Originally posted by BlueJ1
I agree that most is a overstatement on my part. If not a majority lack them. I'll restate it as a majority of those who join the military from the lower classes have higher morals then the upper class.
People who decide to go to a college to further their education brought to them with hard work do not have the lesser amount of morals. I would consider them average. Those who are given a education through money I would consider having a lesser amount. Their opinions are based on their lives. Which is usually based on a free ride throughout life.
I tried to write out an example of my opinion. But, my lack of writing skills would only prove to further confuse myself and others. Hurting my argument in the long run.
First of all, no one is given an education - not even people with money. Like Captain Virgil was saying, there are plenty of people who waste the opportunity, but do just well enough to pass, and then get some sort of position based on nothing really. The people who actually get educated are the ones who work for it. I know in high school I used to go to certain classes where the view was especially nice every single day, but I didn't learn a darn thing in them. If you're complaining about people who are given a free ride through life in general though, I'm with ya on that one.
About people who join the military, whether from lower or higher classes... Well, think about it this way... Wouldn't it be somewhat fair to say that people from higher classes (like Cav - lemme drag you in here, en?
) are giving up significant income and opportunities to enlist? I mean, if you're the sort of person who can acquire a masters and be able to make it in the military, you're the kind of person who could do just about anything... Jobs significantly less risky, that pay better, have better hours, better perks, better food, everything.
In my opinion, it takes a whole heck of a lot of morals for someone like that to sign up... Westpoint is not an easy school to get to. If you can get in there, you should be able to get into a civilian college and make plenty of money in your life.
Instead, these fellas give all that up to take a job, that, to put it generously, really sucks. Long hours, low pay, low to no control of where you wind up, high risk, people spitting in your face when you're on parade, etc. It takes a special kind of person to do. It's really admirable.
Now, on the other hand, a guy from a poor background without as much opportunity, might see the military as his best shot at a good life. Don't get me wrong - he too sacrificies... But do you see what I'm getting at?
That right there would be why throughout history most of the draft dodgers have been rich, and most of the common infantry have been poor.
I'm just saying - don't make the mistake of thinking everyone in your bootcamp is there for moral reasons. I'm sure many are. But many are there simply because it's their best shot.
Everyone who joins the service is someone who should be respected and honored... But it'd be pretty far fetched to suggest that everyone who joins has some higher moral standard then the rest of the world... They don't give you a bucket of it for an enlistment bonus, after all.