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BlueMTexpat

(15,349 posts)
119. I don't believe that is the point.
Wed Sep 12, 2012, 04:26 PM
Sep 2012

When someone who is running for Commander-in-Chief professes himself to be a hawk who will willingly risk the lives of our young men and women in senseless wars because he is tone-deaf to diplomacy or is so convinced of US righteousness and exceptionalism without even learning the facts of a given situation before making an ass of himself, one certainly can wonder why that person - or no one in his immediate family - has never seen firsthand by serving in the military what a destructive force war truly is.

Like so many here, every generation of my family from my grandfather on down (and I'm 68) has served in the military - WWI (my grandfather), WWII (my father) and Vietnam (my brother). My sons, fortunately, had the option not to enlist and chose to exercise it. But they are also good Democrats, i.e., they do not now and never have supported warmongering.

Those who served all firmly abhorred war - not the military per se - but war itself.

I am one who believes that ALL of us SHOULD serve our country. But I do not believe that the military is the only way to serve.

For instance, I am a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer.

His grandfather being in Mexico explains one generation lunatica Sep 2012 #1
His sons account for 4 generations . . . markpkessinger Sep 2012 #4
My father and uncle served in WWII and Korea and my brother in Vietnam lunatica Sep 2012 #7
My Family? George II Sep 2012 #116
Explains a generation or adds a country they refused to stand with? They exited Mexico Bluenorthwest Sep 2012 #48
Mitt Romney is an Anchor Baby (child of illegal immigrant to keep parents legal in USA). nt Bernardo de La Paz Sep 2012 #86
Actually, the explanation is pretty simple so far as Romney's dad is concerned.... Moonwalk Sep 2012 #2
Hey my dad was born in 1900 and signed up on Dec 8, 1941. broiles Sep 2012 #15
My grandfather was born in 1905 and was called to service in WWII. Brickbat Sep 2012 #19
That explains nothing... markpkessinger Sep 2012 #26
My father was three years younger than George Romney... greatauntoftriplets Sep 2012 #27
I would guess that the auto industry qualified as crucial war work starroute Sep 2012 #56
My mom was born in 1912 and joined the Women Marines in 1942 mountain grammy Sep 2012 #61
My two uncles: once born in 1910 and the other in 1907 both served in WWII. Javaman Sep 2012 #99
That doesn't mean you can't serve in some way LynneSin Sep 2012 #111
They consider their missionary work for GentryDixon Sep 2012 #3
So they're loyal to their church, but not their country? Barack_America Sep 2012 #90
Guess so... llamos Sep 2012 #98
Because trying to convert French people to Mormonism is important !! Marrah_G Sep 2012 #96
If true that would be really something!... Little Star Sep 2012 #5
Unbelievable! We had WWI,WWII,Korea,and peacetime service in my family. virgogal Sep 2012 #6
i have family who served in every war barbtries Sep 2012 #59
And yet, John Kerry was "swiftboated" for his service in Vietnam Supersedeas Sep 2012 #115
Not even WW2??? Misskittycat Sep 2012 #8
My paternal great-grandfather fought in the Union army. hifiguy Sep 2012 #9
Mitt's great-great-grandfather was a US army deserter Brother Buzz Sep 2012 #10
This message was self-deleted by its author littlemissmartypants Sep 2012 #11
I don't know of ONE mormon that has joined the military, of all the ones I've known. progressivebydesign Sep 2012 #12
I did, fellow Viet Nam era veteren by now. chknltl Sep 2012 #49
I grew upon the church FreeState Sep 2012 #62
when I was young icarusxat Sep 2012 #71
i served in Afghanistan with a mormon WooWooWoo Sep 2012 #79
My relatives were lucky in their ages treestar Sep 2012 #13
Precisely. Ednahilda Sep 2012 #72
It can happen treestar Sep 2012 #80
That is so weird.. LiberalArkie Sep 2012 #14
My dad was career USAF, and 3 of his 5 brothers served in the Navy in WWII. kestrel91316 Sep 2012 #16
Similar to my family... markpkessinger Sep 2012 #28
The Quaker line in my mother's line didn't serve Skidmore Sep 2012 #17
not in the revolution either? riverwalker Sep 2012 #22
many were underground railroad eShirl Sep 2012 #38
I only have to go back one generation in my Quaker line to find one who served. eShirl Sep 2012 #25
take a look riverwalker Sep 2012 #18
Every generation of my family has had a least one male member in the armed forces since the Civil Wa panader0 Sep 2012 #20
Where's the documentation? Courtesy Flush Sep 2012 #21
his ancestry is on the web riverwalker Sep 2012 #33
"5 sons Biff, Boff, Tagg, Chickenhawk, and Turd" Aviation Pro Sep 2012 #43
ROFL!!! calimary Sep 2012 #54
DUzy!!! nt PCIntern Sep 2012 #57
+1 LOL! n/t OneGrassRoot Sep 2012 #70
Considering that George escaped to Mexico to avoid polygamy charges... Initech Sep 2012 #23
He's no Lieutenant Dan lame54 Sep 2012 #24
I may be in the minority, but I don't care Travis_0004 Sep 2012 #29
but Obama had a grandfather and uncles who did. n/t riverwalker Sep 2012 #34
Ohh Goodie An Apologist HangOnKids Sep 2012 #35
The difference is that Obama wuill not start a war and draft my children, hedgehog Sep 2012 #51
Here's why it matters: mountain grammy Sep 2012 #65
+1! uponit7771 Sep 2012 #91
How many pro-war rallies did Obama participate in? bullwinkle428 Sep 2012 #94
that you are heaven05 Sep 2012 #118
Mormons have a "higher" calling... Blue Idaho Sep 2012 #30
Then he has no business serving as our countries president. malokvale77 Sep 2012 #41
This message was self-deleted by its author littlemissmartypants Sep 2012 #31
In four generations, only one male member of my family volunteered for military service tularetom Sep 2012 #32
I'm not a Mormon but in looking at their "book" it would seem that Mr. Mitt would have a real sad sally Sep 2012 #36
I have to go back to the Civil War and my 2nd Great Grandfather to find... greendog Sep 2012 #37
We trace our family military history back to the Revolutionary War Siwsan Sep 2012 #39
Romney has one ancestor in five generations including himself who served in the US Army Spider Jerusalem Sep 2012 #40
hmmm riverwalker Sep 2012 #42
He also served in the Prussian (I think) military Spider Jerusalem Sep 2012 #45
retroactive rule change riverwalker Sep 2012 #55
I would count that as a sixth generation . . . markpkessinger Sep 2012 #73
And so? Spider Jerusalem Sep 2012 #81
The do not serve. Ever. And his Grandpa abandoned the US in favor of Mexico and they would Bluenorthwest Sep 2012 #44
Both sides of my family (my wifes parents and mine) were WWII vets. Warren Stupidity Sep 2012 #46
I can only go back as far as my grandfather. sakabatou Sep 2012 #47
The whole clan has flat feet and knocked knees. Sheepshank Sep 2012 #50
Even among my very Quaker ancestors, Blue_In_AK Sep 2012 #52
Wow that is pretty remarkable TNLib Sep 2012 #53
4 ancestors in the Revolutionary War; 1 in hte Spanish-American War; 6 in WW1; more than that byeya Sep 2012 #58
Well that would explain Turbineguy Sep 2012 #60
Several uncles in WWII... SoapBox Sep 2012 #63
I had an uncle who served in WW II. RebelOne Sep 2012 #64
Thank You for posting this... I can almost right the script for the next super-pac commercial... trailmonkee Sep 2012 #66
Didn't all men HAVE to serve in the military at one point? LiberalCatholic Sep 2012 #67
The draft ran by lottery system... markpkessinger Sep 2012 #78
why it matters riverwalker Sep 2012 #68
Very impressive family history. LittlestStar Sep 2012 #75
5 boys in my dad's family riverbendviewgal Sep 2012 #69
Just thought of a great tagline for an ad about this ... markpkessinger Sep 2012 #74
Mittens could serve retroactively, perhaps in the Utah National Guard. nt SDjack Sep 2012 #76
Mitt would retroactively shoot himself in the foot to get out of it pinboy3niner Sep 2012 #92
RMoney said his 5 sons "served" by working on his campaign for President PearliePoo2 Sep 2012 #77
My Dad born 1911 volunteered as a Military Chaplain cr8tvlde Sep 2012 #82
What's to explain? They had enough pull to stay out of the military and stay alive. Natch. Kablooie Sep 2012 #83
please grantcart Sep 2012 #84
LOL! n/r markpkessinger Sep 2012 #87
Weren't his ancestors present at the Battle (sic) of Meadow Mtns? grantcart Sep 2012 #85
The massacre of Meadow Mountains.... K8-EEE Sep 2012 #93
Actually one of the theories on why it turned bloody is that the wagon train was from Arkansas. grantcart Sep 2012 #101
That's just for, tavalon Sep 2012 #88
Mexican nationals can not join the US military -- Mitt is the first US born Romney KurtNYC Sep 2012 #89
Romney would be thrilled to send my son to war Marrah_G Sep 2012 #95
My husband's family has had someone serve... a la izquierda Sep 2012 #97
Hell even Quakers and Mennonites served... Javaman Sep 2012 #100
service to one's country dothemath Sep 2012 #102
My Grandfather on my Mothers side served in WWI Ganja Ninja Sep 2012 #103
Maybe the Amish can lay claim to this? mwooldri Sep 2012 #104
I think that Mittens problems with military service are somewhat a um uh ... bayareaboy Sep 2012 #105
Oh Good grief! chloes1 Sep 2012 #106
The most despicable thing about Romney's draft dodging was his overt support FOR the war catbyte Sep 2012 #107
Maybe they all had flat feet. defacto7 Sep 2012 #108
yep heaven05 Sep 2012 #109
Well no wonder he didn't mention our troops or the military during his RNC speech! flyguyjake Sep 2012 #110
It's not easy FlaGranny Sep 2012 #112
Wasn't it Romney who said that his sons.... George II Sep 2012 #113
Here are his comments - they were in 2007: George II Sep 2012 #114
Are you a veteran? Do you support a draft? harmonicon Sep 2012 #117
I don't believe that is the point. BlueMTexpat Sep 2012 #119
I'm not a veteran, but as for a draft . . . markpkessinger Sep 2012 #122
Interesting. (nt) Kurovski Sep 2012 #120
My dad and all my uncles served in the Armed Forces... WCGreen Sep 2012 #121
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