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prolesunited Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-03-04 01:19 PM
Original message
Would you join the military or mercenary forces
if you saw it was your only option to obtain an education or to pay for life-saving surgery for a loved one?

It seems that recent stories in the news are pointing to these such circumstances and we have some here criticizing them, despite what seems to be honorable motives.

I realize there are many variables in this equation, but generally what would be your answer? What factors would you consider?
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prolesunited Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-03-04 02:52 PM
Response to Original message
1. Wow!
Not one response. :shrug:

One more try and I'll drop it.
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THUNDER HANDS Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-03-04 02:54 PM
Response to Original message
2. I wouldn't
I'd beg, borrow or steal before I entered into the business of killing.
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Skittles Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-03-04 02:59 PM
Response to Reply #2
5. the military is also the business of protecting
nt
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THUNDER HANDS Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-03-04 03:00 PM
Response to Reply #5
7. well, it used to be
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pmbryant Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-03-04 02:56 PM
Response to Original message
3. To help save a loved one...
Edited on Mon May-03-04 02:56 PM by pmbryant
there are few options that I would categorically rule out.

I am fortunate not to be in such a desperate situation at this time, and I sure hope I never have to contemplate this further, but I would do this if I saw it as my only option for obtaining life-saving surgery for a loved one.

To obtain an education? Personally, I don't think it is worth that, but I can potentially see how some people may think even that worth the risk. Especially from the perspective of a few months ago, when the situation in Iraq was unsettled, but nothing like the apparent chaos of recent weeks.

--Peter
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Christ was Socialist Donating Member (649 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-03-04 02:56 PM
Response to Original message
4. not for profit I would in a resistence
though, you would never have to ask me. And a Revolution provided it isn't for quixotic ideals like most.
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MAlibdem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-03-04 03:00 PM
Response to Original message
6. yeah
but i'd rotc it, probably.
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Bandit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-03-04 03:04 PM
Response to Original message
8. Yes ~ $1000.00 per day is very good money
I am not sure exactly what you mean by mercenary. If you mean Armed guard for a contracter I would do so in a heartbeat. If you mean perform military excursions into the field and activly engage enemy forces, No Thany you.
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ThomWV Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-03-04 05:27 PM
Response to Reply #8
15. And How About This Guy Who "Escaped"?
He was a truck driver. He drove trucks in the western oil fields and then make the jump the Iraq to drive a truck there. I suspect he was getting big bucks, let me guess ... $500 a day? Sure I'd do it. I spent 3 years in Viet Nam, on the ground. I got shot three times (not really, two of them were schrapnel from rockets) and managed to pick up a Bronze Star - and as I recall I was getting $540 a month (Sgt. E-5) at the time.
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bigbillhaywood Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-03-04 03:09 PM
Response to Original message
9. No for the same reason I wouldn't scab if I needed the money for
my family. It's just wrong. Although I'm not Kant and acknowledge there are moral gray areas, and sometimes morality is relative, I believe there are some universal moral absolutes. If you use helping your family or getting an education as an excuse, you could conceivably justify lots of nasty shit.
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prolesunited Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-03-04 05:20 PM
Response to Reply #9
11. I guess my larger point
is why we have created and/or tolerate a system in which a person would be forced to contemplate putting their life on the line in order to obtain health care or education?
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Egalitarian Donating Member (379 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-03-04 03:10 PM
Response to Original message
10. Nope
Unconditionally pacifist, except self defense in my own space.
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0007 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-03-04 05:24 PM
Response to Original message
12. Why do you want to know?
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prolesunited Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-03-04 05:26 PM
Response to Reply #12
14. Just a question
I think my posts in this thread indicate the framework. Just wondering where people draw the line.

I'm not recruiting or anything. :shrug:
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doni_georgia Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-03-04 05:25 PM
Response to Original message
13. No
for a number of reaons, not least of which are personal religious convictions against killing. Besides I believe any such story is most likely bushit!
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corporatewhore Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-03-04 05:28 PM
Response to Original message
16. hell i could always strip which i think is more honorable
tha serving the interests of the imperials in DC
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bigbillhaywood Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-03-04 05:30 PM
Response to Reply #16
17. There's an idea for a protest. "Strip Against the War" nt.
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