Should we feel sympathy for soldiers who willingly sign up for war and die in war?

It is the soldier, not the reporter, Who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, Who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the organizer, Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.It is the soldier, Who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag, And whose coffin is draped by the flag, Who allows the protestor to burn the flag.

- Father Dennis Edward O'Brian, USMC (often incorrectly attributed to Charles M. Province).

Well, I joined when I was 17 and am now convinced that Americans are basically retarded until age 25. I don't feel sorry for them personally...I weep for the families and for a nation that remains a shadow of its former glory. Now, the federal government basically recruits child soldiers for cannon-fodder all in the name of "freedom" and "liberty" to fight "terrorism."

What freedom? What liberty? We already had those things and have been slowly giving them away for 10 years.

I have a lot of sympathy for their parents and family members.

Yes, because regardless of where these individuals are being sent they are still offering up their lives for our freedom. The oath which a serviceman or woman takes requires them to protect against enemies both foreign and domestic, and thus we need a standing military of some sort.

Yeah because people don't sign up for "war". That's ignorant and disrespectful. How the hell do you know the reasons for millions of Americans whom decided to join the military?

Most join for money. Others because they want to pursue a career. Others might join for financial security and educational opportunities.No one joins because they want to go to "war" and kill.

That is the dumbest statement I've ever heard. And by the way, I promise you, 99% of service men and women don't give a sh*t about your sympathy. They're doing what they're doing either for themselves, or because they believe they are serving a greater cause.

Also, the military personnel in the picture are Marines, not soldiers.

While I'm ready to see the wars ends, I still have compassion for those who have lost their lives in service to this nation.

No and yes; and you're officially the most honest person I have met on Hubpages. Most people who thank soldiers for their service and kiss their asses are thinking "service is for suckers" as they shake hands. That's what you get in a society of stratophiles--hypocrits filled with guilt.

Let me start off by saying that most soldiers exaggerate their service and outright lie about their combat experiences anyway. I am a veteran of the Iraq War from the last decade. I came to realize that the army is not a war-fighting force, but a giant public relations organization--more concerned with gaining public support through subversion than winning its military campaigns.

When an army shifts its focus from warfare and training and moves it toward covering its ass and attempting to justify its existence, it is behaving more like a 16th Century mercenary force and less like a professional army. We do not have a citizen army of ordinary kids conscripted from regular society, like we did in the '40s, '50s, and '60s. We also don't have state Volunteers or state militias, like we did in the 19th Century.

We don't have mandatory national service, like the peaceful Swiss or other European countries. Our army today is made up of a segregated sub-culture of Americans. It is terrible when someone is killed, but we have to stop deluding ourselves into thinking that soldiers are dying because they are "protecting our freedom".

Soldiers are there because the government sent them there. The government sent them there to control access to important resources in the two weakest countries in the Middle East. We have to stop allowing our emotions or sense of guilt get the better of us if we are to understand why people are dying or whether or not it is for a good cause.

Any reasonable soldier who served in combat would agree.

BukowskiBabe- I agree, thanks for stopping byKlevifusha- you seem really, really angry, I was angry when I was 19 too, it will pass and you will learn from experience. I noticed on your profile that you joined the Marines, good luck to you. I have to disagree with your statement that people don't join the military to go to war.

I have several friends and know of many people who did just that after 9-11. If I know a handful, surely there are more. When you enlist in the military you absolutely sign up for war.

Just remember, your life will be in the hands of a politician, that's like playing Russian roulette with your life. Seicheprey: thanks for answering, I appreciate it. I too feel compassion even though I think most of the deaths are senseless.

Old Empresario: thanks for your honesty, you are now my new favorite Hub member.

I see you've asked a very touchy question...good for you. I'm glad you are speaking your mind. The same angry replies come from people who don't like their belief in religion challenged.

But once you've closed your mind, you become ignorant. To answer your question;I only feel sympathy for those duped into believing that our men and women are overseas fighting to protect our freedom and our liberty; When in fact, they are really actually just working for the government. Our agenda overseas has nothing at all to do with freedom.

I think that's just a way to make us all feel good about sending our loved ones away. It's all about oil, money, power and whatever else the United States wants at any given time. Democracy you say?

Hmmm think again...we only care about another country when there's something we want from them. While I do respect anyone's decision to join the military, (my own husband was in the Air Force for 13 years) I wish that we would stop sugar coating what the military is. It's a job.

I hear people say all the time, "bring our soldiers home"....well, have you ever thought about what you're going to do with over 3 million people "at home" with no jobs? The military is a big machine. There's always a reason to fight because if we don't keep fighting over "something", then all those service men and women will be home looking for work.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.