Looking down on those who dont volunteer for military service? Well, that's a no-brainer. If we were having a world war or a conflict against a vast imperialistic force or something like that, then I'd understand you expecting strong, young man to offer themselves in the protection of what's right...
But... Surprise, surprise... We're NOT.
Can anyone here sincerely believe that Iraq could pose a threat to the US in any way at all? Sincerely, Iraq was hardly a threat to even itself, since if Saddam so much as sneezed too hard the UN would be all over him. They WERE working on it before Bush bombed the **** out of the country, you know? They were organizing parties to go check on the supposed weapons of mass destruction, despite his refusal, and eventually there would have been lawful, correct action.
Instead, the US have bombed the hell out of Iraq and caused such a degree of destruction and de-structuring that for a while the country was back to a state of primal anarchy. Just read the numbers, looting and pillaging and chaos was rampant... I dont see news about this anymore at this time, but I wouldnt be at all surprised if the situation was still the same there. The only thing keeping Iraq from going back to stone age is a foreign military presence that's holding back all the violence and rebellion. Violence and rebellion they created.
Now, I'm not throwing dirt in the soldier's face for this, I'm just shoveling it in their administrator's. The soldiers didnt choose to be sent there, and most of them signed up probably with very decent and noble reasons - self-improvement, or selflessness. However, all of this was wasted the second war was declared on Iraq. It's a fact... You CAN get a bunch of positive factors and turn it into one big, negative BOMB. Bush has proven that to us.
Now I do come to the point of throwing dust towards the soldiers. A minority of them, though. Let us not forget (Or conveniently ignore) the torture that took place (And probably still takes place) there. Humiliation and offense to the most basic concepts of human rights, right there in our face. And that's not to mention the cultural disrespect (Or hatred?) with which they treat the locals. I've seen more than one movie showing US troops ripping veils off of women's face, or acting agressively towards them wearing it. That's the equivalent of someone walking down your hometown and ripping out girl's panties... Just in case the cultural difference isnt clear enough from simply seeing their horrified expressions over it.
And then there is what every army does, but still isnt exactly memorable or desirable. Every invasion in history resulted in:
- Raping
- Looting
- Robbing
- Beating of natives
By the invading army. You can be preety sure that for the first week there, a lot of this happened. We'll just never see the numbers.
End-result: Do I look down on those who dont sign up? No, I respect them, just as much as I do those who DO. You just took another - potentially less polemic - path in your life. The oportunity for self-improvement, bravery, honor, good or whatever the hell you place value in is still there.
