He was a submariner, a President, and began the military buildup which Reagan inherited and expanded. By turning him into a punch line you diminish the nation much more than you harm a good man who served as best as he could under difficult circumstances.
In a couple of years, when the word gets out that the polarized political environment of the civilian world has resulted in refusals to serve on ships named for leaders of "the other" party, remember, O eloquent one, that you heard it here first.
I'll let the guys with some military experience handle that one. Ren? Marine II? How about it? Do you get to do a lot of refusing to serve on certain posts or ships in the American military?
Submariners are all volunteers. Some isolation duty (Diego Garcia, Adak AK etc.)is voluntary as well. Though I can't remember an instance of someone refusing to serve on a ship because of its name. That would have made the news.
"In a couple of years" means that I don't think it's happened yet; I think it's a likely result of our current political climate, to which the cited cartoon is an unhealthy contribution. I'm not convinced that we would have heard about it, either, unless it was in someone's best interest to involve reporters or lawyers.
Let me explain a few facts about military service. Members of the military do not have a choice about which lawful orders they obey. They also don't have a choice about the particulars of the assignments they are given. Mexican-American sailors can't refuse to serve aboard USS Sam Houston. African-American sailors can't refuse to serve aboard USS Robert E. Lee. Democrats can't refuse to serve aboard USS Ronald Reagan and Republicans won't be allowed to refuse serving aboard USS Jimmy Carter. Well, actually, you can refuse to serve. In the naval services, it's known as UA, and elsewhere as AWOL. It is properly rewarded with days in the brig, forfeiture of pay, loss of rank, or some combination thereof. And anyone volunteering understands this going in. Don't worry Mr. Dresner. Ridicule of Jimmy Carter the whimp will in no way affect the dedication and professionalism of those assigned to Jimmy Carter the nuclear-powered attack submarine. They're smart enough to know the difference.
Personally, I think it is funny using the word attack in the same sentence with any military vehicle. Like saying an attack tank or an attack plane. I know subs are used for many many things including some incredible research. But to me, when talking about military equipment, attack should be pretty much implied, No? Second thing I thought of was the old bomber planes with the shark drawn on the front. I can just see the USS Jimmy Carter with a buck toothed caricature of Carter on the front (Come on that would be funny). Anyway, as for refusing duty, sure you can do that. You can also be Court Martialed and you can also be sent to Levinworth. Personally, I would rather serve on a ship or anything, regardless of name, then spend time in Levinworth, but that's me. Basically, refusing does happen, but not often. You can request a different assignment, but they can always tell you to blow it out your tailpipe. Rich is correct that submariners have to request going to submariner school, and not every one is accepted (it is actually pretty tough to get accepted and graduate from what I understand). But regarless of whether or not it is a volunteer post, you are still subject to go where the military wants you. Just be cause you volunteer doesn't put you in charge of where you spend your career. As for Mr. Dresner's comments, my personal view is that any one that sympathetic to the Carter name issue will most likely be a pacificst and joining the military let a lone being a submariner would be the last thing on their mind. That's my opinion.
I just thought I'd let you know--in case there was any serious doubt--that there are admirers of President Carter who are not pacifists. Granted, my admiration of J.C. is based entirely on his actions as an ex-president, but that's good enough for me, and his submarine seems aptly named.
11 comments:
He was a submariner, a President, and began the military buildup which Reagan inherited and expanded. By turning him into a punch line you diminish the nation much more than you harm a good man who served as best as he could under difficult circumstances.
Sigh.
In a couple of years, when the word gets out that the polarized political environment of the civilian world has resulted in refusals to serve on ships named for leaders of "the other" party, remember, O eloquent one, that you heard it here first.
I'll let the guys with some military experience handle that one. Ren? Marine II? How about it? Do you get to do a lot of refusing to serve on certain posts or ships in the American military?
Tom,
Submariners are all volunteers. Some isolation duty (Diego Garcia, Adak AK etc.)is voluntary as well. Though I can't remember an instance of someone refusing to serve on a ship because of its name. That would have made the news.
Rich
"In a couple of years" means that I don't think it's happened yet; I think it's a likely result of our current political climate, to which the cited cartoon is an unhealthy contribution. I'm not convinced that we would have heard about it, either, unless it was in someone's best interest to involve reporters or lawyers.
Let me explain a few facts about military service. Members of the military do not have a choice about which lawful orders they obey. They also don't have a choice about the particulars of the assignments they are given.
Mexican-American sailors can't refuse to serve aboard USS Sam Houston. African-American sailors can't refuse to serve aboard USS Robert E. Lee. Democrats can't refuse to serve aboard USS Ronald Reagan and Republicans won't be allowed to refuse serving aboard USS Jimmy Carter.
Well, actually, you can refuse to serve. In the naval services, it's known as UA, and elsewhere as AWOL. It is properly rewarded with days in the brig, forfeiture of pay, loss of rank, or some combination thereof. And anyone volunteering understands this going in.
Don't worry Mr. Dresner. Ridicule of Jimmy Carter the whimp will in no way affect the dedication and professionalism of those assigned to Jimmy Carter the nuclear-powered attack submarine. They're smart enough to know the difference.
Personally, I think it is funny using the word attack in the same sentence with any military vehicle. Like saying an attack tank or an attack plane. I know subs are used for many many things including some incredible research. But to me, when talking about military equipment, attack should be pretty much implied, No?
Second thing I thought of was the old bomber planes with the shark drawn on the front. I can just see the USS Jimmy Carter with a buck toothed caricature of Carter on the front (Come on that would be funny).
Anyway, as for refusing duty, sure you can do that. You can also be Court Martialed and you can also be sent to Levinworth. Personally, I would rather serve on a ship or anything, regardless of name, then spend time in Levinworth, but that's me. Basically, refusing does happen, but not often. You can request a different assignment, but they can always tell you to blow it out your tailpipe.
Rich is correct that submariners have to request going to submariner school, and not every one is accepted (it is actually pretty tough to get accepted and graduate from what I understand). But regarless of whether or not it is a volunteer post, you are still subject to go where the military wants you. Just be cause you volunteer doesn't put you in charge of where you spend your career.
As for Mr. Dresner's comments, my personal view is that any one that sympathetic to the Carter name issue will most likely be a pacificst and joining the military let a lone being a submariner would be the last thing on their mind. That's my opinion.
- Marine II
Marine II,
I just thought I'd let you know--in case there was any serious doubt--that there are admirers of President Carter who are not pacifists. Granted, my admiration of J.C. is based entirely on his actions as an ex-president, but that's good enough for me, and his submarine seems aptly named.
Take Care.
I, Anonymous.
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