tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708573327624049255.post652979857232220557..comments2023-08-23T04:32:52.745-07:00Comments on Castra Praetoria: Debunking lies about the militaryAmerica's SgtMaj.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18372694326233766726noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708573327624049255.post-24644643990336440912012-03-17T13:03:59.401-07:002012-03-17T13:03:59.401-07:00I have felt safer around military men than I have ...I have felt safer around military men than I have civilian men. I'll even take a room full of armed Veterans with PTSD over a room full of civilians. There are bad apples in every bunch, but I get tired of all the lies, manipulation of information, and spurred myth as fact. You did a good job of using facts to extinguish the lies and myths.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01576984124919347135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708573327624049255.post-69493127581898800402012-03-14T22:06:50.781-07:002012-03-14T22:06:50.781-07:00Great post. I have heard many of the same comments...Great post. I have heard many of the same comments from my shipmates, that the females feel safer around military. . .NavyOnehttp://themellowjihadi.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708573327624049255.post-24470771518890653812012-03-14T16:59:40.509-07:002012-03-14T16:59:40.509-07:00Do people in America really think this way about u...<i>Do people in America really think this way about us</i><br /><br />Only the ones who write letters to the NY Times.Shayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16527241089629026268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708573327624049255.post-82552441158315201322012-03-14T11:58:18.460-07:002012-03-14T11:58:18.460-07:00One thing should be added to this great article. ...One thing should be added to this great article. To the claim that a volunteer military trolling the economic bottom for its recruits. http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2008/08/who-serves-in-the-us-military-the-demographics-of-enlisted-troops-and-officers<br /><br />We in the military tend to recruit higher income people both as officers and enlisted than are represented by the general population. The same can be said for education.Dave Coylenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708573327624049255.post-61238249749747998222012-03-13T12:06:06.502-07:002012-03-13T12:06:06.502-07:00Please don't think that everyone thinks badly ...Please don't think that everyone thinks badly of our military. Absolutely untrue. Only the Lefties who can't see past their feelings about themselves would ever go there. There are many Americans who respect you all and are grateful every single second that you are all brave enough to sign up or accept a commission. <br /><br />The NYT is garbage anyway. Don't bother reading it. Cut it up and use it in the outhouse, yes. Read it, no way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708573327624049255.post-48495341201049490412012-03-13T11:26:39.972-07:002012-03-13T11:26:39.972-07:00A1SG
Just thought I would chime in here from an “...A1SG<br /><br />Just thought I would chime in here from an “outsiders” perspective of someone who is not in the military, (and doesn’t know of any friends/family members etc who have served in the military either). I agree with all your points in your post above and do find it a shame that at times the media portrays the military in such as negative light. (However, you might be hard pressed to find any organization or group that the media consistently portrays in a positive light). <br /><br />I would guess that most people like myself don’t read blogs like yours (at least most of the people I know), so we tend to get our information from what we were taught and the mainstream media. Therefore, if you are really upset about this and would like to set the record straight, then perhaps you should write a rebuttal to the NYT stating your facts and just what you wrote in your post. I know it’s not your job to write a rebuttal and educate us “outsiders” about these things, and it must be extremely frustrating to have to do so when you are already doing your job of serving our country. Yet,if I had never read a few of the books (written by those people who served in the military)which exposed me to another point of view, (which in turn then led me to blogs like yours), I might have been inclined to agree somewhat with the original author based on how I saw the world and what I was exposed to.<br /><br />I could be wrong, but from my limited perspective, you are “preaching to the choir” in your blog. Therefore, your message might be better served by illuminating the minds of those of us who don’t often get exposed to your point of view. Perhaps by responding to the article, you can persuade some people to re-examine their point of view. <br /><br />~SAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708573327624049255.post-23146907579049292142012-03-13T10:19:09.140-07:002012-03-13T10:19:09.140-07:001st Sgt,
I find all of this talk absolutely ironi...1st Sgt,<br /><br />I find all of this talk absolutely ironic.<br /><br />I am a Marine Corps prosecutor and I have found that commands have a (sometimes) over the top desire to press forward on any suspicion of a sexual assault.<br /><br />While there always will be unreported sexual violence (in both the civilian world and the military), the military, through its restricted or unrestricted reporting, does just about all it can to encourage victims to report the case and seek help (even if they don't want a prosecution).<br /><br />From my "real world" perspective, the Marine Corps is at the forefront (as always) of the fight against sexual assault and takes the cases deadly serious.<br /><br />Thanks and keep up the good work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708573327624049255.post-71312573141304027232012-03-13T09:33:44.084-07:002012-03-13T09:33:44.084-07:00America's 1stSgt:
Think of Kipling's &quo...America's 1stSgt:<br /><br />Think of Kipling's "Tommy". This sort of thing has been going on for a long time.<br /><br />Paul L. QuandtAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708573327624049255.post-79816495393143783142012-03-13T03:17:16.535-07:002012-03-13T03:17:16.535-07:00A1stSGT,
Just for the record, studies have shown ...A1stSGT,<br /><br />Just for the record, studies have shown that commenters on news articles are, on average, 78% less rational and 37% less human than actual people off the internet.<br /><br />Note that I'm using the same methodology as those types of news articles.<br /><br />(pulling numbers out of my posterior and saying they're a problem)<br /><br />-MAAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708573327624049255.post-91689201970210688732012-03-12T22:48:33.836-07:002012-03-12T22:48:33.836-07:00After 22 years, (all the way back to the Tailhook ...After 22 years, (all the way back to the Tailhook years in the Navy) and I have to tell you I have been treated with nothing but respect the entire time. Sometimes treated like a sister, always like a friend, in more recent times like a mother figure. I honestly can say I have never been afraid of my Shipmates, (be they Sailors, Marines, Soldiers, etc.) I actually feel MUCH safer around my military friends than I do in a 100% civilian setting. Something about knowing we all "have each other's back" brings that comfort - and that feeling is something that those who have never served are sadly missing.Lil' Chantillyhttp://heelsandhandguns.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708573327624049255.post-75681747145950689982012-03-12T21:50:27.048-07:002012-03-12T21:50:27.048-07:00Kelsey, no worries, I'm not mad at ya'. Ev...Kelsey, no worries, I'm not mad at ya'. Even though it is an opinion piece it ususes numbers and figures to justify that opinion. When those figures are untrue then it is up to us to run up the BS flag. I agree sexual assault is an issue. I have written the the subject a number of times and probably will again. My focus on this post had more to do with statements made in the comments of the piece in question.America's SgtMaj.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18372694326233766726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708573327624049255.post-69470857338970998942012-03-12T21:14:39.690-07:002012-03-12T21:14:39.690-07:00I'm not disagreeing with you, but I just thoug...I'm not disagreeing with you, but I just thought I should point out that what you referenced is an editorial, not an article. As in, it is one person's opinion as expressed by that person, not claiming to be unbiased fact like a normal article should be.Kelseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01652969324165800883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708573327624049255.post-30948998816039698062012-03-12T17:57:22.266-07:002012-03-12T17:57:22.266-07:00Um, I'm so glad I live where i am free to expr...Um, I'm so glad I live where i am free to express my opinions even if they are not worth the air I use to expell them. But, I am rather ashamed to admit I live in the same place as some who are too free with their's, lol.Tikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04376228013103091252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708573327624049255.post-67269251754778697462012-03-12T15:40:30.838-07:002012-03-12T15:40:30.838-07:00And there are apparently people out there who woul...And there are apparently people out there who would like to see justice within the military become the travesty it is on college campuses, where in some instances, even less than "a preponderance of evidence" can be used to ruin a young man's life.<br /><br />http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903596904576516232905230642.html<br /><br />http://www.aei.org/article/society-and-culture/race-and-gender/in-making-campuses-safe-for-women-a-travesty-of-justice-for-men/<br /><br />http://www.city-journal.org/2008/18_1_campus_rape.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708573327624049255.post-69537696649249195602012-03-12T14:28:43.432-07:002012-03-12T14:28:43.432-07:00I don't even get mad anymore. Some people just...I don't even get mad anymore. Some people just don't get it, and they never will. I've stopped trying to explain that as a female soldier I've never had any problems like this.<br /><br />Anybody else wish they'd just portray us as normal people? Not monsters, but not perfect heroes, either.Sakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17926552286737174931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708573327624049255.post-17647808506623595072012-03-12T09:56:12.298-07:002012-03-12T09:56:12.298-07:00All of the above, same hereAll of the above, same hereLin Barkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05039914780032881970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708573327624049255.post-14358473583477448942012-03-12T09:52:58.705-07:002012-03-12T09:52:58.705-07:00Of course, maybe the other reason these idiots pos...Of course, maybe the other reason these idiots posting those unbelievably stupid comments do so is that they are jealous--they wish they had been in the military but were too ---- to do so (wimpy, "cool-for-school," distracted, other adjective), and to make themselves feel better about it, they have to contrive some way to be "smugly superior." <br /><br />It must hurt their very best feelings-you got some clown, born in with a silver spoon in their mouth, went to the "right" day care to go on the track for the "right" college--Stanford, Harvard, wherever. Trips to Europe, fancy summer camps. And some shmo from the wrong side of the tracks joins the military and has a waaaaaaay more interesting life and does waaaaaaay cooler stuff...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708573327624049255.post-59172569908049774512012-03-12T09:28:26.557-07:002012-03-12T09:28:26.557-07:00I recently read about an in-depth statistical anal...I recently read about an in-depth statistical analysis performed on AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT of data concerning prison populations. And the upshot was that military alumni represent a statistically significantly SMALLER percentage of inmates than would be expected if they had the same sort of criminal bent as the general non-military population. Basically, the conclusion was to the effect that if you expect military personnel to be at least as criminal as non, you would be seeing higher numbers. (I hope I was clear with that. Basically, there are statistically significantly fewer criminals in the military-or former military-- than in the population as a whole.)<br /><br />Which to me, makes perfect sense. My understanding is that the military tries to inculcate members with the ideas of duty and honor, very moral concepts. Sure, in any group of people you get bad apples. But no ones thinks that because of one George Huguely, that all college lacrosse players are crazy jealous murderous thugs. <br /><br />Thanks to Oliver Stone and the NYT, people are left with the Hollywood idea of crazed soldiers, fragging dudes they don't like on the battlefield, one heartbeat away from climbing the clock tower with a high powered rifle.<br /><br />And the comment, "Our volunteer army collects too many from the bottom of the class, too many seeking employment, too many losers. And it is not democratic."--Insulting to so many people on so many levels. I grew up in a part of the country where there were a lot of very poor people and not a lot of opportunity. The military provided a job, an education, a way out, a chance for improvement. People I know who volunteered were all hard-working, honest, honorable people who fared much better than their counterparts which stayed at home. And this was back when we were not involved in any conflicts, and none were on the horizon. People who volunteer now, during war, are to me even more impressive, because these are people who are clearly willing to lay their lives on the line for our country. (Not like that wasn't true of my contemporaries; it just wasn't quite as obvious that they would have to be prepared to do so at that time.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708573327624049255.post-56085208223875484422012-03-12T09:07:56.118-07:002012-03-12T09:07:56.118-07:00I expect nothing less than misinformation from Hel...I expect nothing less than misinformation from Hell's Bible, so I am not shocked. It's frustrating, but I am glad that we have people like you and CI-Roller to debunk crap like this. Our enemy is indeed the mainstream media.Erikanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708573327624049255.post-23297328834721171702012-03-12T08:07:45.350-07:002012-03-12T08:07:45.350-07:00Top, I'm going to tell you this makes my blood...Top, I'm going to tell you this makes my blood boil. Some of the smartest folks I ever ran into were in the US MILITARY in Iraq. Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force--- and they followed the rules and always tried to do the correct thing. <br />Of course, when you put young males and females in close quarters, the horemones kick it... but 99% of the time I saw them treat each other like brother and sister (in my case I treated most of the females like my daughters). <br />The Military is drawn from society ... we don't find troops under rocks...they come from high schools, some have college, many scored very high in the entry test and all who joined after 9/11/01 knew they might go to a war...and they joined anyway. I even knew some who left very good civilian jobs to serve. <br />I can think of dozens I met in the service that I would want to come to my home and be a friend for the rest of my life....I can't say that about many civilians. <br />Top, Don't forget, often the media writes about something because they have an agenda...the problem is, the rest of America reads that crap and thinks it's all true.CI-Roller Dudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10850472230525879415noreply@blogger.com