>

My parents met in the military and they are both damaged from war and broken bodies
This is an incredibly naïve opinion.
OP, in a perfect world, we'd have no wars and everyone would be happy and peaceful.  But we don't live in a perfect world.  Assholes come and go to war, and the rest of us have to deal with it and fight in it.  We've seen plenty of people with similar thoughts to yours come and go and they've never changed the minds of the masses.  
Wars will continue.  People, with or without children, will fight in them.  That is not going to change anytime soon.  Sadly, I only see that increasing over the next few decades. >

The day every man decides to lay down his arms there will be peace.
Until then governments will manipulate them. >

People fought before governments existed. Theirs always going to be predators that prey on good people those good people need to be ready to fight >

Self defense is not invasion. Crimes of passion are not war. 
What we have now is fabricated. Its a system we cling to out of fear and so givernments will never let go. Their need for power, control and self preservation is what modern conflicts are.
Often my nation and our allies are the ones invading, taking on much smaller nations that cannot hope to fight back. We are the violent predators, so perhaps we should choose as individuals to lay down our arms and not participate in war.
I also think the PTSD from the last conflict is creating new violence this conflict. All started when the ptsd from the conflict before that became leaders. Hitler, Stalin, Mao and Putin were all involved in the war of the previous generation and caused mass violence in their own. I think maybe we should stop making new generations of terrorists and cracked out leaders. >

If everyone took this perspective, nobody would serve/fight. >

You say that like it’s a bad thing. >

This will never happen. People will always fight. You need people willing to fight (even fathers and mothers) to fight tyranny. >

i never said it will happen eventually. i said that if it could happen, it wouldn’t be a bad thing. >

I think literally everyone ever agrees with that. >

Getting invaded usually isn't very good for children >

But on my side of the pond we do the invading... >

If nobody served it'd be the other way around so >

I like to think there are other potential possibilities for a better future.
We usually pick on small countries that cannot fight back... Thats not preserving peace. >

Shit opinion tbh. 
In front of me is the enemy, behind me my family. If I don't fight to protect what I love, then I lose them.
Just because you grow up in a cozy first world country don't mean that people joining the military is a bad thing.
Case in point, Ukraine. If the men don't go and fight for their country, they get invaded, and their family suffers. >

Came here to post this. I can kind of see it if we are talking about foreign wars. In case of Ukraine, the fate of your country, your community and your family depends is on the line. That's fighting for your survival and it's a no-brainer if you have any sense of decency. With that said - not everyone should literally be in the trenches. There is something for people from all walks of life when it comes to fighting a war. >

The benefits outweigh the risk for a lot of people. You get a housing allowance, food allowance, healthcare paid, college paid, and if you stay in 20 years, you get retirement. Your family also gets benefits if you were to die. Also, don’t forget that somewhere around 80% of the military personnel serve in a non combat role. My ex was basically a hotel manager in the military. What other company is going to offer you that when you have no experience and only a high school education? >

And your still indirectly protecting your children, just on a grander scale. >

Maybe instead of lashing out at people who choose to join the military, you should be lashing out at the government who's refusal to enact college and healthcare reforms drives so many people to join in the first place. Just a thought. >

Ooh good point >

Honestly joining the military if you have a family is not a bad thing. You get housing, free health care, benefits etc etc. A lot of military careers is just a regular 9-5 >

Living in a fantasy world are we? >

You can fight the invader at the border with your fellow countrymen or at your front door alone . >

From my side of the pond we do the invading in foreign lands. Its us knocking at the door. I honestly think the PTSD is bad for people. >

Yep. I absolutely hate anytime I see one of those returning soldier videos. They surprise the kid, and the kid is hysterical and it’s like, of course, they probably spend a bunch of time worrying if their parent is gonna get blown up. >

I don't like the surprise ones, especially public and/or video... it's weird.. >

Its called propaganda and its weird because it is unnatural. >

Patriotic propaganda is so cringe >

Yes, how selfish it is to go fight for your country, therefore the safety of your kids >

Your kids are plenty safe. No one is invading the US. >

*yet >

No one has invaded us in decades, yet we use the same old tired line that “vets are fighting for our freedom.” The people trying to take away our rights are the politicians, not some extremists in Iraq. >

Not the US mainland. US allies. >

Are rights still aren’t in danger, and it’s not because of the War On Oil. >

What? I'm talking about the future risk of NATO being involved in a war because Russia, or some other country does something stupid. If so, the US needs to have a conventional force capable of protecting allied nations, without the use of nukes. >

I think theu are critiquing the use of invading force in Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Vietnam, latin America, South America, African nations and Afghanistan. All of which the US and her allies were the invaders. Its not suddenly okay becausethey provoked the bear. The US keeps poking China too... >

That's a different issue, and yes, the US should stop messing with countries for no good reason. >

Thats what many of us think when we say things like not joining or laying down arms. I don't know if the world would be safer or more dangerous without the American world order but I don't want to participate. We can't trust the news and there is a lot of blatant propaganda for recruitment. How do I really know who the "bad guys" are  I'm thinking neither are goodguys.