1. YOU might not have, but there are quite a few posters throughout this thread who DID claim in one form or another that demilitarization is the key to a better future. I'm sorry, but if anyone here truly believes we have evolved to a point where man can simply discard violence, break the cycle of hate and embrace global empathy, they are living in a fantasy. I HOPE that one day such a world can become reality.
2. I agree that our military SHOULD NOT be in everyone's business. George Washington in his closing address stated a few things this country should never allow to come to pass: one of which stated we should have a foreign policy where we take care of home and not stick our nose into everyone else's business.
3. I guarentee you every time a soldier sets foot on the battlefield, he is fighting to protect - to protect the man to his left and to his right, because he can control that much. It is outrageous that there are posters in here who would villainize our soldiers without any sort of attempt at understanding and empathy. Our soldiers should not be victimized for Corporate America's decisions and legislation.
I am a licensed professional counselor. I deal with PTSD patients all the time, and I can tell you these guys do not feel like heroes in the least. They don't deserve to be ostracized for performing a duty that is very much still required in a world like ours of today.
If you take the time to read the first few pages of this thread, there are posters who make the claim that people should stop enlisting into the military altogether and allow the military to dissolve altogether. How about some literacy?