Letters to the Editor

• High Risk, High Return

  [Read the article: Give me five more minutes]
  [Read more letters about this article: Here]

  This disturbs me because it seems to imply that taking dangerous jobs is somehow foolish, or that new enlistees would rethink their position based on this article. (I assure you it wouldn't matter, you have to make them read it BEFORE they enlist).

  Well, i think enlistees may not actually realize what they're getting themselves into. They think, it won't be me who gets blown to bits. I know people who have gone to Iraq, and people who came back seriously injured. and they never thought it would be them who would be missing 2 legs, or dead.

  To question Aaron Miller's motives or reasons seems disrespectful at best. Nevertheless, soldiers, sailors and airmen (and police and firefighters) do these jobs because of a sense of duty, patriotism and a love for their fellowman that transcends themselves. Yes they may enlist for college money or skills but many stay for the reasons I have prescribed.

  Well, i don't know his motivations, but i do know the motivations of many others. And i've heard all sorts of atrocious ("i wanna shoot a gun," "i wanna kill people") to "i need money without going to college," "college money," etc. FEw people ever talk abou serving their country or a sense of duty. Read this, for example:

  http://www.sofmag.com/news/permalink/2006/8/2/2149245852005.html

  Say what you will about the war in Iraq (or the reasons for being there), but our military there is doing the very best job for their own safety and the care of one another and those they left at home waiting, and indeed for the possibility of a real success in Iraq for the Iraqi people. Remember that they may go to war for flag and on the orders of their command, but they fight it for each other.

  Instead of questioning their motives, be thankful they (volunteer and) do a job so you won't have to.

  I am thankful, though i am not shying away from suggesting that many of them disregard the risks, or the recruiters downplay the risks. Many of them are doing it because they grew up in bad nieghborhoods, so they had little chance of having structure, family, or a good education, and the army is their only choice. Many of them do it because of family pressure to continue the family tradition, and again, don't think about it.

  What i'm saying is that it's a choice, it's not mandatory, and they are compensated for it monetaliry, with many benefits, and with national respect.

  If this guy's family refused to support him to go through college, or said that he should go to the army to build character, or to continue the family tradition, then are they not somewhat to blame themselves for his fate? Did they do anything to discourage him, if they really didn't want him to be killed?

  All right, flame away, trolls.

  Permalink Monday, September 25, 2006 10:39 AM