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[Qloos]

When you join an armed force, you become as moral as the power controlling them.  As you have chosen to place faith in their marching orders.  If it is a rash choice out of financial desperation, only then, I might feel some sympathy as you enter the military.

[Creaca]

Wouldn't you be just as guilty for paying taxes and therefore funding that military? I'd say an Army needs money more than it needs men to function.

[Aqizzar]

Well no, because if you don't pay taxes you get them fined out of you, and so on and so forth, and you don't get to choose where your taxes go.  If you don't join the military, nothing happens.  At least since America doesn't have a draft anymore.

[Creaca]

Well Qloos already implied that this "Mystery Country" might be immoral enough that joining its armed forces is unforgivable. So why not leave? If you're involved in skilled labor I'm sure another country would be dieing to snap you up.

[Qloos]

Being within a social group gives a person a sense of belonging, it is less morally questionable to remain within an unethical group than to willingly join one that has already partaken in questionable actions.

And don't assume my political views.  I never said "unforgivable."  Although breaches to the Geneva convention are quite high on my list of evil acts.

[Strife26]

So the debate begins. Jude. Qloos, feel like opening up with some specifics?

[Realmfighter]

I believe that people should do whatever makes them happy.

If joining the military makes you happy, you should.

[LegoLord]

Hope you enjoy having your entire life and self owned by a huge, faceless institution that doesn't give a fuck whether you die or live

This really is a very broad, and therefore unfair, statement.  Most of the money they use up is actually put into minimizing casualties.  Big, uncoordinated explosives cost little.  Kevlar and small, computer-guided bombs (sometimes only filled with concrete) cost lots.

My dad's been in this deal with the navy.  He likes it, I'm sure Strife will like the army.

[Heron TSG]

America doesn't have a draft anymore.

Technically we still have the Selective Service.

And I personally support Strife's decision. I personally dislike fighting and would rather not participate in it, but I wouldn't have the option to not join if we didn't have guys like Strife.

[Osmosis Jones]

I view the armed forces like I view the police; it's a shitty job, but someone's got to do it, and I respect anyone with the guts to do so.

That being said, the Aussie armed forces are very different to the Yanks. We only ever really deploy our commando (SAS) units to the frontline, and most otherwise our guys get used as peacekeepers/emergency aid, so we have lot lower casualty and collateral damage rates. This makes it a lot easier to support the soldiers. What are the general feelings in other countries?

[Creaca]

Being within a social group gives a person a sense of belonging, it is less morally questionable to remain within an unethical group than to willingly join one that has already partaken in questionable actions.

    You're acting as if there are two separate groups in this case. Aren't armed forces just extensions of the government already in place? Why, in some countrys, I've heard elected officials becoming the Commander In Chief of their armed forces.

And don't assume my political views.  I never said "unforgivable."  Although breaches to the Geneva convention are quite high on my list of evil acts.

Not sure how to reply to this. In one half you scold me for assuming your political views. But then, in the second half you confirm that I wasn't too far off the mark.


If you're going to protest a Military, don't protest the guys on the front lines trying to pay for college without eating a bullet.

[The Mad Engineer]

I wish you luck, and am glad that you have decided to fight for our right to argue about war.

I am anti war myself, but believe there is a distinction between the people doing the hard work, and the people giving them orders.  It is possible to be against the conflict, but still respect and admire the heros that were ordered to  partake in it.  Hate the politicians, love the country.  Godspeed, strife.

[ein]

If you're going to protest a Military, don't protest the guys on the front lines trying to pay for college without eating a bullet.

This.

[Jude]

I believe that people should do whatever makes them happy.

That is the most horrible moral tenet I've ever heard for so many incredibly obvious reasons

And no not really I don't feel like debating but good luck getting out of the military if you decide you don't want to be there. I wasn't kidding about them completely owning you, like, in the sense of property

[Realmfighter]

I believe that people should do whatever makes them happy.

That is the most horrible moral tenet I've ever heard for so many incredibly obvious reasons

Life has no point if your not happy enough to enjoy it.