I said I didn't know anything about you other than what you wrote on this thread, you little contortionist.
Now - are you an American? Do you support Operation Iraqi Freedom? Do you support our troops? Are you a pacifist? Are you a Democrat?
The people on this thread arguing with you are ALL military supporters, ALL understand the stress of combat, and ALL still respect our troops - perhaps even more because we DO understand.
The fact that our military has endured what most of us could never deal with IN ORDER TO KEEP US SAFE and come back strong, and LESS suicidal or violent than their peers is an indication of their strength and stability. Do you believe that?
So far you have posted NOTHING in support of the men and women in uniform, so until you do, it is fair to believe that you are anti-military, just like CNN and the NYTimes that you quoted.
Tell us who you are and what you think of our military and their mission, and we can go from there. Unless you can do that, consider my conversation with you finished.
“I said I didn’t know anything about you other than what you wrote on this thread” No. You said, “Every post you’ve written indicates that you’re an anti-military leftist.” I was responding to that.
“I’d like to see proof that you’re not.” Prove that someone is not ______ (fill in the blank.) Can’t prove this negative as much as you can’t prove the negative that you’re a _____ (fill in the blank.) Using the argumentum ad ignorantiam is intellectually dishonest.
Now, to your specific questions:
Are you an American? My whole life (Or, because it’s funny, to quote Rick Baline: “I’m a drunkard.”)
Do you support Operation Iraqi Freedom? The dust on my boots from Iraq and Afghanistan should answer that.
Do you support our troops? In thought, word and deed.
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Are you a pacifist? As much as Ike was. “I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity.”
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Are you a Democrat? “There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle.” Alexis de Tocqueville
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“The fact that our military has endured what most of us could never deal with IN ORDER TO KEEP US SAFE and come back strong, and LESS suicidal or violent than their peers...” IMHO, “LESS” is immaterial. Through April, the Army reported 64 confirmed or potential active-duty suicides, compared with 39 confirmed suicides in the same period last year. The 129 confirmed suicides for all of 2008 marked a record high since the Army started tracking them in 1980. (20.2/100K Mil avg & 11/100K Nat’l avg.) They are stressed, they are suffering and putting one’s head in the sand or using “patriotic platitudes” won’t change the facts.
Query: What’s an acceptable number of military suicides?
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“...is an indication of their strength and stability.” It’s a sure indication that combat changes everyone — some more than others. It’s our responsibility to give the necessary and appropriate treatment to those who need it — both service members and thier families — and make sure they are neither punished nor ostracized for seeking help.
Query: Do you believe that?
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“it is fair to believe that you are anti-military, just like CNN and the NYTimes.” To quote Gates, “The press is not the enemy.” They aren’t our friends, but they aren’t the spawn of Satan, either.
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“What you think of our military and their mission.” A little broad, would you not say? Maybe at a later date or after a more refined question
Query: “What do you think of life, death and immortality?”