Organizing for America | Chip Roberson's Blog: To young to drink

To young to drink

By Chip Roberson in Sonoma, CA - Mar 24th, 2008 at 5:09 pm EDT

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Tags: age, americorps, Iraq, military, National Service, peace corp, soldiers

As I was writing my last post, a story on the US hitting the 4000-casualty mark in the Iraq war ran across my screen. There were 3 salient points that are worth sharing:

1 in 6 was not old enough to drink
Average age was 21
Almost 700 were guard or reservists

I think this country needs to talk with itself about the role of our youth in the military and the use of our military in the world.

To a man with a hammer....

It doesn't help that so much of this war effort is shouldered by so few as the rest of us go about with life as normal. I for one, am starting to think 1-2 years of national service for all would be good for this country, whether it be in the military, AmeriCorps, the Peace Corp. or some other form of service.

ADDENDUM:

I'm curious to better understand the demographics in both social and economic terms of those serving and dying in Iraq. I found some older data that implied the casualties in Iraq roughly matched the racial background in America. However, I am also interested in knowing more about the income levels of the families and general demographics of their home towns.

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Re: but all were brave | Report to Admin

By Chip Roberson in Sonoma, CA Mar 24th 2008 at 7:20 pm EDT

I'm sorry you feel compelled to attack those who apparently do not share your perspectives. You claim we have never done anything with our lives but have you met this "you" you describe?

I have built companies, created jobs, built products, created shareholder value and have paid more taxes in one year than many will pay in a lifetime. I come from the outskirts of Appalachia where my family members worked in the mines, on the assembly line, for the government and others became a lawyer, an engineer or a professor. My father, my uncle, my brother-in-law and my father-in-law all served in the military.

The people I have met working this campaign are hard working people who believe America can be greater than it is now. These are people who are willing to work hard to make change and people who are giving up their spare time to make a difference. The socio-economic range is quite broad and I have not met a single person who is complaining that "no one gives [them] enough." To the contrary, these people want to do more for this country rather to go shopping and let someone else do the hard work.

If it is easier to demonize those who think differently from you, then so be it but I think you are missing an opportunity to participate in helping shape the future of this country.

Re: but all were brave | Report to Admin

By The Bard of Wilmette Mar 24th 2008 at 9:20 pm EDT

I cannot understand tp's complaint. There is no dispute that the rougly 4000 American military service men and women killed in Iraq were volunteers and patriots. Now I am perfectly willing to admit that I spend too much time sitting on my spoiled ass, just as I am doing right now as I write this comment, but I have never complained that nobody gives me enough, and there is no hint that Chip is complaining about his personal life, either. Get a life, or at least learn how to spell words like "whining."

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