Comment by Arcus on April 2, 2011 at 11:50am

If there can't be atheists in foxholes (according to Chrsitians), why were they so damned scared of the massive atheist Russian army for so long? :)

Comment by Walter Maki on April 2, 2011 at 12:53pm

@ Arcus, makes you wonder.

@ Lee, I agree our troops need our support no matter what. They lay their lives on the line so the theist and nontheist can follow their own pursuits.

Comment by Jeremy S on April 3, 2011 at 12:07am

I am in the Marines and it is very rare for someone to bring up religion. Most people I know do not go to church regularly and those that do seem to go because the wife says so. While not many are out as atheists I believe the number is quite high just from the general attitudes that I have observed. I also think the war on terror could sour people on religion. When you see a nut blow himself up because his religion it sure makes you think, and if your honest and then look through the bible how could you not end up atheist. Also the military trains us to be critical and rational thinkers, which is another boost toward reality.

Comment by Eoganacht on April 3, 2011 at 12:51am

@ Jeremy, that is the complete opposite of what most US army movies show

 

Comment by Jeremy S on April 3, 2011 at 1:05am

I don't take military movies very seriously, although I do enjoy them. Also being in the military is nothing like they show on movies in any sense. I doubt people would want to see a movie of the real military, it's a lot of boring crap a lot of the time. Even documentaries on boot camp that I've watched don't give the whole story. I'm out at work and everyone is fine with it.

Comment by Jeremy S on April 3, 2011 at 1:07am

Oh and I am in the Marines not the army. I couldn't say what the army is like at all. I've worked with them but only a few times and on a limited basis.

Comment by Arcus on April 3, 2011 at 4:00am

"Hurry up and wait" is the inofficial slogan of the military.

Action generally lasts for 2-3 minutes once or twice per day, most time is spent preparing, inaction and cleaning up. I actually gained some (fat) weight during my service as what we mostly did was sit around a bonfire at the shooting range making toast and drinking hot chocolate.

The average person should try this trick to illustrate military life:

1. Tidy up your mess.

2. Put the mess back.

3. Tidy up the mess again.

4. Rinse and repeat a dozen times. Every day.

@Jeremy - thank you for your service.

Comment by Walter Maki on April 3, 2011 at 3:24pm

@ Jeremy, thank you and all the others who give up their freedoms to help the rest of the people keep them.

 

Being former member of Uncle Sam's Canoe Club (Navy) I am quite familiar with all the prep work and so little action. 

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