did John Kerry just call soldiers stupid?

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

I am mindful, btw, that John Kerry served in the armed forces of the United States, and knows a bit more about the composition of those armed forces than do I .... or I daresay, most of the critics lambasting his remarks.

I have heard a number of servicemen in the last couple of days state that many of people they served with were people who chose the military because they truly felt that they had no other options in life. It would seem that that this isn't a big secret among soldiers. And yet, there are some that still think that every soldier signs up because of a compelling patriotic duty. It just isn't so and these people need to face reality.

I lived with one of these people about 6 years ago. He couldn't hold a job, did not have the skills necessary to be successful in college, and saw the military as his only hope. He signed up about 3 months before the 2000 election and was absolutely certain that he would never going to see combat. He had been promised that if he joined, numerous opportunities would become available to him.

I often wonder about him and how he is doing. One thing I know for sure, he did not sign up out of any sense of patriotic duty. He signed up because his life was falling apart and he was desperate. Anyone who thinks that he is in the minority is, I feel, sorely mistaken.