Thanks for the warm welcome to your thread, Josh. Yeah, I guess I do tend to come and go on SI.
We are certainly on the same wavelength with everything you said.
I just don't know how it has gotten to this point where the military and law enforcement are shown such little respect. Certainly it has much to do with the mainstream media, which thrives on uncovering negative examples of both (which examples will always occur in such large populations). On the other hand, the calibre of the police and military personnel that I run into has never been higher. Nor do I believe that the services are having too much trouble filling their quotas.
I am a firm believer in universal military training, not because it is particularly necessary for manpower, but because it is such a positive life-changing experience for the individual. Whether it be the military, the Peace Corps, Community Service, or similar, I think everyone ought to be obliged to render a period of service to their country. If we knew that every physically-capable adult in the nation had thus paid their dues, I think it would greatly enhance the civility of social discourse. Even on SI.
Of course, the military would want no part of my idea, and I can't blame them :-)
Best wishes for your thread to thrive,
JC (which please call me). |
