Books. Bikes. Boomsticks.
“I only regret that I have but one face to palm for my country.”
Friday, June 08, 2007
That's gotta smart...
...when you're such a Private Benjamin that the Army won't even take you, despite you having the right number of hands, feet, and heads and there being a war on.
One more reason why I like the fact that we still have a general conscription.
Yes, I know, Oleg says it's slavery. But at least we don't have to accept people with a IQ of just 70 (like Spain), or have to go to prisons to recruit new soldiers (and like Great Britain), or have an army half the size, but at the same cost (like France), or have to teach or recruits how to read and write (like they say about that great army in the West).
Hey! The British Army has a long and glorious history of recruiting from prisons. Well, not quite, but in Napoleonic times it was apparently a common choice at sentencing, the army or prison. Wellington famously called his troops the 'scum of the earth'. They seemed to be able to fight alright. Of course, it does mean you'd better watch your back in some of the army towns. :-(
As for the actual story, it's hard not to take pleasure in self-centred morons being cut down to size. So I won't try.
I wouldn't mind some form of compulsory service like Germany, Sweden or even Israel. To tell the truth, I think it would do wonders to improve our society.
Back when the military was tougher in this country, there was many a time when many an eighteen year old was given a choice between joining the service or doing jail time; it straightened out quite a few of them. Of course, that was when it was more like the boot camp in Full Metal Jacket.
The first time I ever saw a suitcase with wheels on it was getting on the flight to Air Force Basic Training, almost 30 years ago. It belonged to a female recruit, and I had to figure right there, that was one that wasn't going to make it. If you've got to take a suitcase too heavy for you to carry, to boot camp where they'll issue you everything you need and you're not supposed to have anything you don't need...
One more reason why I like the fact that we still have a general conscription.
ReplyDeleteYes, I know, Oleg says it's slavery.
But at least we don't have to accept people with a IQ of just 70 (like Spain), or have to go to prisons to recruit new soldiers (and like Great Britain), or have an army half the size, but at the same cost (like France), or have to teach or recruits how to read and write (like they say about that great army in the West).
No, our army has different problems. :-(
Hey! The British Army has a long and glorious history of recruiting from prisons. Well, not quite, but in Napoleonic times it was apparently a common choice at sentencing, the army or prison. Wellington famously called his troops the 'scum of the earth'. They seemed to be able to fight alright. Of course, it does mean you'd better watch your back in some of the army towns. :-(
ReplyDeleteAs for the actual story, it's hard not to take pleasure in self-centred morons being cut down to size. So I won't try.
I wouldn't mind some form of compulsory service like Germany, Sweden or even Israel. To tell the truth, I think it would do wonders to improve our society.
ReplyDeleteIf I were a Benjamin, I'd rather be a private one than a public one.
ReplyDeleteBack when the military was tougher in this country, there was many a time when many an eighteen year old was given a choice between joining the service or doing jail time; it straightened out quite a few of them. Of course, that was when it was more like the boot camp in Full Metal Jacket.
ReplyDeleteThe first time I ever saw a suitcase with wheels on it was getting on the flight to Air Force Basic Training, almost 30 years ago. It belonged to a female recruit, and I had to figure right there, that was one that wasn't going to make it. If you've got to take a suitcase too heavy for you to carry, to boot camp where they'll issue you everything you need and you're not supposed to have anything you don't need...
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE to believe that our military branches still have standards.
ReplyDeleteBut they actually let her take the test!
At least the AF had the good sense not to call her back.