The war, and class.

[Anonymous]

I recently heard a story about a local woman who lost her only child to the war in Iraq. The family seemed to be squarely lower middle class, and poorly educated. I have noticed that the folks in Washington who decide what wars we fight, have NO intention of placing their own children on the front. The men and women who fight seem to come from a demographic that is not represented among policy makers.

What happens when they wake up and realize that they are being used to fight for "us"?

[Anonymous]

Hmm John McCain has two sons who are in the military in case you weren't aware.

[Anonymous]

I was in the Army for 6 yrs. I would say I am middle class, and I never felt I was being "used." I joined voluntarily and knew what I was getting into.

[Anonymous]

Are they on the front line? Also, is that the norm for the children of congressmen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I was in the Army for 6 yrs. I would say I am middle class, and I never felt I was being "used." I joined voluntarily and knew what I was getting into.

You might have a different opinion if you had been maimed, and had a few years to think about it.

[Anonymous]

one of his son's is in Iraq and I think the other is still in training. Sorry but McCain would be the last person trying to get his kids a cushy out--you may not like his politics but shirking responsibility is not his style. There are many other Congressmen/Senators with children serving-you may not hear a lot about it since they are, in fact, targets and I can understand wanting to keep that under wraps for their safety as well as for the people serving with them. I can understand not liking the war but we have a fully volunteer military and all people now in Iraq now either reenlisted while war was on or joined during war so no one was tricked.

[Anonymous]

On one level, they were tricked, they were told that this was all about Sept 11. Not true.

[Anonymous]

Just to give this another perspective: people who send other people's children to war, and moreover, who order operations which result in deaths of hundred of thousands of civilians, including children, these people do not necessarily posses feelings and emotions like normal people.

They might think they love their own children, but their children are means to an end just like other people's children. In my opinion, something is wrong in their heads and they are incapable of compassion and empathy towards anyone. How can anyone live with themselves knowing that they caused so many deaths??? And yes, I'm referring to Iraqi civilians along with American soldiers.

[Anonymous]

You might have a different opinion if you had been maimed, and had a few years to think about it.

You have no idea what my circumstances are right now, or whether I have been maimed or not. I am the best person to judge how I would or do feel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I was in the Army for 6 yrs. I would say I am middle class, and I never felt I was being "used." I joined voluntarily and knew what I was getting into.

Did the military pay for your education? Were you an officer? I think it's a bit different if you are an enlistee, straight out of high school and on the front lines, than say a college educated military person who goes to officer candidate school. Plus, were you in the military during a time of war?

[Anonymous]

officers have died as well and with honor. As for enlistees, it's again a choice to go into the military and saying belittling someone for that decision is just wrong. I know many enlisted soldiers who are proud to serve.

[Anonymous]

I've had a number of veterans of the Gulf War and the Iraq conflict in my classes as graduate students, plus veterans from prior to those conflicts. With very few exceptions, they have come from the middle class. They get excellent benefits, including full educational benefits, if they sustain any sort of disability during their active duty service. Reservists also get good benefits if they sustain a disability during their reserve time. One of my students had a dislocated thumb sustained during a skiing accident. He got full educational benefits to earn a bachelor's and master's degree. He went on to counsel veterans in the university system on how to maximize their benefits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What happens when they wake up and realize that they are being used to fight for "us"?

What do you propose? There be no military?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've had a number of veterans of the Gulf War and the Iraq conflict in my classes as graduate students, plus veterans from prior to those conflicts. With very few exceptions, they have come from the middle class. They get excellent benefits, including full educational benefits, if they sustain any sort of disability during their active duty service. Reservists also get good benefits if they sustain a disability during their reserve time. One of my students had a dislocated thumb sustained during a skiing accident. He got full educational benefits to earn a bachelor's and master's degree. He went on to counsel veterans in the university system on how to maximize their benefits.

You sound like a recruiter. I worked at the VA. Even before the War on Terror began, there was not enough money to provide services to the many maimed and ill veterans, whether they were 20 or 85 yo. Then after the war in Iraq began, the administration cut the VA's budget even more ... but it was kept well under the radar, bc as the politicos like to say, we take care of the veterans who protected our country. The news that got out on Walter Reed is just a blip and scratch on the surface of what the general public knows for now. Maybe the rest of the stories will come out in torrents after the current administration leaves the White House.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had a number of veterans of the Gulf War and the Iraq conflict in my classes as graduate students, plus veterans from prior to those conflicts. With very few exceptions, they have come from the middle class. They get excellent benefits, including full educational benefits, if they sustain any sort of disability during their active duty service. Reservists also get good benefits if they sustain a disability during their reserve time. One of my students had a dislocated thumb sustained during a skiing accident. He got full educational benefits to earn a bachelor's and master's degree. He went on to counsel veterans in the university system on how to maximize their benefits.

You sound like a recruiter. I worked at the VA. Even before the War on Terror began, there was not enough money to provide services to the many maimed and ill veterans, whether they were 20 or 85 yo. Then after the war in Iraq began, the administration cut the VA's budget even more ... but it was kept well under the radar, bc as the politicos like to say, we take care of the veterans who protected our country. The news that got out on Walter Reed is just a blip and scratch on the surface of what the general public knows for now. Maybe the rest of the stories will come out in torrents after the current administration leaves the White House.

Not a recruiter. A professor who has also worked as a psychologist at the VA. In my experience, veterans who pursue funds for vocational rehabilitation have found that their needs were met or exceeded. I wouldn't argue that all veterans do this well, but, again, in my experience veterans are (a) often from middle-class backgrounds, and (b) able to secure funds for vocational rehabilitation that include funding for college, if that's where their interests lie.