<p>They? Just who are 'they'? As UCLAri stated,
[quote]
War is usually not the choice of the citizenry (if ever.) It is the choice of leadership. The strawman setup of "my mother or theirs" is fallacious, and does not weight other potential options (both mothers or no mothers or other options altogether.)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>And, I agree with this also:</p>
<p>
[quote]
However, the idea that war is just greedy hand-wringing leaders' game is also oversimplifying the complex reality of war and what leads to war.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>...though probably not for the same reasons you do. There are many dimensions of victim/victimizer, controlled/controller dynamics, not to mention the spiritual components of consensual reality, holographic universes, and other stuff you will probably find 'fringe.'</p>
<p>Why needlessly complicate a model with unrelated variables? There are already significant enough models that don't involve "holographic universes" or whatnot.</p>
<p>A good primer to the better modeling about the causes of war is James Fearon's work "Rationalist Explanations for War." It's free and easy to find on Google Scholar.</p>
<p>There is always Clausewitz's trinity. I think that is a fairly accurate and simple model.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, we don't live in a world where everyone values other's lives. There are groups who would like to kill each and every one of us simply to make the news. Others think that they will start some grand plan to form the world into their dreams. If I found out that some person was planning on trying to destroy my way of life, and possibly my family, I would not have many regrets in taking them out. Obviously, this is an extreme example, but it is all too true, at times.</p>
<p>Unfortunately it's not always so clearcut. I suspect a lot of what Americans believe is propaganda, and most average people, regardless of where they live, for the most part, just want the same things we all do: a way to take care of their families and make ends meet. Most people really don't give a damn about YOUR way of life; they are too busy trying to manage their OWN way of life.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I agree with the war and will continue to untill its done.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Someone that does not agree with the war has a a fundamentally different view of the importance of fighting in it. Surely you can at least comprehend this.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I don't. There is such a thing as evolution of the human race, ya know. We're no longer living in the caveman days.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>We aren't built for any purpose. That was my point. We are all striving for survival. There are no reasons for our struggle besides the ones we make up for ourselves.</p>
<p>
[quote]
If you live in a Country and are a Citizen of that country then you give up your natural rights to that country.
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</p>
<p>What are my natural rights? What part about me being born gives me natural rights? What governs the exchange of these natural rights, assuming they exist?</p>
<p>
[quote]
If they call on you then you are going, if you don't go then you are a spoiled child and really should leave the country as you aren't holding up your end of the bargain.
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</p>
<p>What constitutes what someone "should" do? How "should" I go about my life? Who or what decides the criteria of what "should" or "shouldn't" happen?</p>
<p>
[quote]
It is really sad that I will volunteer three years from now to protect the freedoms of idiots like you with absolutely no appreciation of the fact that freedom isn't free.
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</p>
<p>Then don't volunteer. Seriously, either get off your high horse and do the job, or don't go. This country, in its current state, would have millions upon millions of able bodied young men rush to defend it in the case of a real threat to the homeland. Unless you can jump miles into the air and intercept nuclear ICBM's, you joining or staying makes no difference.</p>
<p>
[quote]
We aren't built for any purpose. That was my point. We are all striving for survival. There are no reasons for our struggle besides the ones we make up for ourselves.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Gosh, your outlook on life sure sounds bleak.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Then don't volunteer. Seriously, either get off your high horse and do the job, or don't go. This country, in its current state, would have millions upon millions of able bodied young men rush to defend it in the case of a real threat to the homeland.
<p>I really would like to know where everybody is comming from.
So, in your opinion, what is the military doing right now? I would like to hear your views on actions and missions. I think that some of us hold very different perceptions to this seemingly simple question.</p>
<p>Nah. Sorry to disappoint you. The info is readily available so that would accomplish no purpose. However, I am SO glad to hear that you are benefiting from my nonchalantly tossed out 'pearls of wisdom.' And, I am so glad that there are patriots like you.</p>
<p>Sorry, but I have a question about selective service.</p>
<p>If you are not 18 yet (I will turn 18 in october of this year, after I get into college), do I have to check the selective service box when I do my FAFSA? I didn't because I thought I wasn't 18 yet, but would that hurt my chances of getting financial aid?</p>
<p>the question asks for your age as of December 2007. In that case, you will be 18 at that time so you should check the selective service box if you want to complete the FAFSA.</p>
<p>You check the box if you haven't already registered and you want to register that way. If you've already registered when you got your driver's license, or by sending in the card, then it's already done so you wouldn't check the box. There are different ways to register.</p>
<p>brand_182: Where does it say that it's by December 2007, though? I was kinda confused since it said I need to register if I'm 18-25, but as of now, I'm not yet 18.</p>
<p>To put the prestige thing to rest, My mothers boss who is a dentist was about to graduate dental school, he went to NYu for his undergrad and Columbia for his Dental school. He got Drafted for Vietnam while he was in his last year at Columbia. Right after graduation he was enlisted.He went to Vietnam and did see combat. So he didnt see alot of it but his life was in danger. He is a Corporal on the army and says that what he learned in the Army surpasses anything by far that he learned in School. He says it was the best experience of his life.</p>