Perhaps you’ve heard of conscription? If not, perhaps the draft system in place in America when the US was escalating war in Viet Nam? Young men were drafted into the Service. My cousin was in a long line and as the line advanced, the military guy at the beginning would point at the next draftee and state what branch of the Service he would be joining. In turn, each young man would then be shuffled off to either Army, Navy, Marines or Air Force.
Morty, I have tried to respond to this 3 times and each time I am overcome with a combination of rage and sadness. You must hate America, because you denigrate the sacrifice so many have made in her honor. People that served without question, young and naive, answering the call of their country. Wouldn’t it be nice if they all had your sage wisdom to judge the purpose of their service and argue the philosophical points of war and service. Have you served in harms way, just trying to stay alive and follow the orders given you? Were you in Viet Nam and experience first hand the horrors of the war? Have you seen your friends die at the hands of children with explosives hidden on them while they tried to befriend them? Have you suffered through the confusion of war only to be rewarded with nightmares and painful memories that always seem to be too vivid and never fade? How about when you survive, only to come home and be confronted with people like you who make you feel guilty for your service? I doubt it. It doesn’t fit your sanctimonious, self serving manner. You disgust me…
When I got a draft notice in 1965 they didn’t have an invitation to discuss your options for opting out, disagreeing about the basis for the war etc. You did what you were told or you could go to jail and be stripped of your constitutional rights for the rest of your life. The average 19 – 20 year old who doesn’t have a deferment generally doesn’t argue, you go, join a different branch or run away to Canada. This whole theoretical question of serving or not is great, after the fact when it doesn’t matter.
Get off your high horse. It’s people like you who make learning Mandarin a smart move. My uncle died in WWII and my father served. The Vietnam generation is only around 60-70, grandpa in the picture looks a little older than that.
My uncle and father-in-law were both in the “Battle of the Bulge” as tank commanders.(both were wounded) My neighbor across the street (He’s 6’3"!!) served in fleet submarines in the Pacific. A close friend was an M.P. in Germany and Austria, he married his Austrian sweetheart.
I served in Viet Nam, on helicopters, and “other duties as assigned”. My only “membership” is in DAV.
My son served in Iraq, Bosnia, and other places with those guys in the Navy who never serve on boats, and he too is a entitled to join DAV. Many of our friends have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, some are among those we honor on Memorial Day.
I have a number of other friends who served in the Peace Corps, in sometimes “dangerous places”, in the pursuit of peaceful resolutions to our international affairs. Other friends have served in the State Dept.
On this Veterans day, I feel the need to honor ALL who served this nation, often at personal risk and sacrifice.
So lift a glass of “cheer”, and welcome them all home, the one they served to “protect and defend, against all enemies, foreign and domestic”.
Echoing DrC, ‘NEVER question the wisdom of American wars around here.’You’ll also often be reminded why you don’t speak German.erm, ja, ok, in diesem Fall, warum du nicht Russisch sprichst.
cjr53 over 11 years ago
Perhaps you’ve heard of conscription? If not, perhaps the draft system in place in America when the US was escalating war in Viet Nam? Young men were drafted into the Service. My cousin was in a long line and as the line advanced, the military guy at the beginning would point at the next draftee and state what branch of the Service he would be joining. In turn, each young man would then be shuffled off to either Army, Navy, Marines or Air Force.
Mickey 13 over 11 years ago
Morty, I have tried to respond to this 3 times and each time I am overcome with a combination of rage and sadness. You must hate America, because you denigrate the sacrifice so many have made in her honor. People that served without question, young and naive, answering the call of their country. Wouldn’t it be nice if they all had your sage wisdom to judge the purpose of their service and argue the philosophical points of war and service. Have you served in harms way, just trying to stay alive and follow the orders given you? Were you in Viet Nam and experience first hand the horrors of the war? Have you seen your friends die at the hands of children with explosives hidden on them while they tried to befriend them? Have you suffered through the confusion of war only to be rewarded with nightmares and painful memories that always seem to be too vivid and never fade? How about when you survive, only to come home and be confronted with people like you who make you feel guilty for your service? I doubt it. It doesn’t fit your sanctimonious, self serving manner. You disgust me…
Mickey 13 over 11 years ago
When I got a draft notice in 1965 they didn’t have an invitation to discuss your options for opting out, disagreeing about the basis for the war etc. You did what you were told or you could go to jail and be stripped of your constitutional rights for the rest of your life. The average 19 – 20 year old who doesn’t have a deferment generally doesn’t argue, you go, join a different branch or run away to Canada. This whole theoretical question of serving or not is great, after the fact when it doesn’t matter.
Rottiluv over 11 years ago
Get off your high horse. It’s people like you who make learning Mandarin a smart move. My uncle died in WWII and my father served. The Vietnam generation is only around 60-70, grandpa in the picture looks a little older than that.
eepatt over 11 years ago
Even those trolls who do not know the difference between fasccisim and socialism??
chazandru over 11 years ago
Great cartoon.God Bless America.C.(if you’re an atheist, just send some really good thoughts to America and let us have our illusions. ;) )
Dtroutma over 11 years ago
My uncle and father-in-law were both in the “Battle of the Bulge” as tank commanders.(both were wounded) My neighbor across the street (He’s 6’3"!!) served in fleet submarines in the Pacific. A close friend was an M.P. in Germany and Austria, he married his Austrian sweetheart.
I served in Viet Nam, on helicopters, and “other duties as assigned”. My only “membership” is in DAV.
My son served in Iraq, Bosnia, and other places with those guys in the Navy who never serve on boats, and he too is a entitled to join DAV. Many of our friends have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, some are among those we honor on Memorial Day.
I have a number of other friends who served in the Peace Corps, in sometimes “dangerous places”, in the pursuit of peaceful resolutions to our international affairs. Other friends have served in the State Dept.
On this Veterans day, I feel the need to honor ALL who served this nation, often at personal risk and sacrifice.
So lift a glass of “cheer”, and welcome them all home, the one they served to “protect and defend, against all enemies, foreign and domestic”.
OmqR-IV.0 over 11 years ago
Echoing DrC, ‘NEVER question the wisdom of American wars around here.’You’ll also often be reminded why you don’t speak German.erm, ja, ok, in diesem Fall, warum du nicht Russisch sprichst.