mpjh wrote:CrazyAnglican wrote: I'm certainly aware of the penalty for desertion, but that's a different kettle of fish. The volunteer has given his word to serve and then recanted. Still, nobody is required to go that does not volunteer to do so. Yes, once you've signed up there are penalties for breaking that contract as there are for breaking most contracts. That hardly changes the original point though. Everyone in the military right now has chosen to be there. Nobody is in jail for refusing to join up, and certainly nobody has gone to jail for criticizing the war.
Actually I was not discussion "desertion." A soldier does not have to desert to refuse to engage in an illegal war or obey an illegal order. In fact, such acts are legal acts under military law. It is not a matter of contract law, but of military law and constitutional law.
Certainly there are different standards for conduct once you have joined many institutions. The fact remains though that nobody is forced to join, and therefore nobody is forced to participate in the war at all. You, yourself, state that refusal to engage in an illegal war or obey illegal orders are legal acts under military law. That's a point upon which I agree, even after joining there is a legal means through which a soldier could refuse to participate in an illegal war or to follow an illegal order.
mpjh wrote:I differ with you on another point. People have gone to jail for criticizing the war, there have been several courts martial of military personnel who have openly called the war illegal.
That's probably so, although, I'd imagine that it's very rare and I'd like a link to see the actual circumstances. Regardless though, they were volunteers to begin with, weren't they? Once you've taken the oath you have to abide by it, but nobody makes you take the oath.
mpjh wrote: It takes more courage to join the military than it does for a grandmother to cut back on her medication in order to help a grandchild have lunch money -- an act I have seen on numerous occasions. That is the full weight, living your life for others, and it is done every day my million throughout this country. Military service does not rise above that.
Nor does military service fall beneath it. Sure there are people who do what needs to be done all over, but the point was that I appreciate the military personnel that do their job, not that I have contempt for anyone else. More power to Grandma, and give her a free and reduced lunch form so she can get her medication too.
mpjh wrote:Snorri apologized for the "idiot" statement and explained his meaning. Snorri's "level of contempt" for the military is a righteous contempt because he is challenging a military used for acts beyond self defense of home and country.
As far as the apology, my fault, I missed it as I was out of pocket for a week, and basically that's all I was going for. As for his righteous contempt, he's firing a volley at the front line grunt for decisions that are made by politicians. As I stated earlier, it's the general citizenry and it's representatives who are ultimately responsible for the actions of the military. They give the orders. They vote. Their voices will be heard. Yes, it's the responsibility of individual soldiers to prevent atrocities, but it is the responsibility of the populace at large to be aware of what their government is doing and make their voices heard. His contempt would be better aimed at those who put more thought into their "Dancing with the Stars" vote than the ones they cast on Nov. 4th.