Uncommon Honesty
Interesting personal diary on Daily Kos. After visiting an Army recruiter this dude decides he doesn't have it in him to enlist.
My fellow Americans were dying in a far off land and I was sitting in my nice house doing nothing.
That I heard a guy/gal was going back for their second, third, and now even fourth tour just didn't seem right. Maybe I ought to do something.
But when the time came to get serious I was gutless. I couldn't do it.
I found it was easier to talk about projecting force, then actually picking up a gun and doing it myself. This realization made me feel really, really small.It is something I have only mentioned to one person. Not something I am proud of. But something I won't ever forget about myself.
OYE Comment: There's something strangely admirable in this. Sure, he didn't 'man-up' and enlist, but his honesty with himself in realizing he doesn't have it in him to serve is certainly more brave than anything Peter Beinart or Anthony Mantova are capable of.
Labels: Anthony Mantova, Peter Beinart
posted by Wek @ 1/28/2009 07:41:00 PM
29 comments
29 Comments:
Sounds like a coward to me. Nothing to admire here.
teufelhunden- Yeah, you're probably right. Since we deal with Young Republicans I suppose we set the bar fairly low with what we find admirable.
Well, it seems to me the only difference between this guy, who you admire, and a typical young Republican, who you would heap scorn on, is that the Kossack admits to being "gutless."
So, logically, the only thing one of the targets of your mockery would need to do is explain why they weren't serving, with "I'm too scared to" being an acceptable response.
Right now, we have Democrats in control of the elected branches of the federal government. They oversea and support a tough, deadly war in Asia, that's stretching our military. And yet, Democrats young and old never seem to get any badgering from OYE.
I am a young republican. And no, i'm not interested in being "featured" on your lame ass blog. So stop e-mailing me and other CRs and YRs. Oh, and before you start calling me a coward, you might want to google "teufelhunden"
Leigh, even if you're telling the truth (which is very doubtful)
It doesn't vicariously get your craven College Repug buddies off the hook.
It's clear you despise this person for being honest rather than for being afraid to serve
A Chickenhawk is worse than a coward. For he champions a war which spills blood and scars body, soul and mind of others yet he has not the courage of his convictions.
"A Chickenhawk is worse than a coward. For he champions a war which spills blood and scars body, soul and mind of others yet he has not the courage of his convictions."
Well said.
Btw, Leigh is that really you? Why change your posting name and not tell anyone? That's not very nice and kinda sneaky too. Why would you do that and not tell anyone? I mean, you seemed so upset that WEK "ignored" you last time. Then you go and change your name. What gives?
So have you learned about TWO time medal of honor winner and Marine Corps legend Smedley Butler yet? Heard the phrase "War is a racket"? Look into it. He's a hero of mine and all Marines.
Semper Fi tough guy,
-Ernie
seems rather obvious it me. What other CR finds sport in taunting the lot of you? PS. i think it's HILARIOUS that robash still refuses to believe i joined the Marine Corps. Maybe he wants to road trip out to quantico with me when I ship to OCS.
Leigh, I think your chances of getting into OCS are pretty marginal at best.
All the selection commitee has to do is see that YouTube of your little Sean Penn stunt and they would know without a doubt you're both mentally defective and emotionally unstable. Not to mention pathologically dishonest. Those are Hardly the qualities they will be looking for in a potential officer.
That's not to say that I'm attempting to discourage Leigh from serving in the Marine Corps. I just believe that Leigh's "talents" such as they are, would be better utilized as an infantry grunt.
Robash, glad to know you're a fan of my work. Unfortunately for your argument, so is my OSO. Hey Robash, how was boot camp for you? Tell me about your experience becoming a Marine Corps officer. I could REALLY use the advice. What was your duty station? Any preferences?
Of course the recruiter is going to tell you you're great. Schmoozing is a big part of their job.
So have you been accepted to OCS or not?
just give a straight answer for once Leigh.
Simon- you're attempting to add more words to my post than I actually wrote. I alluded to admiring his honesty, not him as a person. To use another example: I admire the White Stripes (band) creativity. This doesn't mean I have admiration for them as people. Additionally, if you come across anything where eligible-to-serve Democrats are calling for war please email them to me (the13thgeneration@gmail.com). I figured since the Democrats control nearly all of the Federal Govt there'd be a call to broaden military intervention in Africa to "stop teh genocide". My Google searches on such a topic have brought up nothing so I'd appreciate the help if you come across anything (admittedly I haven't researched any OYE topics in a week).
Leigh- You're becoming comedy. Particularly when you say "stop e-mailing me". Can you produce any email that I've sent you? Nope. Because I never have. I wonder what name you're going to use next? Montel Williams maybe since he's a famous Marine. And as Rob mentioned, it would be just peachy if you "give a straight answer for once".
I'm becoming comedy? haha. I don't owe you anything. I'm in, which is more than can be said for most of you. Why don't you focus your efforts where they belong, College Democrats who support Obama and his "national service initiative" who are still serving themselves and not their country.
Seems pretty straightforward to me-- the average Yellow Elephant who howls for more and more war but won't enlist is far worse than a coward. The Young Republican who has the stones to actually enlist after howling for more war is at least following the dicates of his conscience.
He's still crazy (not for enlisting, but for howling for more war), but it's a madness one can respect.
Leigh....errrr...teufelhunden, whatever you wish to be called now- I don't doubt you're "in". One thing we do here at OYE is take the person's word for it. So thanks for stepping forward (see if you can now work on some of your buddies within the CR's).
No question OYE is going to have to evolve with today's political realities (Dems in both the WH and a majority in both house and senate). We get by on tips from our readers, so if you have some Dems shooting their mouths off about giving back to the country but they're not walking-the-walk please send me an email (I encourage you to tell your CR comrades to help with this as well). We think it would be more fun to call a Dem a Yellow Elephant than a Republican. Really, what can be more insulting to them than that? Let's look at the situation though- Obama has been president for less than 2 weeks, so there isn't shit out there yet. So far my Dem research has pulled up zilch. Again, if you come across anything LET ME KNOW. You're on a college campus in San Fran for christsakes. Your eyes and ears should be in tune with what liberals are doing/not doing.
Also: Still waiting for you to post those emails I sent directly to you.
For a fellow who fancies himself as a champion of conservatism Leigh sure doesn't seem to have much respect for tradition.
He's basically telling the vets who read this blog that he doesn't owe them anything.
Of course he's forgetting who helped protect his ass form the godless Soviet socialists when he was still only capable crapping in his diapers.
I'm not an official representative of OYE , so I can feel free to call him a liar.
I'll call out anyone i believe is misrepresenting their military service
Wek:
Have you manned up and enlisted yet? With Obama in the White House, you no longer have an excuse.
Hey Look! Groeney's back! Where were you deployed?
I got tired of the same lame posts on this site. Thought I'd check in to see if Wek had enlisted now that gays can serve in the military. He no longer has an excuse.
Groenyyyyyyyyy!!!! Welcome back ole chum. With Groeny and Leigh this has officially become a Troll All-Star comment thread.
Wek:
You didn't answer my question.
Okay Groeny, let's have this conversation once more.
Groeny: Still haven't heard from Wek concerning where he is currently serving.
Wek: I am not currently serving, nor have I ever served. I attempted to enlist in the Army earlier this decade and was rejected due to a medical condition I was diagnosed with in my late 20's. It was the Army's decision not to accept me, not mine.
Groeny: Excuses, excuses.
NOTE: The above conversation is the same one Groeny and I had on 16 April. I just cut and paste our discussion here.
"And yet, Democrats young and old never seem to get any badgering from OYE."
I think the main reason that this is so is that, by and large, Democrats are not simultaneously advocating for war and refusing to enlist.
Devil dog,
Rob and I were in 'boot camp' (we called it 'basic training') together in Oklahoma, then at Ft. Benning for airborne school.
In my current job, I get to see many Marine Corps officers. I've served on committees with some, and my kid's buddy's dad is a captain in he Corps.
And all of the Marine Corps officers I've known over the years display a quality that you are sorely lacking - humility. None of them brag about how they might be going to some school soon. They frown on cadets in the Navy/Marine branch who are boastful.
When Rob and I were active duty, we used to see guys like you all the time.
There is a term for people who brag about what they might be in the future.
That's right Leigh, once the OCS selection committee gets a load of your lil' you tube performance, they might prefer to sign up Sean Penn instead of you.
After all, in the video, Penn calmly goes about his business in the face of Leigh's petulant sub-sophomoric antics.
I guess it was worth it Leigh to sacrifice every shred of your dignity in order to throw a monkey wrench in the Kucinich 08 electoral juggernaut
"Wek: I am not currently serving, nor have I ever served. I attempted to enlist in the Army earlier this decade and was rejected due to a medical condition I was diagnosed with in my late 20's. It was the Army's decision not to accept me, not mine."
Again, I don't buy your excuse. Prove it.
Again, I. Could. Not. Care. Less. What. You. "Buy".
If you choose not to believe me I assure you I'll still get about the same amount of sleep every night.
"Again, I. Could. Not. Care. Less. What. You. "Buy".
If you choose not to believe me I assure you I'll still get about the same amount of sleep every night."
My thoughts exactly.
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