Gates speaks to the Ivy League
The following is from a speech Sec. of Defense Gates gave at Duke in Sept of this year.
" So I would encourage you and all young Americans, especially those at the most selective universities who may not have considered the military, to do so. To go outside your comfort zone and take a risk in every sense of the word. To expand what you thought you were capable of doing when it comes to leadership, responsibility, agility, selflessness, and above all, courage.
For those for whom military service is neither possible nor the right thing for whatever reason, please consider how you can give back to the country that has given us all so much. Think about what you can do to earn your freedom – freedom paid for by those whose names are on that Duke wall and in veterans’ cemeteries across this country and across the world."
It doesn't need much comment.
" So I would encourage you and all young Americans, especially those at the most selective universities who may not have considered the military, to do so. To go outside your comfort zone and take a risk in every sense of the word. To expand what you thought you were capable of doing when it comes to leadership, responsibility, agility, selflessness, and above all, courage.
For those for whom military service is neither possible nor the right thing for whatever reason, please consider how you can give back to the country that has given us all so much. Think about what you can do to earn your freedom – freedom paid for by those whose names are on that Duke wall and in veterans’ cemeteries across this country and across the world."
It doesn't need much comment.
posted by Carl at 5:14 PM
28 Comments:
Hi Carl! This is beads-n-books. I'm glad to see you're still blogging. I wrote an opinion piece on Ernie Pyle for work, and someone came back and asked me "Who is the closest thing to Ernie Pyle in the Iraq effort today?" The closest person I could think of - based on topics, word cadence and philosphy was you...
interesting perspective from someone who never got shot at.
ahh anonymous...so speaks the hard bitten voice of one who recognizes the stark reality. just remember guy, they're your mates. they could use your help.
bead-n-books: i don't know quite what to say.
once, when i was an airline pilot, we had just come in from what could have been a bad weather flight. we were walking out of the airplane when the flight attendant said to me "i was worried about that flight but then i found out you were the captain and i didn't worry anymore."
that was the best thing anyone had ever said to me and i didn't think it would ever be matched. but you just did. thank you.
If robert gates and george bush and barack oboma and a host of others want to join me on the fromt lines, i'll consider aiding my mates. if those aforementioned individuals continue to send others to do a job they are unwilling to do, i'll remain hard bitten.
war would be much less frequent and lengthy if we simply sent our elected officials to do the fighting.
anon: so you will help your mates only after everybody else has pitched in and only then. very big of you.
geeesh i get tired of the argument you use. it has been around for soooo long. everybody who uses it thinks it is new; one of those things that is said and causes knowing shaking of heads in agreement at the sophomore hop.
but there is something else too. i think you feel a little tinge of guilt for not helping your mates. if you didn't, you wouldn't try to justify your action, you would just say "i don't feel like it" and leave it at that. but you don't. you come up with a "i would but...". that says to me that way down deep inside, where the PC professors can't see it, you figure that helping your mates is the right thing to do.
That's good. go for it boy. do the right thing and help your mates who need the help so badly. when you are an old man you won't have to look back and think about something you should have done.
i dont feel like dying for a fake war just because somebody else was not discerning enough to know when they were being used.
you know if you'd left it at i don't feel like chancing death, that would have been ok. forthright and honest.
but you couldn't leave it at that. you had to add the "but...". this time it's "i'm smarter than those guys." you aren't making yourself look good.
it is still in there though. i can see it, the belief that yes, it is an honorable thing to help your mates when they need it. they are your mates still, and they need your help still. and if you do go and help them, you will be surprised how smart they are. you will be a better man for having known them.
there is a big difference between a just war and just war
another variation of "but..."
your mates need you.
i would go to help my mates but i dont want to miss the frat party tonight. lots of hot girls...
the office is open on monday. they'll be glad to see you.
i just found this text of Mark Helprin's speech. From this I stole "but they're you mates." it is a brilliant speech and i would be obliged if you read it.
http://old.nationalreview.com/memorial/memorialhelprin.html
you'll have to cut and paste because i don't know how to set up a link in the comments section.
Not to interrupt your "but" this conversation but I wanted to relay something I know you would appreciate... I just got back from an exercise mainly involved with EOD and Chemical/Biological badness being used. One of the guys I worked with was an EOD technician, Sergeant First Class. He's taken care of a little over 1,000 IEDs and during one mission, he had a good portion of his foot blown off. They were going to medically retire him out of the Army but in order to prevent this, and continue to serve his nation, he asked to have his entire foot amputated and replaced with a prosthetic. This way he could meet the Army physical fitness requirements and stay in as an EOD tech. I hear about guys like this from time to time, but I’ve never met one in person. He is one of those who puts service to his nation over everything else. I'm glad to have people like him around. --Wes
Wes: interrupt any time you please to tell a story of a giant man like that.
"For those for whom military service is neither possible nor the right thing for whatever reason, please consider how you can give back to the country that has given us all so much...."
Gates is ok with my choice, but not you?
Haven't we heard from this troll before?
Back under your bridge, troll!!
-Robert
And sorry Carl, but Ernie pyle you ain't!!!!!
Maybe if you posted more often and had longer posts....(Hint,Hint)
-Robert
Here we go again...If I disagree with you I must be a coward...right! Come on comrades this is the United States of America.
Robert - How was the clan meeting last night?
Anon: the difference between Robert's comment and yours was his was funny. Bridges and trolls is consistent with the benign violation theory of humor. Yours was just trite. You gotta do better than aaannnottthhhheeeerrr klan comment.
so long as you set the rules comrad I will never make a credible point.
But again, I wonder ... why does Robert Gates allow room for other forms of public service and you dont? Exactally what type of freedom are you fighting for?
fair enough. what is your choice?
hey anon: i forgot to add. don't start whining. nobody respects that.
wikleaks must be terribly inconvenient for your freedom for the oppressed platform?
cocktail party bon-mot. points off for you.
130,000 look the other way deaths is banal cocktail banter?
Can't wait to hear how you rantionalize this one.
morally superior bon-mot, even more points off.
Trool: we are still interested in what your choice was.
The meeting was great, we made S'mores and talked about Nathan Hale.
130,000? We must try harder. If you ever get to that part of the world you may find yourself agreeing with me.
Now go wax your prius, troll boy.
-Robert
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