213374U

Hilarious. What do you think would be the proportion of native US citizens that would actually pass an English Proficiency exam? Right. That's an excuse, and an old one at that. There have been armed revolutions in the past in South America. And when one triumphs, they just overthrow one gang of thieves, and replace it with another one. They have what they deserve. Just take a look at Chavez, Morales, and their fellow Castro. But of course, it's so much easier to place the blame on someone, else instead of looking at one's own faults.

Pablo (Atl

Right, right. So they are going to allow the military to curb illegal immigration by doing... what exactly? I live in a country where illegal immigration is a very serious problem, and I understand where all this is coming from. At some point, we had literally tides of illegals overrunning the 2,5 meter-high fences, hundreds of people at a time. So, eventually, a few army units were deployed. I don't know exactly what were they supposed to do, but I know they were not authorized to fire on trespassers. The next week, the fences were overrun again. The only difference: a few injured soldiers. So now, what I'd like to know is, how good is the military at controlling (as opposed to shooting at) groups of unarmed civilians?

You are mixing things. There is this little wonderful thing called Separation of Powers. No matter what Dubya says, if he's done something illegal, the Courts will sort it out. For a US soldier, it's only the US Courts that matter. But anyway, I don't think I have heard any international Court declare the war on Iraq "illegal". I might be wrong, though. By the way, the UN doesn't count, so don't bother. They are just a bunch of fat, hypocritical lobbysts. I doubt it. In a high stress situation like that there's no time for high moral disquisitions, and instinct takes over. Before and after? Probably. Not during, though. Well, I'm not sure but I don't think everyone who joins the military is a natural born killer. The military is not used only to shoot people up.It might come down to that, though. And you know, sometimes, you have to do things that are not too appealing. And when somebody is able to overcome their own selfishness and do things they don't find too appealing, it's a commendable thing, and they are right to be proud of it. Trying to depict proud soldiers as merry, bloodthirsty killers is a gross simplification. Why not? It's fun to! )

Depends on who you ask. So far, I haven't heard of any US court that has ruled that the war was illegal. Again, illegal and immoral aren't necessarily the same thing. If an order is illegal, then the only real decision to make is, want you be outside the law or not?Otherwise, there's no reason to second guess any orders given to you, as you put in jeopardy your life and that of those who may depend on you. Pretty simple, really. Why? A schoolbus is just a regular bus painted in yellow. Also, I doubt you'd be so reluctant after you'd seen a schoolbus used as delivery vehicle for half a ton of dynamite against a checkpoint, for instance. At any rate, not everyone is accepted in the military. There are screening tests, and all that. If you are so sure you couldn't live like that, you probably wouldn't pass those tests. Nah, just being a bit cynical. But you know I don't need an excuse to use it!

Funny you'd put it that way. If politicians were to "stfu", they wouldn't be doing their job, now would they? "

That's why they call it "chain of command", you know. It all comes down to efficiency, and quickness of response. Debating stuff takes up an awful amount of time, time that in the situations a military force is expected to operate in, cannot be wasted convincing soldiers. The military is not a democracy, and with good reason. "Inappropriate" isn't good enough a reason. "Illegal", on the other hand, is probably enough to refuse obeying an order. That is all theory, however. I doubt anyone would be court-martialed for refusing to take a shower. They'd just be discharged, I guess.

(w00t) :D Eh... wait. I'm on dialup right now and i'll probably be for a few weeks more now. I'll take you up on it when I get broadband again, though.

Freelancer SFC3 Fallout Tactics I need new games.

A fine example of doublethink, if I ever saw one. Ignorance is strength, alright. You think so? I'd say the state is right. If the state takes away some random right or freedom (in this case outlawing certain recreational substances), the state is effectively refusing to acknowledge that adults are precisely that, adults, and is treating them as immature children. But if these adults just go along with it, it is in fact proven that the state is right in suppressing a liberty that most people are unaware of, or don't care about, since chances are that that particular freedom would be misused and/or abused. When people let others make this sort of decisions for them, they aren't reduced to the level of children (as children are usually not prepared to make important decisions), they are reduced to the level of cattle.

Oh, crap. And now I can't edit it to fix the quote, which means I'll have to delete the post and make a few replies completely out of place, lest I want to be accused of purposeful and malicious misquoting. ...whatever.

And since morality itself isn't something set in stone by any means... where does that lead us? Indeed. Funny thing is, if Germany had won, everyone would now acknowledge how right the mighty Aryans were... or some crap along those lines. In the end, the only factor that decides what's right and what's wrong, is superior might. Those who wield it, define the rules by which the rest must live, or die.

That's okay. You don't like the military. Nothing wrong with that, really. And those are much more solid reasons than the one you gave originally for not signing up. Well, sometimes you die for freedom and stuff, sometimes you die for the interests of a few smarter than yourself, and if not, you just die for absolutely no reason. Sucks, don't it?

Looks like fun.

Well... since happiness is nothing but a neurochemically induced illusion, we all do drugs to some extent. The fact that some of those drugs may be foreign to our body is rather irrelevant. But yeah, she's a hypocrite. Unless she's real hot, I suggest you reduce your contact with her to a minimum.

I'm all for women in combat roles, if and when they are just as able as any male soldier. The point of the military is not to be a fair, humane, and egalitarian organisation. The idea is to, if it comes to that, win wars by whatever means necessary. You can't have a military unit's operational ability compromised or reduced just because everyone wants in. If they don't reduce training regimes and application requirements for cripples and morbidly obese male applicants, why should they for women? That may be true, but I'm inclined to believe that live fire tends to bring out the best (worst?) of our animal instincts. Chances are you'd shoot first, realize it's a woman later.

It sure looks like it. I may have misinterpreted your statement about the degree in idiocy, I thought it was aimed at me in particular. I sincerely apologize for the rude reply (unless that was in fact the intent). I do, however, believe that the point went over your head. Let's see if I can make it clearer. You said you'd rather die nobly, but you certainly aren't going to do anything that may cause that to happen (as in taking up a hazardous profession). You'll forgive me if, after reading your posts here, I doubt you'd do something as stupidly risky as rushing into a burning building because you think somebody may still be inside. That's how I think you're deluding yourself, and that's why I don't think you can say that "not wanting to die for something you don't believe in" is a valid reason for not serving. And there's a difference between "actively seeking death" and having a dangerous job. One'd think said difference is pretty obvious but, after reading a few posts, I felt the need to remark this.

So what's the problem with making money from this? It's not like the 9/11 attacks were carried out so somebody could make movies based off them. Those people are dead anyway, and they can't much care about it. Their families don't like it? Sorry, that's the problem with freedom of speech. If people didn't want something like this, the movie would be a financial failure. Also, Capitalism Is Good For You!

So, you think it's something worth dying for, but you'd rather not do anything about it right now. And still you can't see where you're being a hypocrite? There's always more need for people willing to risk their lives to save others. But hey, I understand. It's much more comfortable to sit in your armchair discussing high morality, than get out and find out what you're really made of. Not to mention safer. You also avoid the risk of not liking what you find. You go man. Why, you offering yours? I recommend you read the guidelines. Advertising is not allowed in these boards. Sure thing baby. By the way, did I tell you about the time when I won the Nobel prize of cuisine?

Are you considering a future in firefighting? If not, that's hypocritical of you to say. I have no problem with people saying there's absolutely nothing in the world that they find worth dying for, mind you. As a matter of fact, I'm one of them, and I'm joining the military after summer. I do find it funny when people delude themselves, though.

Yeah. Including (but not limited to) coronary disease, traffic accident, cancer, or stroke. Real meaningful deaths, alright. I know that's not exactly what you meant, but statistics say you'll most likely buy it due to one of those. I'd much rather have my brains make a nice wallpaper than be a cripple for the last years of my life. A matter of preference, I guess. )

"Bunch of slack-jawed faggots around here. Serving in the Army will make you a god damned sexual Tyrannosaurus, just like me."

Boo hoo

I've been saying that a bunch of chimps are running the country since day one... Now, please make sure you remind your local congressman of the need for immediate international military intervention on the Kingdom of Spain. The Spanish people need your help to get rid of this simian tyranny! Thank you.

No. Smart parents. Yeah, and they look at me funny when I ask for a .50 cal rifle for my birthday... <_<