic to question their policies and analyze their decisions: we follow their orders but that doesn't mean we should do it blindly. we should understand them. i can think of another prominent member of the cabinet who didn't do such a good job, and it was the military calling loudest for him to step down. and enough with the john kerryisms! quite old by this point.</p>
<p>Iwas referring to the post who was questioning the veep's prior military service..I agree--we should never be blindly following ANYBODY that would be "socialist" LOL My contention had to do with the present fact that our elected officials are serving their country to the best of their ability--and be honest--are NOT geting the credit for simply getting up and facing this particular world at this particular time--I personally would role over and put my pillow over my head ad go back to sleep if I had to wake up to the kind of things or pres and veep deal with HOURLY!!</p>
<p>The poster is a self proclaimed "socialist", and not to sound arrogant, but I really doubt he really knows what it is. He might just be really liberal living in a very conservative area, so those around him call him socialist. </p>
<p>Some of you guys sound horrified when the word socialist is mentioned, and my guess is because you were raised during the Cold War. To this new generation (that I'm part of) we don't have the same feelings and memories tied to things that "resemble" communism, like socialism. It's just a type of government we learn about in school, France does it, Hillary Clinton supports it (I'm JOKING, a little), and people argue about it concerning health care. </p>
<p>The truth is, me being one of his possible peers at USNA, we're not going to look at him as some crazy weird person, maybe just a little different. I'm assuming 30 years ago, he certainly wouldn't have been so accepted</p>
<p>My, my, my.......</p>
<p>I'm staying the hell out of this one. :eek:</p>
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The Academies are for those who are the best and the brightest who want to serve their country--NOT get a good education and pursue their socialist agenda!!--or political agenda!
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<p>Wow, I think I’m a bit dumb founded. I have a Plebe, In my opinion he is one of the best and brightest, he does want to serve his country AND HE DOES WANT TO GET A GOOD EDUCATION! Imagine that, a good education – no I would say a great education - was why he picked USNA. He is liberal, he would say that he is very liberal, so don’t ever think that the conservatives or “right of center’” are the only ones who want to serve their country. USNA has room for all political types, lets not propagate the notion of “Only the right of center need apply!”</p>
<p>z...I couldn't stay out of this, I tried!</p>
<p>RightofCentremom: Please read posts more carefully before you respond. Nobody said Murtha, or anyone else, couldn't or shouldn't be criticized because they served. Certainly Murtha isn't an angel; you'll recall the Abscam incident, don't you? However, I have raised my children not to question a soldiers military service if that soldier has received an honorable discharge, regardless of their political bent. When WhistlePig wrote, "ex-Marine Murtha", and "Despite purported experience", well that was questioning a soldiers military record. I could care less that WhistlePig, or anyone else, doesn't like Murtha's politics. Heck, I don't always like them myself. But to me it's dishonorable to denigrate a soldiers military record if that soldier has served honorably; it's beyond contempt to do so if that solder has seen combat, as in the case of Murtha and yes, John Kerry. Call me old fashioned that way and blame my father (101st Airborne) while you're at it.</p>
<p>As for Cheney's military service record, there is none to be questioned because there is no military service record; he simply let others do the job he though needed doing but wouldn't sully his hands with; I'd characterize that as cowardice. And sorry but no, neither the President nor the Vice President get a buy (wrestling term) around here. They are serving our country in a very difficult time made difficult in large part as a result of their ignorance, arrogance, inexperience, lack of leadership, and...well obviously I could go on but you get the point.</p>
<p>But really, rightofcenter, please read more carefully.</p>
<p>Folks, I think we are losing track of what this site is about i.e., helping Plebes, wannabees etc. get info about the Academy and the Navy. Lets keep politics, religion and the like out of it. You all know you are not going to change anyone's mind anyway.</p>
<p>Just a thought.</p>
<p>Yeah Z, I tried too but obviously I failed.</p>
<p>Oh yeah Z, to get onto West Point you'll need to speak the secret password at the gate. It's, "Go Army, Beat Navy!"</p>
<p>ok profmom--</p>
<p>writing words without "hearing" them spoken leads to misleading understanding--
you did not HEAR my emphasis--which was on the fact that yes--the Academies are outstanding facilities of education--but so is Notre Dame, Harvard, Duke, Stanford,etc...My point being--apply to the other schools for a fantastic education--apply to the Academies if you want to serve your country in the Army, Air Force, Navey, Marines--</p>
<p>Also--I am NOT implying liberal is "socialist"--this young guy specifically said "socialist"--And I think the young man responding later even tried to clarify for him, that younger people do not look at 'socialist" like people of my generation--40 plus look at it...</p>
<p>It's Not about politics--I absolutely agree--but it is about serving which like someone else said can be achieved by any all political animals!</p>
<p>That a seventeen year old calls himself a socialist, communist, anarchist, etc., is in all likelyhood nothing to be concerned with. Young people are idealistic but don't necessarily have the experience to temper that idealism; in a sense they're living in a dream world (speaking from experience here). What's far more important, and to the point, is the desire to serve as an officer in the U.S. Armed Service. The rest will sort itself out over time.</p>