Once You've Had Iraqi, You'll Never Go Backy

Phaedrus · Jul 14, 2003

Not because it's such amazing stuff (although it might be.) It's just that the teensy-weensy lil problem of all those dead folk in Iraq and all those live infantrymen being strewn to the winds, combined with America's nagging refusal to re-embrace the draft they loved so much in the past (so much so that the current commander of the most powerful military in the world dodged it!) that we just can't let you go, just yet.

Now of course, we're talking about the 3rd Infantry, many of whom have now been in Iraqi for almost a year, and who were told they would be going home this September -- but like democratic elections in the country they invaded, as of today the soldiers' "temporary deferrment" of a ticket home has been indefinitely prolonged.

Oh well. Hate to see it happen to them, because I'm sure many of them are fine, outstanding young Americans, and I mean that. But if you didn't want to get strewn around the globe and stuck there for an idneterminate period of time and watch your fellow soldiers get blown away by the very people your boss told you would be cheering when they saw you coming, well ... shoulda stayed in school kids, or gone to work at Home Depot or something.

Phaedrus

Jointpleasure · Jul 15, 2003

Volunteer Armed Forces Baby!! Pay raises and bonuses to re-enlist. This jobo ain't for pussies either. This ain't the sixties anymore. Got to get over it.

Phaedrus · Jul 15, 2003

Joint, I bet you're a lot easier to like in person than you are here. Do you ever think before you speak?

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote">quote:<HR>This jobo ain't for pussies either. This ain't the sixties anymore.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I resectfully suggest that the pussy ratio in the US Armed Forces is much higher today than it was in previous generations. Kids get medals for showing up to work on time, the benefits packages have all manner of incentive to get married and start a family (very bad ideas for active military personnel imho) and there's a counseler standing by to help you get over all the things that in days gone by were supposed to make you a better soldier.

Phaedrus

Jointpleasure · Jul 16, 2003

My hockey team vs. Phaedrus' hockey team.

My team consists of only those who WANT to play. They have the desire to play, they train to play the game.

Your team consists of a random selection of all those in the school. ( draft )

My team beat the hell out of yours!

Jointpleasure · Jul 16, 2003

As far as my likability in person as compared to the forum,

your right- I smile a lot.

Phaedrus · Jul 16, 2003

I think I might have officially seen it all now. A knee-jerk neocon lapdog so desperate to stick up for his idiot brigade that he's willing to diminish the memory of men who fought in wars he wasn't old enough to support yet.

Tell me something, were people drafted to fight in Vietnam <losers> because they didn't manage to dodge it like your hero W.?

Like I said, you really need to practice thinking before speaking.

Phaedrus

Jointpleasure · Jul 17, 2003

Nice attempt at twisting my posts. I would expect nothing less from you. Satan was very good at twisting scripture. You're just not very good at it.

Phaedrus · Jul 17, 2003

Well, here's what I read:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote">quote:<HR>Volunteer Armed Forces Baby!! Pay raises and bonuses to re-enlist. This jobo ain't for pussies either. This ain't the sixties anymore. Got to get over it.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

And this is what I think you're saying:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote">quote:<HR>The armed forces today is a generally higher-quality bunch than previous generations; so much so that one might well refer to previous generations of soldiers as "pussies."<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

And I countered this, suggesting that the armed forces have if anything gotten less *manly* onver the years than more so, due to various psychological and social factors not present in soldiers of the past.

Then you said:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote">quote:<HR>My hockey team vs. Phaedrus' hockey team.

My team consists of only those who WANT to play. They have the desire to play, they train to play the game.

Your team consists of a random selection of all those in the school. ( draft )

My team beat the hell out of yours!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Which I interpret to mean:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote">quote:<HR>Soldiers who voluntarily enlist will generally make better soldiers than those who are drafted<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

And I concur. But your insinuation that all soldiers in the 60's were drafted is ridiculous and downright insulting to the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have voluntarily signed up for military duty over the years, vs. the relatively small number who were forced in by draft.

And you say:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote">quote:<HR>Nice attempt at twisting my posts. I would expect nothing less from you. Satan was very good at twisting scripture. You're just not very good at it.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Which I interpret as

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote">quote:<HR>I ran out of steam with my argument, so I'll just compare you to a half-assed Satan and hope that sticks.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well, Satan is derived from the Hebrew word for "questioner," so in a sense the moniker fits.

Remember: first think, then speak.

Phaedrus

Jointpleasure · Jul 17, 2003

You think wrong

"The job ain't for pussies either"
vs.
The job ain't for pussies anymore

See the diffence. Twister.

Satan = "adversary"

Phaedrus · Jul 17, 2003

The word actually translates as "accuser" and has often been ascribed to mean "adversary." But as with most ancient languages, context is extremely important in Hebrew, as words can have different meanings, or a different range of similar and even synonymous meanings based on the context in which they are used.

In the context in which the name is ascribed to the angel who *questions* the wisdom and authority of the Lord, I think that "questioner" is the more appropriate interpretation of it's use. Biblical scholars have identified with both "questioner" and "accuser" as being possible appropriate contextual translations of "Satan."

I do not consider myself your adversary, Joint. But I question a lot of things, not just things you say. Hence my lean towards the "questioner" translation.

Phaedrus