Thus, we are told that Trump likes military men

[question everything]

Sure he likes them. They fought, were injured and died protecting him while he managed to avoid Vietnam.

[dchill]

1. He had his own "personal Vietnam."

Doncha know...

http://people.com/politics/trump-boasted-of-avoiding-stds-while-dating-vaginas-are-landmines-it-was-my-personal-vietnam/

[question everything]

4. This is sick. And to think that all these pious evangelicals voted for him

because they were offended by Hillary not being a little wifey staying home in the kitchen

[Solly Mack]

2. There exist a type of person who mythologizes the military. But not in the same way.

They think soldiers are bigger, better, stronger, more noble, braver, tougher, bad-asses - a host of adjectives meant to convey strength, power, aggression, prestige...a cut above others.

Once, just after a ceremony, my husband and I stopped by a gas station on the way home. He was still in his Class A's because we wanted to get home and not take the time to change.

A young man was also at the pumps and his jaw dropped when he saw my husband as his eyes followed my husband from the car and into the store.

We both noticed and gave each other a look of alarm, because the expression on the young man's face was disturbing. To see such hero worship in anyone is disturbing. To us, anyway.

The young man stopped cold. Wasn't pumping gas, simply standing there, holding the nozzle and staring.

When my husband came out of the store the young guy went so far as to salute my husband.

The young man followed us out of the parking lot with his eyes.

We laughed once we were on the road again but neither of us was comfortable with what happened.

Then there are people who talk the same way about the military as a way of talking themselves up. Soldiers are big tough bad-asses who can kick ass 24/7 - and they say this with their chest puffed out and intimate they know and are accepted by such soldiers, the subtext being that those same qualities are a reflection of their own character.

That's Trump. Such people have never served and would never serve. They simply like to brag and talk big. They also have an underlying contempt for actual soldiers - but the world of surface respect for the soldiers in the stories they like to tell to feel big and strong themselves.

Both types are ignorant of the military and the people who serve. If you can't see the soldier honestly, you can't see them at all. Not really.

The hero worship is disturbing but the heroes by proxy (such as Trump) are disgusting.

Trump doesn't like soldiers. He likes the idea of soldiers- and his ideas are steeped in ignorance.

[question everything]

6. Read an interesting comment: DT attended a private boys' military school,

and has a sophomoric imagining of what generals are, and what generals do. Likes to think he's George Patton..

[Solly Mack]

7. I can believe that.

[Redlineoverdrive]

3. Mandatory service like every other country

[question everything]

5. Some kind of service

I don't know that the military now can use all men and women in their late teens early twenties. There are complicated instruments and the last thing the military needs is druggies.

But I've always supported some kind of a draft. Helping repair roads and bridges, help with kids in the inner cities, help with collecting crop.

They've recently approved more migrant visas but for someone fishing shrimps in the Gulf, it is too late.

And welcome to DU!