<p>I still think an all volunteer military is better because people are choosing to join, not being forced to serve. Yes, maybe SOME of the people who choose to join dont have as many choices as others, but it is still a choice. </p>
<p>My cousin, who is a white male, came from a middle class background and chose to enlist in the Army for 3 reasons: to serve his country, the experience, money for college. He did not want his parents to pay for his college, he wanted to pay for it himself and he saw the Army as one way to get college money. Now he could have made the choice to go to college straight out of high school and paid for it with scholarships and loans, but he decided not to go that route. Nobody twisted his arm.</p>
<p>Tell me why is it a bad choice for minorities to choose the military? Maybe they see it as a way to learn a trade, have a career, or earn money for college. </p>
<p>I totally agree with this:
[quote]
Maybe the "average american in the military does have lower wealth/income" as you say, because the government doesn't pay the average enlisted guy enough!
<p>
[quote]
Tell me why is it a bad choice for minorities to choose the military? Maybe they see it as a way to learn a trade, have a career, or earn money for college.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Or maybe they just love their country and are willing to defend it.</p>
<p>Who am I to question? I simply say, "Thank you", and then support them when sent into harm's way.</p>
<p>In response to bz2010,; He already said that the comment was botched. The guy is a Senator who gives countless speeches. Just because he makes one error, he shouldn't be crucified. Do you want to go over the countless mistakes Bush has made in his speeches. Or what about that those long pauses Bush made in the first 04 debate when he couldn't defend any of his positions.
Also, the income stats refer to before they enlist, so how much they get paid in the military is irrevelevant. However, enlisted people DONt get paid enough. Remember that the next time the esteemed President talks about tax cuts. Combat pay comes from tax dollars, so if the Republicans go on another tax cut binge count how many of them get up and say how about we take half that tax-cut and give it to our heroes, or is that why they are our heroes, because they work cheap.
I'll come back with Bush's speech botches if you are conviced they are few. HEH.</p>
<p>In response to Misterflyer, Mean hosehold income for recruits in 1999 was 41,141 (in 2000 dollars) compared with the general population median of 41,994. 2003 recruits had an avg income of 42,822. 98% of recruits have a high school education or higher compared to 75% in the population. Based on 2003 data, whites are proportionally represented in the military although Blacks and native Americans are overrepresented and Asians and other minorites are underrepresented. Urban areas have 39% of the population and have about 30% representation in the military.</p>
<p>afdad2010 BACK up your sources, and if its something like "theconservativevoice.org" or foxnews.com dont bother.</p>
<p>Oh and about Trent Lott had said, there was nothing that could have been explained as a botch. ALSO Lott was Majority Speaker, in the Majority, which were REPUBLICANS. Democrats could not have thrown him out of his position, he did it under pressure from Republicans and President Bush. Blame his eviction on the Republicans, it had nothing to do with Dems. He was already suffering a fallout after his pathetic attempt to throw out Clinton.
Oh, and the harsh Republicans sent him to the RULES Commitee, oh he suffered such a harsh measure.</p>
<p>"Since Thurmond had explicitly supported racial segregation in the presidential campaign to which Lott referred, this statement was widely interpreted to mean that Lott also supported racial segregation. Lott had attracted controversy before in issues relating to civil rights. As a Congressman, he voted against renewal of the Voting Rights Act and opposed the Martin Luther King Holiday. Lott also maintained an affilation with the Council of Conservative Citizens, which is described as a hate group by the ADL, NAACP and SPLC."</p>
<p>the council in its on words, checks it site I did.
Its sad to say I've heard similar statements echoed in the past by members of this Forum.</p>
<p>The CCC in its own words
"Each of the three major races plays a distinct role in history. . . . The whites were the creators of civilization, the yellows its sustainers and copyists, the blacks its destroyers."(December 1998)[1]
"Is it racist to say that it is legally and morally wrong for government to force a mixing of the races to produce a mongrel?"(Spring Issue 1997) [2]
Abraham Lincoln was "surely the most evil American in history," and Martin Luther King was a "depraved miscreant."(December 1998)[3]
"Western civilization with all its might and glory would never have achieved its greatness without the directing hand of God and the creative genius of the white race. Any effort to destroy the race by a mixture of black blood is an effort to destroy Western civilization itself."(Fall Issue 1994)[4]
"Our liberal establishment is using the media of television to promote racial intimacy and miscegenation . All of the news teams on the major networks have black and white newscasters of opposite sexes."(Fall Issue 1998)[5]
"The Jews' motto is 'never forget, and never forgive.' One can't agree with the way they've turned spite into welfare billions for themselves, but the 'never forget' part is very sound."(Winter Issue 1997)[6]
"The presence [in Congress] of even one white person with our interests foremost in his mind is simply unacceptable to the issues-obsessed conservative race traitors. Texas Governor George Bush and his brother Jeb in Florida have manifested their self-hatred by embracing Hispanics ahead of whites. Somehow we must find a way to relieve whites of their self-hatred." ("Open Letter to White People, <a href="http://www.cofcc.org%5B/url%5D">www.cofcc.org</a>, December 1998)
"If we want to live, white Americans must begin today to lay the foundations of our future and our children's future.... Start today, fellow white Americans. Look at the faces around you: Find the faces like yours, and see them as your brothers and sisters. Find the fair-skinned babies and see them as your children." (December 1998)[7]</p>
<p>Truth tends to be predictable, hopefully you'll be able to pull out your plethora of smiley faces Election Day. Want a hint of how things are going to be after the Election.</p>
<p>I, George Bush, solemnly swear that I will tell the truth.....</p>
<p>I, Richard Cheney, solemnly swear that I will tell the truth.....</p>
<p>I, Donald Rumsfield, solemnly swear that I will tell the truth.....</p>
<p>haHA!!!! Oh man what a jokester. Guys, seriously, ignore confused... just ignore PLEASE! If it's not him (which I sincerely doubt considering the similar tone of his posts) then at least he is someone that needs to stir the pot in an online college forum for service academy parents, and that in itself is enough to make him LAUGHABLE. AFDAD tried to produce real statistics and that proved useless. He needs to pull his head out of somewhere before he will be able to hear you. Don't waste your time!</p>
<p>
[quote]
I, George Bush, solemnly swear that I will tell the truth.....</p>
<p>I, Richard Cheney, solemnly swear that I will tell the truth.....</p>
<p>I, Donald Rumsfield, solemnly swear that I will tell the truth.....
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I, Bill Clinton, did not have sexual relations with that woman</p>
<p>as an aside I would have denied having any type of relation with her as well though. My friends would have had a field day with me if they saw me with her.</p>
<p>2,800 American military deaths in Iraq
21,000+ Americans seriously wounded in Iraq
nuclear proliferation
Billions of American tax dollars wasted in Iraq (but our economy is on fire)
Conservative evangelical awol bush supporter Ted Haggart, a married father of five, paying a man for sex on a regular basis
Republican congressman Mark Foley harassing male teenage congressional pages for YEARS
Millions of Americans living in poverty (and the numbers are growing under the current administration)
Illiteracy, AIDS, global warming, world hunger</p>
<p> and youre concerned about President Clintons indiscretions with a young adult woman that occurred more than eight years ago? </p>
<p>And you are worried about homosexual sex-for-money...what's the difference? Neither is very important to society, except that the former President lied under oath.</p>
<p>Ok MisterFlyer, what charges would you bring against the Administration? Since the anti-Bush party is constantly refering to trying him in court, let's hear your case. I'm sure you have iron-clad proof of horrible crimes committed by the big GW himself. (rolls eyes) If you can't prove your points, you will sound like the brainwashed and Confused person so many here suspect you are.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Republican congressman Mark Foley harassing male teenage congressional pages for YEARS
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Don't forget about former Rep. Gerry Studds, who became the first openly gay member of Congress when his homosexuality was exposed during a teenage page sex scandal.</p>
<p>In 1983, Studds acknowledged his homosexuality after a 27-year-old man disclosed that he and Studds had had a sexual relationship a decade earlier when the man was a teenage congressional page. The page was a 17-year old teenager at the time.</p>
<p>The House of Representatives censured Studds, who then went home to face his constituents in a series of public meetings. Studds remained in Congress, received three standing ovations from his liberal colleagues, and was appointed to a coveted position as Chairman of a House Committee.</p>
<p>At the time, Studds called the relationship with the teenage page, which included a trip to Europe, "a very serious error in judgment." But he did not apologize and defended the relationship as a consensual relationship with a young adult. The former page later appeared publicly with Studds in support of him.</p>
<p>Studds had sex with a minor male, had no shame or remorse, and was rewarded by his liberal cohorts. What a studd! :D</p>
<p>Do you really want the case against the Bush administration, and secondly, I am still waiting on AFA's source? IF he gives it to me I can better assess what he says? If you have any dobutabout Trent Lott and his activities or the percentage of blacks either request the source from me, check it yourself, or shutup.</p>
<p>Well Zap, you've got to acknowledge some responsibility for your own contributions, as do I for mine. It's easy to get sucked in these days but I'm redoubling my efforts. Contrast this thread to the wonderful one about candidate interviews and keep your eyes on the ball.</p>
