ad151 0 #26 December 21, 2004 good post. f**k the haters. god bless america! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jb092 0 #27 December 21, 2004 I have been serving my country for almost 13 years now. 3 years in the Army and now 10 years in the Air Force. What could possibly go wrong? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 1,648 #29 December 21, 2004 QuoteQuoteAs a 6 year veteran of the Navy it sickens me to see people on these forums who never served bitch/cry/moan/complain about our country and our leaders. I've seen everything from these peeps on here from wanting Bush dead to not being proud of our country's history. Sickening. There are other ways to give to your country than serving in the military. And being allowed to dissent is an American right--one that the men and women serving in our military would die to protect. As I recall, when you join you swear to defend that right against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Good job there are productive people growing food, mining minerals, making steel, teaching kids, developing weapons systems, and paying taxes to support all the military folks. They wouldn't fight too well hungry and with only pointed sticks.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slug 1 #30 December 21, 2004 QuoteWhat do I do? Well, what have I done, not as much as I wanted to so far. I've done the basics: served on a jury, pay my taxes and such. I was going into the USMC, had a PLC contract, but blowing up my knee had them turn me away 1/2 way through the process... So what am I going to do? Well, I'm starting the application process to become a cop. If there was a draft and a military branch actually wanted me (and my fucked knee) then yup, I'd be there. You wouldn't see me running off to Canada to smoke pot and be a traitor. Sorry dave imo it's not that simpleduring nam there were two different types of the draft, the first was based on economic and social class. If someone's mommy & daddy had the $ they could enroll in college smoke pot and avoid the draft. Some of the poor folk who were going to get drafted & couldn't go to college decided to go to canada. We were poor folk and dodged the draft by enlisting in the USAF. Never had a problem with the guy's who split to canada. The initial draft wasn't fair. Maybe if it was then not as many guy's would have felt justified to split for canada. Whats the difference between smoking pot in college and smoking pot in canada while the poor folks were getting drafted? The second draft was based on a lottery system DOB period except for the guard and reserves. don't know how that changed the demogrphics of people that split to canada. Really didn't care. Why were the people who split to canada to avoid the draft recieve a blanket parden? R.i.P. R.i.P. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 25 #31 December 21, 2004 Actually, I could make a pretty good case that the best way to serve your country is to stay home and make a ton of money. Not only do you pay taxes on it, but you stimulate the economy so other people make money, pay taxes, etc...I think there was a guy named Smith who worked all that out some time ago.-- Tom Aiello [email protected] SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #32 December 21, 2004 Quoteis to stay home and make a ton of money The last guy I read about that stayed at home and made a crapload of money got arrested. His color laser copymachine got taken away from him too... --"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
downwardspiral 0 #33 December 21, 2004 QuoteQuoteAre YOU doing the bear minimum of paying YOUR taxes and going to jury duty Yes, I pay taxes. And I've served on several juries. Quote or are YOU doing more? No. And I won't feel guilty because you think I should do more. The charities and comunity service and whatnot I'm involved in have nothing to do with what you're trying to imply...so I'll not mention them. QuoteIf they institute the draft and ask me to go....you better believe I'll go. Would YOU? If it's a draft, they're not going to ask you. As for me, if I were drafted (really remote possiblity), I would absolutely go and do what was demanded of my by my country. Simply because I didn't serve doesn't mean I don't love this country, nor make me less than you. Because I didn't choose the military doesn't mean I don't value what the military does. Because I haven't served like some others doesn't mean I have less a right to speak about what I think than anyone else, from anywhere else, here or elsewhere. Rights are not earned with service. Rights either are, or are not. My right to speak about what I choose where I choose is a fundamental priciple that I hold dear. Your right to speak about what you choose where you choose is a fundamental that I hold dear. I'm sorry you don't seem to think the same for me. Ciels- Michele Michele you know I love you :) You are assuming "service" means military. Many people have already posted their honorable, noteworthy, yet non-military contributions to this awesome country. I agree. Rights are or are not. In this country it is are. The fact of the matter is, those rights you cherish so much were a gift. A gift to the future of the USA as well as humankind. A gift that was earned not by you but by someone else so you don't have to. A gift that will only exist as long as we do not take it for granted. When I hear our national anthem and see our beautiful flag, I am reminded of those that sacrificed so that I wouldn't have to.www.FourWheelerHB.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcd11235 0 #34 December 21, 2004 Quote good post. f**k the haters. god bless america! Yeah, okay. Who are the haters again?Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeryde13 0 #35 December 21, 2004 well alright , maybe i'm not doing your requirement of the bear minimum. but taxes weren't even mandatory until 1920 or something like that.i'm not into paying them except for kicking and screaming, but i don't take anything from the government either. and i did set a guy free in jury duty ( only not guilty vote, inocent until prooooven guilty) . i'm happy for you military guys. i really am if that makes you guys happy. and i definatley don't look down on you , but i certainly don't feel threatened enough to need to fight no war. drunk drivers, criminals here, tabaco, and polution are alot more threatening to me than a few thousand guys with ak 47s on the back of a camel. but if you feel threatened ...go do what you gotta do man. to me the work is right here at home, i give people economic freedom, stimulate the economy, make sure people in my neighborhood don't go hungry, i help a motorcycle run that supports babies born with aids, i join people together through music, and am a teacher of sorts as well. and like a true patriot of this country i stand ready to put the government in check and remind them that they are really just a small part of we the people. do i sit here and criticize the politicians.....yes because they don't have our best interest in mind. how much money do we have to sacrifice from retirement benifits and hard earned money they want to tax from us to make their freinds building weapons and drilling oil money. the math doesn't even add up. i billion a week to fight the war, are they even making that much in oil revenues for it to make financial sense? to the guys feeling that your serving our country in iraq... how? whats the threat? is it just blind faith to a selected leader? or what. my fear for you guys is that you go there getting caught up in the gung ho feeling and distortions of truth and come back in a bag or really fucked up physically or emotionally. and then the guy you followed to war does not take care of you. and ost of you guys are too young to realize how they're pulling your strings. but god bless you guys and i really wish they would bring you all back here tommorow instead of 10,000 dead americans and 100000 dead iraqis later._________________________________________ people see me as a challenge to their balance Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ad151 0 #36 December 21, 2004 QuoteQuote good post. f**k the haters. god bless america! Yeah, okay. Who are the haters again? all the crying citizens that don't think twice about living in this country's freedom, and yet never hesitate to mock its policies. its a shame people shed blood for the ungrateful. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frenchy68 0 #37 December 21, 2004 QuoteYeah, okay. Who are the haters again? Uh... I hate peanut butter. But I do pay taxes now.It's all sooooo confusing... "For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frenchy68 0 #38 December 21, 2004 Quoteall the crying citizens that don't think twice about living in this country's freedom, and yet never hesitate to mock its policies. its a shame people shed blood for the ungrateful. I actually agree with you. Ask people in the streets if they are free, they will claim they are. Ask them what their definition of freedom is, and most of them will be at a loss to explain it. Repeating you are free does not make you so. I also believe this country was founded on the basis that we should always strive for a better life, and never take for granted what the governing powers claim is/was. Being critical to the government, if one can back it up with rational reasoning, is essential to the preservation of this country's institutions. Dissention (does this word even exist in English?) is a very positive thing if done thoughtfully. "For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcd11235 0 #39 December 21, 2004 In times of darkness, such as these, it is the dissenters who light the path for a better tomorrow.Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcd11235 0 #40 December 21, 2004 Quote Dissention (does this word even exist in English?) Reminds mu of a too funny Bushism. "The problem with the French is they don't have a word for 'entrepeneur'"--W.Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frenchy68 0 #41 December 21, 2004 Quote"The problem with the French is they don't have a word for 'entrepeneur'" you've got to love the man... (and the French too, but you've got to love the man)... "For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ad151 0 #42 December 21, 2004 QuoteIn times of darkness, such as these, it is the dissenters who light the path for a better tomorrow. I never said I agreed with everything going on.. I just think there is no perfect solution and we have it made in comparison. Is there another country you'd rather live in other than the US? Not me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcd11235 0 #43 December 21, 2004 QuoteIs there another country you'd rather live in other than the US? Pretty much any first world country would be favorable to this one, IMO. Only problems are I'm poor and the US$ isn't worth shit right now,and I only speak English. Plans are in the works to remedy both situations. While I am here, however, I refuse to give up hope for a just society. Clinton said it best, "There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be fixed by what is right with America."Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bubble 0 #44 December 21, 2004 This is not for the US as I live in the UK, but I work full time for a charity that helps disadvantaged young people find jobs. I used to be a hard core sales person with a company car, mobile phone, laptop working from home and high commission etc. I gave it all up in August to work as a fundraiser for this charity. Figured my sales techniques would be better put to something that made a difference. I absolutely love it, everyday I feel like my job is worthwhile. Coming from a disadvantaged background (left home at 16 with no job, no money). I feel like I have a lot to offer. Oh have never claimed benefits and paid taxes since I was 17. Did once miss a council tax payment once! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lizard 0 #45 December 21, 2004 Well, I've been with the military for over 15yrs and I'm currently in Afghanistan. Gotta love laptops and Satellites. Yes, there is still a war going on here its just not publicized much. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Botellines 0 #46 December 21, 2004 Good post!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeryde13 0 #47 December 21, 2004 funny bush would talk about entripinuarship( or however it's spelled).by the time his war is over he ought to have made it a whole lot harder for small bussinesses. it's not just bush.....congressional and senatorial policy since the 1920 's has done nothing but raise taxes and make it harder for someone to start and run a small bussiness. america being a capitolist society is what gives us our freedom. we were suposed to be free of socialist type taxes without represntation. what makes our country great is our diversity( we have the whole world at our fingertips because we have citizens from alloever) and that anyone can change economic class if they want. that is the freedom people talk about, but the politicians , clinton then and bush now are eroding this one peace at a time. love your country by taking control of it and being smart and independant. lets fix the education system here so people 's best economic choice isn't to fight a war for big bussiness and family grudges. keep america strong by staying home and making it better._________________________________________ people see me as a challenge to their balance Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #48 December 21, 2004 QuoteWhat are YOU doing for YOUR country? Chartiable giving. See attached. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dumpster 0 #49 December 21, 2004 About ten years in the Air Force for me, including Desert Storm and some work supporting the Bosnian conflict. (Deny Flight). And I vote. Easy Does It Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 7 #50 December 21, 2004 3 years Army Infantry. I find it funny that people consider "Paying Taxes" as something they did for the country.....Try not paying them and see what happens...Not very voluntary. Charity, I can see. Working for a defense contractor...Only if you are doing it to help and not for the money. But paying taxes? Nope."No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
