What did you learn today? Part II

[KristinaB]

I learned we are one step closer to being able to get the construction started. Town Hall has approved the zoning and code changes. Now, we wait for one more thing from Town Hall, then surveyor, then, if all goes well, sign the papers for the loan and get started. We get to rent a truck to move everything to a storage warehouse for almost a year.

 

[TWA]

He had no choice. I'd rather him stay in jail so that I know he's okay and still near my home in California than have him in the front line. He could possibly get killed by a random grenade.

It will be a long time before he gets to the "front line" if at all. Don't worry too much. I'd worry more about him in jail, getting violated by bubba and the C-block gang.

 

[lanapoo]

It will be a long time before he gets to the "front line" if at all. Don't worry too much. I'd worry more about him in jail, getting violated by bubba and the C-block gang.

Eh. What if he was your younger brother? I think you'd worry a bit, too. I'm not a big fan of the military and don't believe in war. There's a lot of turmoil going on right now in Middle East and it's likely that he'll be called on.

It's likely that I won't see him for a very long time since I only come home once or twice a year to visit my family.

 

[TWA]

Eh. What if he was your younger brother? I think you'd worry a bit, too. I'm not a big fan of the military and don't believe in war. There's a lot of turmoil going on right now in Middle East and it's likely that he'll be called on.

It's likely that I won't see him for a very long time since I only come home once or twice a year to visit my family.

I'm pretty sure you wouldn't see him much if he were in jail, either...

I don't like war either, and though I think it's necessary for a country to have some form of defense at this period in human civilization, our military is grossly overladen.

Still, if my brother had a choice between going to jail or joining the military, I would much rather see him join the military.

 

[posts from hell]

Too bad this is America we're talking about.

 

[Dixie]

If all offenders were given the option of jail or the military, a good majority of them would choose the military over jail time.

 

[lanapoo]

I'm pretty sure you wouldn't see him much if he were in jail, either...

I don't like war either, and though I think it's necessary for a country to have some form of defense at this period in human civilization, our military is grossly overladen.

Still, if my brother had a choice between going to jail or joining the military, I would much rather see him join the military.

At least when I come home to visit my family, he'd be in a jail only 30 minutes away and I could visit him anytime I wanted. Plus he'd only spend what? 6 months in jail? Really not a big deal, but my dad wanted this for him. To help him be a "better" person. I think there are other ways of doing that.

I don't like the fact that the military basically owns him now. I'd like for him to be an independent person. That's what is killing me. He is my brother after all. I don't want the government to own him and his life, to take him away from us and possibly cause him permanent damage like PTSD.

I'm his oldest sister. I have an intuition to protect him. I changed his diapers and watched him grow up. Now he's going in the army. That's why I'm having A LOT of mixed feelings about it. I want to preserve his innocence.

 

[Miss-Delectable]

If all offenders were given the option of jail or the military, a good majority of them would choose the military over jail time.

True and most of their parents would opt for the Military in hope it'll straighten out their kids.

 

[TWA]

At least when I come home to visit my family, he'd be in a jail only 30 minutes away and I could visit him anytime I wanted. Plus he'd only spend what? 6 months in jail? Really not a big deal, but my dad wanted this for him. To help him be a "better" person. I think there are other ways of doing that.

I don't like the fact that the military basically owns him now. I'd like for him to be an independent person. That's what is killing me. He is my brother after all. I don't want the government to own him and his life, to take him away from us and possibly cause him permanent damage like PTSD.

I'm his oldest sister. I have an intuition to protect him. I changed his diapers and watched him grow up. Now he's going in the army. That's why I'm having A LOT of mixed feelings about it. I want to preserve his innocence.

If your brother was in jail, you wouldn't be able to visit him "whenever you wanted." And when you visit with him, it'd be under a stigma and shameful situation.

Also, being an "independent person" is apparently what has led him to his current life situation. He needs discipline and to learn to respect and obey authority. Jail isn't going to teach him that. If anything, it will set him on the path to being a career criminal, and it certainly isn't going to "preserve his innocence." It's kind of ridiculous to think that.

 

[lanapoo]

If your brother was in jail, you wouldn't be able to visit him "whenever you wanted." And when you visit with him, it'd be under a stigma and shameful situation.

Also, being an "independent person" is apparently what has led him to his current life situation. He needs discipline and to learn to respect and obey authority. Jail isn't going to teach him that. If anything, it will set him on the path to being a career criminal, and it certainly isn't going to "preserve his innocence." It's kind of ridiculous to think that.

I don't think you understand my position with my brother well enough to judge.

In fact, he texted me on Easter, telling me about how much he missed egg-hunting with me as we grew up. He was reminiscing on our childhood memories and he mentioned that he wanted the same for his children. I truly believe that he's a better person now and he realized that he made a lot of mistakes. It's just that he wasn't given much of a choice. I still feel overprotective of him and only want the best for him. I just don't see the military option as the only way for him to "correct" his life.

 

[TWA]

I don't think you understand my position with my brother well enough to judge.

What does that have to do with anything? I am telling you the difference between two entities: the United States Military and the United States Penal system. I can tell you one thing: your brother is going to be a hell of a lot happier in the army than he is in jail. Don't you want what's best for your brother?

 

[lanapoo]

What does that have to do with anything? I am telling you the difference between two entities: the United States Military and the United States Penal system. I can tell you one thing: your brother is going to be a hell of a lot happier in the army than he is in jail. Don't you want what's best for your brother?

He doesn't want to be in either to be honest. At least, jail is only temporary and I know he can handle it. If he went to jail and finished his sentence, he could go on to finish his studies, get a job, and have a family. Military, it's different.

 

[posts from hell]

Like I said.. Too bad this aint Norway.

 

[TWA]

He doesn't want to be in either to be honest. At least, jail is only temporary and I know he can handle it. If he went to jail and finished his sentence, he could go on to finish his studies, get a job, and have a family. Military, it's different.

Very unlikely. Do you know how difficult it is for a convicted felon to get a job? And you cannot get Federal Aid for college if you are a convicted felon... Also, how many women are interested in dating former prisoners? You say the sentence would be short, but it will affect him for years to come. Lastly, over 50% of prisoners return to prison.

If he joins the military, he gets out with the GI bill, honor and admiration, self-esteem, veterans benefits, etc. Yes, there is a risk that he might be sent to a war zone, but perhaps your brother should have thought about that before he made the poor choices in his life that landed him in this situation.

 

[lanapoo]

Very unlikely. Do you know how difficult it is for a convicted felon to get a job? And you cannot get Federal Aid for college if you are a convicted felon... Also, how many women are interested in dating former prisoners? You say the sentence would be short, but it will affect him for years to come. Lastly, over 50% of prisoners return to prison.

If he joins the military, he gets out with the GI bill, honor and admiration, self-esteem, veterans benefits, etc. Yes, there is a risk that he might be sent to a war zone, but perhaps your brother should have thought about that before he made the poor choices in his life that landed him in this situation.

Going to jail means accepting full responsibility for your past mistakes. He saw the err of his ways.

I see the military option as an escape from your mistakes, to use an excuse that he's fighting for our country when deep down he knows that it won't fix everything back home.

Let's just not lock horns on this. You know me. I am the way I am and I feel what I feel.

 

[TWA]

Going to jail means accepting full responsibility for your past mistakes. He saw the err of his ways.

I see the military option as an escape from your mistakes, to use an excuse that he's fighting for our country when deep down he knows that it won't fix everything back home.

Let's just not lock horns on this. You know me. I am the way I am and I feel what I feel.

Sigh. The statistics and facts would point in the complete opposite direction, but oh well. Knock yourself out.

 

[Dixie]

I still think the military is the better option. You want your brother and that is understandable but the military may turn out to be a good thing. The government doesn't actually 'own' him, but however he can choose to not re-enlist when his 5 years is up. He may decide that he enjoys it and stay in to make a career of it. Not only that, there's also a chance he may not even make it out of basic training if a medical issue were to show up. He will have basic training, graduation, then AT, when AT is completed he *might* get to come home for a visit for a weekend before going directly to his assigned duty station. Besides, depending upon his MOS - he may never see the front lines. There are more jobs in the military besides front-line positions. There are cooks, bookkeepers, laundry staff, chaplains, news reporters, supply clerks, etc. A lot of times, these positions never see the frontlines and never leave the base.

 

[TWA]

I still think the military is the better option. You want your brother and that is understandable but the military may turn out to be a good thing. The government doesn't actually 'own' him, but however he can choose to not re-enlist when his 5 years is up. He may decide that he enjoys it and stay in to make a career of it. Not only that, there's also a chance he may not even make it out of basic training if a medical issue were to show up. He will have basic training, graduation, then AT, when AT is completed he *might* get to come home for a visit for a weekend before going directly to his assigned duty station. Besides, depending upon his MOS - he may never see the front lines. There are more jobs in the military besides front-line positions. There are cooks, bookkeepers, laundry staff, chaplains, news reporters, supply clerks, etc. A lot of times, these positions never see the frontlines and never leave the base.

5 years? I thought a standard tour is no more than 2 years?

 

[Dixie]

5 years? I thought a standard tour is no more than 2 years?

No, 5 year enlistment period - the standard tour of duty in war zone is 12-18 months. However it is mostly the National Guard that is having to return to the Middle East for multiple tours. Those who are full-time enlistments usually see one deployment then they are re-assigned back here in the United States on base or they are assigned an international military base such as Rammstein depending on where their specialty is needed at that time.

 

[lanapoo]

I still think the military is the better option. You want your brother and that is understandable but the military may turn out to be a good thing. The government doesn't actually 'own' him, but however he can choose to not re-enlist when his 5 years is up. He may decide that he enjoys it and stay in to make a career of it. Not only that, there's also a chance he may not even make it out of basic training if a medical issue were to show up. He will have basic training, graduation, then AT, when AT is completed he *might* get to come home for a visit for a weekend before going directly to his assigned duty station. Besides, depending upon his MOS - he may never see the front lines. There are more jobs in the military besides front-line positions. There are cooks, bookkeepers, laundry staff, chaplains, news reporters, supply clerks, etc. A lot of times, these positions never see the frontlines and never leave the base.

It can be a good option for him, but I just don't see it as the only option. That's why I have a problem with it. I'm irritated with TWA right now because he's trying to use statistics against me and tell me that my brother would just continue to be a criminal if he went to jail basically.

There are criminals in the military, too. Killing innocent civilians in Middle East and raping women there. You tell me that military will actually change a troublemaker for better? It depends entirely on the person's mentality.

There has to be another way.