Comments on: Obama To Army Vet: No Lower Drinking Age

At MTV Forum, Democrat Says He Sympathizes But Would Keep Drinking Age At 21

[jasonwlh]

ranger1948
I''m happy to hear that your daughter is such a responsible person. However, I''m sure she is an exception, rather than the norm. Now let''s get back on topic. I come from a country where the legal age of drinking and military draft are both 18. We were young and silly, had money, and nothing else better to spend it on. I can tell you most of us have drunk ourselves silly back then. Often just before reporting for duty. Having an 18 year-old fight a war for you is bad enough. But an 18 year-old kid with no self-control running around Iraq with a rifle and a hangover?

By the way, I think your capslock key was stuck.

[brianbwb-2009]

"I think if your going to liv in another country you should learn the language." Posted by ranger1948

Agreed 100%, also if you are going to war, knowing the language and customs of the people in whose land you are fighting is also important. I also agree that American civilians are some of the most belligerent, arrogant, rude, racist, and ignorant visitors to these parts, with Brits and Aussies tied for second place, and the French third, but I have seen, read, and heard enough incidents involving US servicemen to bring me to the conclusion that no armed American should ever be drunk in this part of the world, they are bad enough as tourists.

But to make a correction, I have not served, but I have family and friends, as well as business associates who have. I have been living since 1985, in Indonesia, and Singapore, doing business from Ulaan Bator, in Mongolia to Bali, and most places in between, I speak several of the languages here, and have lived with many cultures, not just hotels but in rented apartments, "on the street" as it were, with the locals.

[grammawhamma]

Ranger: My thank you to your daughter for her service to our country. My 19 year old son is there now also. He did kill someone 3 weeks ago and he is worried that we will think less of him now...poor kid. He is not the same happy go lucky kid that he was when he left...(I knew he wouldn''t be). My husband was a Nam vet who had bouts of ptsd.

God bless our troops!! And God "BLESS" America.

[ranger1948]

BRIANBWB
My daughter was harrassed once by someone who outranked her because he didn''t feel women should be in combat. He made the statement he hoped she got pregnant while on leave so she wouldn''t come back. My daughters commander happens to be a woman and she dealt with the situation very quickly. My daughter carries her weight and asks for no special treatment.

[ranger1948]

jasonwlh
MY DAUGHTER DRINKS WHEN SHE IS ON LEAVE BUT NOT TO AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT, NOT WHILE SHE IS IN IRAQ BECAUSE WAR DOES NOT HAVE SET TIMES. THEY ARE ON ALERT 24/7.

[ranger1948]

BRIANBWB
So you wer stationed in the Philipines with the navy. Well the military is gone from there but the corruption is alive and thriving as always. I now live in Thailand and what bothers me is the American who come here with the attotude i am better than you because i am an American, and they are mostly civilians here. Imet all my neighbors when i mocved here and i always smile and speak to them when i pass them on the streets. I have made many friends here. The Thai people are some of the most polite and friendliest people in the world. I think we could learn a lot from them. I try to improve the American image here. I respect their customs, i always smile and say hello when i pass someone on the street. I am also learing to speak Thai. I think if your going to liv in another country you should learn the language.

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by ranger1948

Also a current fact of life, whether anyone likes it or not, is that women are now serving their country in combat roles, and the number of harassment cases (30% of women say they have been harassed, even if they hadn''t reported it, and 7% of males also say it) suggests that many males, and even some females, have difficulties controlling their urges. Alcohol certainly doesn''t help, and is probably the catalyst behind many such incidents.

Again, war is not a game, contrary to the name given it by armchair senior officers who don''t have to be on the front lines. It is not a party, and its gravity should not be diminished by participants under the influence. If the "enemy" is drunk, or hung over, better for us, but we should not risk lives for the sake of partying.

[jasonwlh]

ranger1948
I''m sure you have a mighty fine daughter. I wouldn''t want to see my 18 year-old kid, hundreds of miles away from home, drinking like there''s no tomorrow.
Hooha!

[ranger1948]

gramawhama
My daughter enlisted at 18 and it was a blessing for her. She really turned her life around and even her commander says she is one of the very best soldiers she has in her unit. I don''t like her being in Iraq but i coiuldn''t be more proud of her. She has seen combat, but says she hasn''t had to kill anyone yet. I am not sure she is telling me the truth. She doesn''t want to worry her mother or me. She volunteered to go to Iraq so she could stay with her unit.

[brianbwb-2009]

"If a member of the military or a civilian commits a crime they should be punished equally under the law."
Posted by ranger1948

No dispute there, I would say however that if the soldiers wouldn''t let themselves be put into that position in the first place, we''d have a lot less enmity towards our forces. Alcohol does loosen lips, pockets, and zippers, if the soldiers weren''t where they should not be, doing what they should not be doing, the opportunity for them to be framed wouldn''t exist.

Also you haven''t considered the large number of unreported or ignored acts, unreported and or ignored because local politicians and village heads receive money from the bases, so they will protect their income by silencing even their own people, who often have legitimate and horrific complaints.

Olongapo, the former US base in the Phillipines was notorious as the place where women, girls, and boys were sold into the "trade" like cattle, to service the US base. Any money earned was turned over to the pimp, who shared with the police, who shared with the politicians, the victims often received no money for their abuse.

The primary act of warfare is the taking of lives, it is not a party to be celebrated, it is the intentional decision to harm human beings, for whatever reason. Anyone placed in the situation to have to make such decisions should only make them while stone cold sober.