From the LA Times:
"Rosa Brooks: Was Kerry right?
The military isn't full of poor, uneducated kids, but it doesn't look anything like America"
November 3, 2006
I thought the Kerry "botched" joke was right on the the money both in the way it was taken and in the way Kerry says he meant it. Our commander-in-chief, Dubba, who attended Harvard and Yale defended the American borders as a member of the Civil Air Patrol while Senator Kerry volunteered to serve in Viet Nam. Brother Vice President Cheney has no military service under his belt; I think (???) he got a college deferment to avoid going to war. Please write me if I have my facts wrong.
The United States military does not even recruit on Ivy League campuses because they KNOW there will be no takers. Only 1% of the offspring of members of the Congress are wearing the uniform. Most households earning over $60,000 do not send their sons and daughters off to possibly get their heads blown off. America is not the military and military is not America. The poor are not over represented; the military does not take high school dropouts in some branches and limits to 3 1/2% the number of recruits who haven't completed high school in others. The poor are highly represented in the groups of young people who do not receive high school degrees. Most officers are college educated and many hold graduate degrees in higher percentages than the general population. Karl Rove does not have a college degree ---smart rats like him don't need them.
The presidents who serve the country with their bodies and their hearts on the line for us; send our sons and daughters to war much, much, much less than the presidents who do not serve.
Can you say Dubba????
2 comments:
BIlli get your facts right. George Was never a member of the CIvil Air Patrol, the non-combatant civilian auxiliary of the Air Force, known for Search and rescue and a cadet moral and leadership program. He was a combat fighter pilot in the Texas Air National Guard, a considerable difference. Since his father was the head of the CIA, it is extremely unlikely he would have been permitted to go overseas, where his capture would have been a major diplomatic incident, but nevertheless, he did serve on active duty.
Your comment about the wealthy not sending their sons and daughters to the military is just not true, proven by your next comment about many of the officers being highly educated. That education was not usually available to the poor, but the military does accept the poor who take the trouble to get basic education. Thank God for those who serve, as they are the reason you have the right to speak out. If I am right, my sons, daughters and grandaughters might die in a war to preserve freedom, a sacrifice I was willing to make if my services had been needed in combat years ago when I was in the Air Force. If you are right, we might all become slaves to those who would destroy us, and slaughter us like the Islamic facscists who shame themselves and their religion. Bill Croghan, Lt. Col, Civil Air Patrol, former USAF Sgt.
Thank you Bill for your correction as to the branch of the service where George W. Bush spent his time guarding the borders of the United States as many of young men of privilege did without having their fathers work for the CIA ---being rich and white was enough. I am truly grateful to have my facts correct; moreover, thank you for your service to this great republic which protects my right to speak freely.
I salute you, sir.
Billi
Proud US Citizen
Post a Comment