http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/defense/moskos.htm From 1980 to 1985 the percentage of blacks in the infantry dropped from 32 to 22 percent. Declines were also registered in the armored and artillery specialties. Although blacks are overrepresented in combat specialties relative to their numbers in American society, they are considerably underrepresented relative to their numbers in the U.S. Army. Despite popular perceptions, black males are not being tracked into combat units
http://www.daveyd.com/polarticlesoldiersblack.html Contrary to popular belief, blacks have not died in combat in disproportionate numbers, even in Vietnam. Two leading military sociologists, Charles Moskos of Northwestern and John Sibley Butler of the University of Texas, researched this carefully for their 1996 book "All We Can Be: Black Leadership and Racial Integration the Army Way." They reported, "Black fatalities amounted to 12.1 percent of all Americans killed in Southeast Asia -- a figure proportional to the number of blacks in the U.S. population at the time and slightly lower than the proportion of blacks in the Army at the close of the war." (Moskos favors reinstituting the draft. He says Rangel's argument "persuasive" but that the most important reason is that the military is undermanned and relies too heavily on reserves.) In recent decades, blacks have tended to gravitate away from combat jobs. In arguing against Rangel's bill, the Department of Defense noted, "Blacks today account for 21 percent of the enlisted force, but make up only 15 percent of combat arms (e.g., infantry, armor, artillery)." African-Americans make up about 13 percent of young adults, so they are still somewhat over-represented in combat positions. "In contrast, blacks account for 36 percent of Functional Support and Administration and 27 percent of Medical and Dental career fields. " Interestingly, the military today seems to attract pugnacious whites and pragmatic blacks. Analysts have suggested that more young white men see the infantry as a way, in the words of one, to "play Rambo" from age 18 to 22, then go to college using military tuition benefits. In contrast, blacks often view the military as either a long-term career in itself, or as a way to get practical training for a civilian white-collar career.
http://www.charleston.net/stories/033003/ter_30soldier.shtml In 2002, 68 percent of the military recruits who signed up for combat arms were white while 15 percent were black. ertrader1, let me know when you've had enough. I think you are the one that did not do his homework.
Hello folks: Hearing these comments, I have to believe that few of the posters have served in the military. As children, my parents taught us that we should give service to our community and to our country. How we chose to do this was up to us. My brother and sister chose to teach, and I joined the Navy, becoming an MDU diver. Speaking for myself, I had no "Rambo" fantasy, rather I was interested in meeting my obligation and getting out with all my fingers and toes. I don't have children but if (when) I do, I think I will want them to understand that they owe something in return for the protection, the opportunity and the freedom they enjoy.
hold the phone dude!! my daughter is in ROTC and when she EARNS her scholarship she will be entitled to NOTHING! she will have to earn what she gets, and work hard for her rank! and if she's definately not from a well to do family, our combined income is less then $55,000 per year
sounds about right.....and sometimes you dont even need any of that...you're in America....the bubble was a perfect example
Easyguru, perhaps you should consider and accept the bitter cold reality of terrorism. If they "caught" both Bin Laden and Dr. Zawaweeni it wouldn't matter. Terrorism is an eternal thought in the mind of "God" ("god"? "gods"?). Meaning, "Evil" is attributed to... well, evil. But you notice, no matter how "Evil" evil deeds are, the "evil doers" are NEVER "Satan," "the Devil," "God," "gods," whoever's damn "GOD" OR whoever's "EVIL" - it is ALWAYS people. Human beings. Only people. People and no others in the universe are behind "Evil" and evil deeds, no matter what powers or principles are attributed as having influence or influencing outcomes of deeds. As such, as long as there are people terrorism will florish. If Bin Laden is caught 10 people will replace him. If Dr. Zawawhackoff is caught 100 more will take his place. If this be the case, human beings are the spawns of "Evil" ... and no others. To prove it, did not "terrorism" start with people? Did not murder? Besides all of this, and I hate to sound harsh, more people die in automobile collisions, suicides, cancer related deaths, gang-shootings, drug ODs, etc., in a single day in the USA, Britain and Europe than all the people who have been killed total by terrorism ever. This strongly indicates that "terrorism" as a concept is a global mania with close to zero comparable reality. I mean, if I can write this, then any idiot should be able to see this. Just as people are here today and here to stay so is "terrorism." I am not saying that there is no God, nor am I indicating that there is no "Devil." The Holy Bible, that is seen to be the guide to one of the top 3 religions on the planet, indicates that God wiped out civilization, and the angel of the Lord killed people left and right. However, nowhere in the Bible does it EVER say that Satan killed a single person. It does say he is a murderer, but does not give a single instance of the actual act, that is, "Satan murdered so and so." There are people who are not terrorists who label Bush and Blair "murderers." Indeed, have not those two, by ordering others, Charlie Manson style, to kill, "murderers?" It all depends on how one views it. How can "murder" be good? If the Holy Bible indicates that "Satan" is a murderer, yet God killed, then how is murder of innocent people or of "Evil" people seen as either bad or good? It is all in how people view it, no? Now, I don't mean to come off as some half-baked forex trader, but if I were Bush, back on 9/11, instead of saying how he needs to go after "Evil" I'd say, "People, as President, I need to track down people and kill them. People who believe that we kill people so they have to kill us in retaliation. Those people I need to hunt down and kill. Because I do it in the name of such and such religious purpose, while they... do it for.... some other whacked out purposes - it don't matter none... pardon me... YEEEE-HAWWWW! *ahem*. Now, as your leader, I need to go kill people, and yes, innocent people will get slaughtered and wounded, but, it is all for a good cause - to prevent people from killing people - that is why I must order our military, of whom hundreds will be killed - our American family members, to go kill people. Thank YOU, and be SURE to vote for ME, George W. and I have not figured out what the 'W.' stands for yet Bush next election." Wesson killed his own children and wives. Bin Laden and Saddam did not do that. Mothers kill their own children. Are they any more "Evil" than terrorists? Do "terrorists" kill their own children? No, they kill others. *COUGH* ... *YAWN* Yet, what now? Don't we have to line up all 6,000,000,000 people on earth and give them all a psychological exam to see which ones are liable to kill their own children, their own husbands, wives, family members, relations, strangers? Should not law enforcement then kill those people in pre-emptive strikes who are most liable to kill others... so they won't kill others? This whole thing is friggin' turnin' into a blood bath-crazed mania, Easyguru! Ya know? We as members of the human race just all need to STOP. I mean, just STOP - take a break - declare a world wide Stop The Killing Day - a Week, give it a rest, man. Maybe at least "a vacation from the killing of war(s)" so everyone can just get a grip. Geeeesh! Maybe just think it all over for a few days. The Holy Bible indicates that Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, after which, he went out and cut a deal with the spiritual rulers of the Jews' religion to be guide to take them to finger Christ. THEN, once Judas saw that they were going to KILL Jesus, Judas repented himself. Yet the Bible does not indicate that Satan ever exited Judas. Nevertheless, he felt such remorse he went out and hung himself. Those high priest rulers of the Jewish religion who killed Christ didn't kill themselves. Nor does it say that Satan entered into the rulers who convicted and killed the "Son of God." Get over it, and get on with your life, and please just don't kill me, because if you do... I'll never talk to you again. I think I'm gunna go out and puke now. Sam (ps: have a nice weekend.)