I served in the military for a few years just as my father had done. It was a great experience that set me up for life and I made friends for life. I was proud to have done my little bit in the defence of my country, just as my father was. Some of my mates stayed on much longer than I did and relayed to me the decline of the services; the contracting out of key work to civilian companies, the softening of discipline, the training of men and women together.

The decline of the military coincided with the decline, if not DEFEAT of the country, the giving up of sovereignty to a government set up in another country and the removal of immigration controls. You'll know what I mean if you live there.

We no longer live in that country because we felt that it, or rather its political classes, had betrayed us. The country we had defended had all but ceased to exist and no longer upheld the values that we believed in. My father and I agreed that if we had our time again we would not lift a finger to defend that country. There seemed to be little left worth defending.

If any of his grandkids ever expressed an interest in signing up for military service, my father would actively discourage them. And so would I.

Not in the current war. The federal government and Pentagon are too callous and careless with their military. In addition one who joins the military dedicates their whole life to it weather they get killed or not. I have yet to meet a vet or serviceman/servicewoman who hasn't been fully affected by it. In addition I am not fond of the fact that so many vets get screwed over when they get home. Angry Harry's ranting on this subject applies to today, not just WW2. Most of the vets who don't end up homeless of the father of another Man's kid, live their lives as manginas to dominatrix wives. Many men in military used to be taught to obey your commander but be assertive as a civilian. Now they are brainwashed to be submissive to everything in the country because assertive men are "wife abusers", "disobedient to the country (for personal things that don't involve the wellfare of the country or the job as a serviceman)", etc...

Seriously the men that the Army and even marines churn out are full blown sissies. Flaunting their power because they have none inside, drunk zombies to the "social" government.

I also agree with Bigger Brother. How can any man be proud to fight for a country that is picking away its foundation. Fighting for a country that puts you as a 2nd class citizen and tries to take away any freedom you once had is absurd.

All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent. -Thomas Jefferson

Young unworldly men, fueled with meaningful testosterone, are easily maneuvered by wily old politicians expanding the definition of defending country for political, theological, corporate, ideological or/and personal gain.

I wouldn't define current American imperialism any more justified in defending country than the British imperialism which preceded/influenced it. It's actually created more 'enemies' than it's eradicated! How is that defending?

And as long as men are ruthlessly peddled as the default cannon fodder for a succession of meaningless wars, then that 'country' is acting treasonable with regard to it's duty to the people.

If a man no longer has a quantifiable stake in his country, why should he defend it?

I served for 4 years in the Army as a Specialist 5 when honorably discharged, albeit in peace time. As a former military man I had the hard conversations with my 2 sons on military service. While I believe in America with the fervor of a patriot, I do not believe in the current government and the foreign policy enforced on other nations. It is my belief that the USA has lost it's way and caved into globalism thus costing the very soul of America. American exceptionalism has given way to sound bites and media presentation for those who cannot say focused for more that a few minutes at a time.

With the above being said, I support the idea of what America needs to be: An open and tolerant society that follows it's own laws and does not put profit ahead of the liberties defined in the bill of rights. A pipe dream? Currently, I would say yes. However if enough citizens spit out the pablum and double standards foisted on us through the media and the government, perhaps some real change can happen.

Ron Paul is going to be an element in the upcoming Presidential elections. He scares the shit out of Republicans and the Democrats because his ideas are grounded in reality and common sense. For that very reason he will be neutralized either by a scandal or by more surreptitious means. After all, you cannot have common sense and logic in politics if you want to appeal to the masses.

The bovine excrement "War on Women" movement is doomed to fail because the feminists are pushing the envelope past absurdity with their claims that no free birth control=Patriarchal control of women's reproductive rights. Sorry sistah, that logic even pisses off women who think with more than 2% of their brain's ability.

Quote from The Possible Human

Ron Paul is going to be an element in the upcoming Presidential elections. He scares the shit out of Republicans and the Democrats because his ideas are grounded in reality and common sense. For that very reason he will be neutralized either by a scandal or by more surreptitious means. After all, you cannot have common sense and logic in politics if you want to appeal to the masses.

For me personally, Ron Paul is the nearest thing Americans have been to JFK in terms of honesty, moral determination and universal responsibility. I took great notice how American and worldwide media limited Ron Paul's exposure and when they did it was incredibly biased and limited.

Those in power just want to ensure corporation America doesn't miss a beat in expanding it's imperialism. To have a president who doesn't automatically capitulate to knee-jerk warmongering is a lost opportunity to so many vested interests. It depresses me how the masses are so easily manipulated.

JFK, CD??

That immoral, narcissistic, brain-addled, 'Elite', spawn of an Irish Union thug?

That JFK?

Quote from Percy

JFK, CD??

That immoral, narcissistic, brain-addled, 'Elite', spawn of an Irish Union thug?

That JFK?

I won't bite hardily on your bait Percy, but highlight who has proven better as president in the terms I described?

If your country indoctrinates your wife and kids to hate you for being born, then the answer is "NO".
It doesn't deserved to be defended. This goes for any country in the world!

Quote from Celtic Druid

For me personally, Ron Paul is the nearest thing Americans have been to JFK in terms of honesty, moral determination and universal responsibility. I took great notice how American and worldwide media limited Ron Paul's exposure and when they did it was incredibly biased and limited.

Those in power just want to ensure corporation America doesn't miss a beat in expanding it's imperialism. To have a president who doesn't automatically capitulate to knee-jerk warmongering is a lost opportunity to so many vested interests. It depresses me how the masses are so easily manipulated.

JFK would have been a game changer, that's why he was assassinated. The Kennedy clan made their money by bootlegging Rum during Prohibition and quite a few other illegal rackets. Do a bit of research on Al Capone and the Kennedy's and you will see what I mean. Men who have the ability to change the game rules are either co-opted or eliminated. This has been true throughout all of recorded history.

Look at Martin Luther and his disdain of the Catholic Church selling blessings and the very sacrament of the Church itself. Is modern Lutheranism what Martin envisioned? No. It was Co-opted and watered down for the masses. The same can be said of Catholicism. When I was a kid, all masses were held in Latin. I had to take Latin and Greek in elementary school, just like everyone else who's Papa was a Catholic. Now the Church is holding masses in all languages which is a nice gesture, but the impetus was lost for the adherents to spend some time learning another language.

The core issue is that the governments want to dumb down their citizens in order to control them. When you think about it, the most dangerous thing on the planet is not a virus, or the Atomic Bomb, nor an Asteroid pulverizing the Earth into atoms. It's MEN with the ability to critically think and form ideas and concepts that go against what the government has dictated as "The Norm" for thought and ideas.

You know Percy, despite your documented hostility to the Irish, you must have worked out (after 6 years) that I and Karl have Irish roots, yet still you continue with divisive nonsense that is contrary to our collective ethos.

We've never pushed an Irish agenda, we've always been fair to all groups, yet you've always sought fit to attack Irish when it suited you without response. Enough!

When our political "leaders" decide we need to invade another country I would love it if the military turned back to them and said, "No. We will not bomb a village in the middle of nowhere and send our men to die for you. We pledged to defend our country, not occupy another. We're on strike."

Quote from Celtic Druid

You know Percy, despite your documented hostility to the Irish, you must have worked out (after 6 years) that I and Karl have Irish roots, yet still you continue with divisive nonsense that is contrary to our collective ethos.

We've never pushed an Irish agenda, we've always been fair to all groups, yet you've always sought fit to attack Irish when it suited you without response. Enough!

I have Irish roots too. Great, great, great Grand-dad.

Do not come the raw prawn CD.

I will give relevant criticism where I choose to and simply mentioning a clear fact that JFK's dad was a Irish Union thug (and great financial supporter of the IRA) is not a reflection on you or Marx, so do NOT make it so.

It seems to me that you are looking to be offended far too easily.

By the way, Harriet Harman is a well known ENGLISH feminazi. That is often pointed out. Should no one say she is English for fear of offending some poor fragile flower from British West Hartlepools? I am English too.

Obama is an American fuckwit. Should we avoid saying his nationality in case it offends some of our American freinds, nice chaps and chappesses that they are?

Gloriana Julia the Feminazi PM of Oz, is Oz and frigging' Welsh. Should that never be mentioned in case it offends some Leek gobbler? I am an Aussie too (No Welsh in me. Gee, I am blessed with only English and Irish, French and Scottish, all of whom I have been known to give a deserved serve to)

Now, dit dit dah dit, dah dah dah as we say in Morse.

Quote from Percy

I have Irish roots too. Great, great, great Grand-dad.

Tell me, does that add to you, or take away?

Do not come the raw prawn CD.

You brought that on sir.

I will give relevant criticism where I choose to and simply mentioning a clear fact that JFK's dad was a Irish Union thug (and great financial supporter of the IRA) is not a reflection on you or Marx, so do NOT make it so.

Historically, you have an overwhelming and disproportionate propensity to attack the Irish at any opportunity, and it's getting real boring.

It seems to me that you are looking to be offended far too easily.

Not at all, I've listened to you for years attacking the Irish, Americans and numerous other groupings. It is the summation of these outpourings.

Get used to it, Sir.

You know that I am a sound chap who can - and does - take the piss out of myself more than others.

If you are short of humour I can sell you some for a modest fee.