COMMENTS:
Patrick Henry (who never served in the military) is perhaps best known for the speech he made in the House of Burgesses on March 23, 1775, urging that legislature to take military action against the encroaching British military force. The House was deeply divided, but was very much leaning toward not committing troops. As Henry stood in Saint John's Church in Richmond, Virginia, he ended his speech with his most famous words:
Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
Thomas Paine never served in the military yet he was one of the most eloquent supporters of the Revolutionary War.
Benjamin Franklin also never served.
Franklin D. Roosevelt advocated assistance (and gave it) to the British prior to the US entry into World War 2.
Bill Clinton advocated intervention in the Balkans and numerous other conflicts.
We must not forget about women. Don't they have a right to be heard?
Are these people not patriotic? Is Patrick Henry not a hero? Is Thomas Paine not a hero?
Patriotism need not involve military service. There are plenty of ways to be patriotic without serving in the military.
Its a bogus question cranky.
"I've always been amazed that the very people forced to live in the worst parts of town, go to the worst schools, and who have it the hardest are always the first to step up, to defend us. They serve so that we don't have to. They offer to give up their lives so that we can be free. It is remarkably their gift to us. And all they ask for in return is that we never send them into harm's way unless it is absolutely necessary. Will they ever trust us again?"
Patrick Henry's slaves also wanted to be free.
I think you have proven Crankys point Fiddle
Voted : Joining the military to fight, yourself
good one
by mojo on Wed Nov 29, 06 5:45am
[+]
I don't think either one should hold the title of "greater patriot". There's more to patriotism than going off and fighting in a war or supporting it.
And due to human nature. Not every patriot who loves their country and wants what's best for it is up to the physical/psychological task of serving in the military and fighting in a war. And not everyone who is suitable for the battle field is fit for the political aspect of it. People are different and normally do best at what they are accustomed to.
We'd all love to see our politicans out there in the trenches. But really, do any of us honestly think they'd do any better than the ones out there now?
Of course having said that, there are many out there in the trenches now not because of patriotism, but for money or education.
Fiddle:
Patrick Henry DID fight in the Revolutionary War, despite the fact that he was in his 40's.
Thomas Paine was an Englishman who didn't come to America until 1774, and almost died on the voyage. He was also in his 40's during the War. Not to mention that he was also the classic genius/nutjob and probably unfit to serve.
Benjamin Franklin was 70 years old when the Revolutionary War started.
Franklin Roosevelt was crippled from polio and was president at the start of World War II. I don't quite see your point, here. Not to mention that all four of Roosevelt's sons served in World War II (unlike the Bush twins).
And Bill Clinton? The right, especially the pro-war, military-avoiding neocons, have never stopped obsessively bashing Clinton for not serving. They do, of course, go silent or bash Clinton some more, when the subject of Bush's draft dodging comes up.
And I never said you couldn't be patriotic without serving. What I asked was, who is more patriotic, someone who supports a war and goes to fight it, or someone who supports a war but refuses to join the military and fight, even though he could (right age, gender, and health status).
In other words, who is more patriotic, the men and women fighting in Iraq now, or the crybaby neocons who have been cheerleaders for the war all along, but would never even consider joining the military to fight the war they so love?
I think the answer is obvious.
"crybaby neocons who have been cheerleaders for the war"
How about crybaby neocons who have been cheerleaders for YALE?
Voted : Joining the military to fight, yourself
Hmmmm...
Buk-buk-bukAWWWWK!
Cranky... as has been illustrated on similar ballots many of the greatest patriots (which I listed) in US history did not fight in a war. If Hillary Clinton were president would she be unpatriotic because she did not go to war too?
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