This comment will be on the border line, and most likely should be moved to the political site, but please do not take it as a personal attack but do consider that it is a comment on my view of the thoughts of a much younger generation. 

First, few of those of us that have served in the various militaries did it for the fun, excitement, or pleasure that we got from serving, but instead many of us did it because it was something that we believed in. 

Those of you that have traveled around the US and or the world, and have lived with and or worked with people from different cultures may better understand my belief that while I did not especially like the military, I did and do consider it an honor to serve and or to have served my country.  While I may not agree with every thing that it does, please show me one that is doing a better job of being a world leader, but please also document your ideas with factual references as to why it is better.

I have lived in former communist countries and have seen first hand the bankrupt government and social systems that were left over; I pray nightly that something like that never happens here.  I spent the month of September in a foreign country when 9-11 took place and felt the apprehension of wondering if and how I would ever get back to the US, but I also experienced the pleasure of watching people in that country rally around us and they often went well out of their way to show their support for us as Americans and especially for the US. 

I am proud to have served my country and I did not consider boot camp to be any more than a mild discomfort and no DI was ever that much of a problem.  I found them to be Men doing their jobs in a well thought out program, to stay out of trouble all that was necessary was to use your head and think.

A response to this message will not reach me as I will be off line for some time traveling to Australia for a vacation and maybe hopefully some skiing.

We have freedom of speech here, right?

I would honestly rather die then fight for this country. I have many reasons to that.

First of all I have trouble following orders like you do in the army. Do not ask me how I can do marching band, because I don't know. Perhaps it's that I don't really care about fighting!

Secondly I do not like fighting or killing, both are no good and there's no logical reason for either. If I ever killed someone I couldn't live with myself anymore, I can barely live with myself as it is, but I'd HATE killing others, and I mean it. It is one of the worst things you could ever do.

Also I do not like what's going on in this country, and why were fighting. There may NEVER be a logical reason for fighting.. however this is one of the stupidest. I would not fight for an idiot like Bush, EVER.

Lastly, but definately not least... Gender discrimination. I don't know how I could do it... I don't know how I could take being called a "sir" and being forced to use a male's bathroom... and so many other things... I just couldn't do it. I would probably end up killing myself if I was drafted. (it's true.)

Okay I'm sorry, this probably had nothing to do with the topic, but I was bored and needed somewhere to post.

Quote from: Victoria on July 18, 2006, 11:26:55 PM
We have freedom of speech here, right?

Yup, as long as you don't break the "Rules"

Steph

Quote from: Steph on July 18, 2006, 11:30:05 PM
Yup, as long as you don't break the "Rules"

Steph

tinkerbell

Naval Academy graduate.  (1960)
20 years in the Navy as an Engineering Duty Officer.
26 years as a Navy contractor.
Transitioned to female over 6 years ago and currently working full time on my Navy project.

Robyn

Canadian Armed Forces for 6 1/2 years  >

Quote from: Kim on July 19, 2006, 07:31:05 AM
Canadian Armed Forces for 6 1/2 years  >

Hey there Kim, I didn't realise you where in New Brunswick, you sneaky devil   I'm in Ontario.

Steph

Quote from: Victoria on July 18, 2006, 11:26:55 PM
We have freedom of speech here, right?
First of all I have trouble following orders
Secondly I do not like fighting
... There may NEVER be a logical reason for fighting..
Lastly, but definitely not least... Gender discrimination.
Okay I'm sorry, this probably had nothing to do with the topic, but I was bored and needed somewhere to post.

USAF 4 years.
As a TS and especially if we will get SRS, we shall break every single one of these points. You already have done so with a couple.
As a decent human being and especially as a TS I respect the anonymity of some of my sisters that are not ready to come out so am not free to speak what's in my mind if that will hurt my sister unnecessarily
I have to follow instructions from a doctor to have a successful transition
I am constantly fighting for me as a person and my identity as TS
My transsexualism is the most illogical issue there is yet here I am, am not waiting for Descartes to show me the way of reason.
Lastly I respect people so that i do not go into the ladies room when am dressed as a boy and do not go to the mens room when am passing as a female. I do discriminate besed on gender.   In my case I follow orders very well when I drive, am guessing that you are a very good driver also, Is not that big deal when you really think of it.
Love, no matter what, sheila

Hiya Steph. I'm sorry, I only put that in my intro, maybe I should add it to my avatar so it's better seen by everyone.

I served for 5 years as a Corpsman, 3 years were served with the USMC.
I did my time (4 years + 1 Year Extension for good measure) and got an honorable discharge.

QuoteFirst, few of those of us that have served in the various militaries did it for the fun, excitement, or pleasure that we got from serving, but instead many of us did it because it was something that we believed in.

I did it to prove to myself that I was a man, that all of the men in my family did it, and I would do it too, because I have a penis, and therefore I am a man and I will act like it and do all the things that the men in my family have done. That's the way it is, feelings be damned.  Real Heroic and Patriotic, huh?

It's the same reason I went away to Military School for my 9th and 10th grade year in high school. My dad made a flippant comment one day that I would make somebody a great little wife one day because I cleaned up the living room and kitchen before he came home from work.  It wasn't his fault, he had no idea.  I went in my room and cried because he was WAY too close to the mark, I decided I needed to either run away from home or die.

It's the same reason I played football in high school. To try and prove that I was male and could do it.

I hid by overcompensation.  Obviously, none of that worked, because I'm still here.

Jessica

34 years

USMC, long enough to go to the first persain gulf war (shield and storm), then be discharged upon my return for "homosexuality", before don't ask don't tell. Didn't seem to bother them when I was sleeping in a bunker with missles flying over my head. Only when I came back to the states.

No, but I taught ROTC in a real big ROTC school for ten years, did DoD contract work, and was employed in a DoE National Lab doing - well I can't say, but I also did 8 years with the Bechtel Corporation, and lots of that was defense work also.

Twice actually.  Two months in the Army, during Viet Nam.  Enlisted of my own free will.  They found a birth defect in my back.  Classified 1F.

Two years later had the classification to 1A.  Served One month in the Navy, till they found the damn birth defect again.  Classified 4F this time.  Honorable with Medical Condition.

Janet

Yes, 4 years, but can't talk about it; it's still classified.

Nichole

no. really wish i had.

It was 4 years and it really IS still classified.

Nikki

So is a lot of the stuff I did at Bechtel, and almost all the DoE stuff.  Once it gets classified, you have to move heaven and earth to get that stamp off of it.

Me either, and while some of it is stupid (lots of stuff gets classified to cover up mistakes) a lot of it is stuff that I would not want other people to know.  Hell, a lot of it is stuff that I wish I didn't know.  But what is seen can not be unseen.

Time heals a lot of stuff, and all that is over the hills and far away now.  Like another time and place, because, well, it was.

But, at the time, I spent way too many nights staring in the dark for hours laying in bed thinking "I wish I had not learned that."