Email from a Republican childhood friend...

[icenine]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I am not, in the slightest, trying to be an ass:

Tillman had a degree from Arizona State. He should have been smarter.

It is wrong of you to say anything like that. He sincerely left behind a lucrative career to fight what he thought was a just war.


It takes courage to walk the walk like that...he volunteered for actual combat.

Whether you disagree with the war on terrorism or not I really get pissed off when people talk about Tillman like that.

I mean have you done anything like that in your life? I cannot say I have.

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by Boreas

You'll note that I addressed the sincere motives of the soldiers, not the underlying motives for the war, for example, the motives of someone like Pat Tillman who bought Bush's lies, left a lucrative football career and went off to war. Tillman deserves our gratitude. Bush deserves a trip to the Hague.

John

I can agree with that, although I suspect Tillman was a glory seeker.

Wasn't he killed in a friendly fire incident?

Dave

[Pio1980]

AFAIK, Tillman was not a glory hound, rather motivated by a sense of duty if not noblis oblige' to "give back" something to a country for which he had gratitude for his privilege.
Yes, a friendly fire tragedy that was attempted to be concealed as valor under fire.

[donquixote99]

You're applying rational standards.

Ever hear the saying 'A rational army would desert?'

I think that's true. I think the fact that actual armies fight and fight is down to instinct. People, especially young males, are willing to die for the tribe--or at least do not weigh the danger as very important. Irrational, from the individual point-of-view, but perhaps a positive thing for the survival of the group, in prehistoric times.

[Dondilion]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

You're applying rational standards.

Ever hear the saying 'A rational army would desert?'

I think that's true. I think the fact that actual armies fight and fight is down to instinct. People, especially young males, are willing to die for the tribe--or at least do not weigh the danger as very important. Irrational, from the individual point-of-view, but perhaps a positive thing for the survival of the group, in prehistoric times.

Excellent post!

[Zeke]

That was nicely put.

[donquixote99]

Originally Posted by zeke

that was nicely put.

ty.

[Pio1980]

The road to Hell is paved with good intentions and sometimes a compelling sales pitch, the inexperience of youth for the duplicity of others can be a hard and permanent lesson.