Going to war with iraq?

[Othin 0]

As E6Hotel pointed out, most of the service men and women tend to know more (imo of course) about other countries then a high school gradute or even most college students.

It's one thing to read about Bahrain, or India, or Russia in a book, or watch ten million shows about them. But when your actually walking around Vladivostok, flirting with Russian girls, and looking at the land that their forefathers gave their lives to protect, you understand it. Most Sailors and Marines (I'm sure G.I.s and Airman do as well) that I know keep up on current events, you tend to do that when it directly effects your life.

As far as current events being "hidden" from us. That's preposterous. Unless your out on a ship (which is a bad example, as most have AFN and the internet, not sure about Subs though), out in the field, or in bootcamp/basic training you have just as much connectivity with the civilian world as you would if you worked at the local fast food joint. Every barracks I've ever been to has always had TV's with cable.

Also, the majority of us who have joined up aren't idiots, criminals, run aways, or failures....

[brgnorway 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Othin @ Nov. 24 2002,06:53)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">As E6Hotel pointed out, most of the service men and women tend to know more (imo of course) about other countries then a high school gradute or even most college students.  <span id='postcolor'>

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">But when your actually walking around Vladivostok, flirting with Russian girls, and looking at the land that their forefathers gave their lives to protect, you understand it.<span id='postcolor'>

Actually, I think that's a good point, but then again there are people who couldn't care less about the place they are living in. I know of many norwegian students of economy in Glasgow wich rarely talk to other people than those in the "scandinavian community". Would you believe it - four years of studying and still not mastering the scottish accent  

I know Placebo might wanna knock on my head about this - but my former post refered to the english privates (brgnorway nervously looking over his shoulder).

Besides, there are also many things about different societies you actually have to study in books, news etc. in order to "get the picture". Why do you think we have comparative social sciences?

Edit: I bet the english blokes are good soldiers though!

[Sam Samson 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (theavonlady @ Nov. 23 2002,22:26)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">"More tea, Vicar?"

Sounds like something Hyacinth (or Rose ) said in "Keeping up Appearances".<span id='postcolor'>

but... but that would mean we have true intellectuals here somewhere...

and uh... I have talked to american soldiers before. some have good business connections. (but that was all before I became a christian.)

but not all are spec-4 (with low iq). a lot of them even speak 2 languages, and you can become a specialist in some areas, which will help you in a private career, should you desire one instead of a mil-career.

[Warin 0]

Heh.

Confusing someone that watches 'Keeping Up Appearances' with being a true intellectual is an awfully interesting concept.

Perhaps in America, the only people that watch britcom are true intellectuals....

[ralphwiggum 6]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Warin @ Nov. 24 2002,21:35)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Perhaps in America, the only people that watch britcom are true intellectuals....<span id='postcolor'>

or ppl with nothing better to do

[Sam Samson 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Warin @ Nov. 24 2002,21:35)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Heh.

Confusing someone that watches 'Keeping Up Appearances' with being a true intellectual is an awfully interesting concept.

Perhaps in America, the only people that watch britcom are true intellectuals....<span id='postcolor'>

you are an elongated sapaiou, aren't you?

[Lazarus_Long 0]

I don't remember that they even offered a course in geography at my high school... The attitude that I find most common is that people find that memorizing maps is useless, like learning "Latin and Art".  The same goes for history... and math... Oh yes,  and science....  pretty much everything that you're supposed to learn in school.

At least we have good higher education.  The first two years of any college program is basically general education stuff that could easily be taught in high school.  What a waste of time and money.

Edited for grammar and spelling errors

[Assault (CAN) 1]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I believe that knowledge is still largely a matter of social class and we all know that most armies consisting of professional soldiers (privates) do not recruit from upper- or middle class society.<span id='postcolor'>

Well that obviously doesn't apply to the Canadian Forces. Alot of people in my reserve unit are currently in university or college and just about everyone comes from a middle class family like myslef.

You can't judge an Army (or any random group of people) by it's worst members. Sure, the Regular Army here has it's share of 'Gomers' in the Infantry but for the most part you have a well educated group of people, especially in other trades.

I'll agree with Othin and E6Hotel that military members are more aware of the state of the world than your average civie, because (as they said) world events affect them the most.

Tyler

[brgnorway 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Assault (CAN) @ Nov. 26 2002,08:18)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I believe that knowledge is still largely a matter of social class and we all know that most armies consisting of professional soldiers (privates) do not recruit from upper- or middle class society.<span id='postcolor'><span id='postcolor'>

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Well that obviously doesn't apply to the Canadian Forces. Alot of people in my reserve unit are currently in university or college and just about everyone comes from a middle class family like myslef.

<span id='postcolor'>

Sounds reasonable.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">You can't judge an Army (or any random group of people) by it's worst members. Sure, the Regular Army here has it's share of 'Gomers' in the Infantry but for the most part you have a well educated group of people, especially in other trades.

<span id='postcolor'>

Well, seeking adventure and romanticizing about military affects all layers of society, but the brighter ones do not choose bad salary, few rights combined with long service. They tend to go for (England) Sandhurst instead if they choose a military career.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I'll agree with Othin and E6Hotel that military members are more aware of the state of the world than your average civie, because (as they said) world events affect them the most.

<span id='postcolor'>

Never mind, but war tends to affect civilians as well. I only stated my thoughts about the matter at hand. Obviously I have no way of knowing for sure since I have never been in a professional military. The norwegian military is based on conscripts and thus the military are also representative for all kinds of social layers. However, I do believe there is a serious flaw with the picture professional soldiers have of the world politics and cultural knowlegde. That is so because a professional soldier is highly motivated and possibly suffers from military political "doctrine". I am not saying a soldier is a warmongering lunatic, rather suggesting they want to do exactly what they are trained for - wich is to fight.