First off, of course when you become a soldier, you take on a lot of risks "normal" people don't face. The individuals I don't have a problem with. But the concept of a profession who's basic purpose is to kill other men when instructed, I find questionable, to say the least. A necessary evil? Only because people (or at least the powerful ones) believe in war more than they do in peace.

>a
>doctor wont die for practicing
>medicine, ordinarily..neither will a nurse
>or a teacher, or anyone
>else...

No, but neither will they kill anybody. In fact, generally they enhance life.

to be a soldier is
>to come to and accept
>the conclusion that 1 may
>be called on to die
>for others, to make that
>level of sacrifice. without a
>standing army, filled with individuals
>who are ready and willing
>to go this route, America
>wouldn't be free...

That is one part of the historical building of my freedom. However, the army certainly did not fight to end the legality of slavery in the French Caribbean colonies. Plus, on a day-to-day basis, the police assures my safety and freedom.

>you yourself, like
>they say, live under a
>blanket of security provided by
>thousands of men and women
>whom you've never met, but
>these people, would, if asked
>go to war to protect
>you, and that computer your
>on,
>and the right to
>speak your mind about the
>government

Oh, so that's what Tianemen Square was about? I'm not too sure armies insure peace. Peace comes through dialogue. Armies come into the peace equation at some point, but true peace comes from dialogue. Armies didn't build the European Union, talks did.

>that in many cases
>(mine included) help subsidize your
>further education....

How does that sit with your "burn anything public to the ground sentiment?"

>do soldiers rape? massacre?
>commit atrocities? no doubt...is it
>ever explainable or right? I'll
>reserve judgement on a case
>by case basis.

So there are cases when rape, massacre and atrocities are explainable or right? Please give me some examples.

the point
>is at the end of
>the day, the doctor, nurse,
>teacher, et al, go home...the
>soldier stays..on post on guard,
>and sometimes, he or she
>may never see home again...if
>that is not honorable, i
>dont know what is...

It might be honorable, but I believe that there are far more honorable professions. Shit, how many hours do hospital interns work? How many teachers end up with nervous breakdowns? They might not have guns pointed at them, but I still find them more honorable (as a profession, there are assholes everywhere), far more honorable than being a soldier.

AIM: mke1978

"L'actualité régionale: c'est vous qui la vivez, c'est nous qui en vivons"
In English:
"Local news: you live it, we live off it"
- Jules-Edouard Moustic, 20H20

"There's no blood in my body/It's liquid soul in my veins"
- Roots Manuva (check the fantastic album "Brand New Second Hand")