ok, can we not bash the military, if for no other reason than we have members who are in the military?

I never said people who are in the military are stupid.

I just said joining the military is a stupid idea. A lot.

The chicken and the egg.

Reserve yourself, Zark.

Would you say the same thing if Kach wanted to join...the mounties??? Eh? They are...sort of like the military.

Only with horses and flared pants.

Joining the military is not a stupid idea, and proper respect should be shown to those willing to serve.

Now I may be wrong on this, so I'll let Beff or someone who knows more about the Mounties than I do correct me on this one if I am, but ignoring their history and concentrating on present times, I wouldn't really describe the RCMP as a military in any definition of the word, unless police forces are now considered the military. Military implies a group that would be sent off to fight a war (internal or external) and I'm pretty sure the Mounties don't do that any more (yes I am well aware of their history having taken multiple Canadian History courses, but we're looking at the present, not at the 1870's).

Joining the military could very well be a stupid idea, for some. Just as the idea could turn out really well for some. To make a blanket statement like that is pretty ignorant, Zark. He's entitled to his opinion of the military, just as you're entitled to your opinion that it's stupid.

The only ignorance here is the idea of supplying more meat to a war machine.

Do not forget that the ultimate purpose and function of the military, regardless of cause or reason, is to destroy life. And contributing to that cause is, and always will be, stupid.

I will make all the blanket statements I like when it comes to merchants of death.

The purpoose of the military is also to PROTECT its citizens. So in a scenario where your country was being invaded, you wouldn't want a military to protect you?
There are cases where military means is the only way to establish certain rights and freedoms. It would be great if every problem could be solved through peaceful negotiations but that's not how the world works.

Then there are other situations where military powers are abused, of course that's wrong and I don't think anyone here is saying it isn't. In my personal opinion, using military action should be the LAST option after all others have failed.

Merchants of death? War machine? Are you serious? What are you even talking about? I don't think Kach is going over the options for his future saying, I think I want to be a Merchant of death, I'll join the Marines.

The problem with blanket statements is, they're almost always incorrect, just as yours was.