Military Nurses: What do you think of Bush and the war?

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I have been considering joining the Air Force after I graduate with my BSN this December. My step dad was in the AF and I have learned a lot about it over the years; I believe it is a great path to take in terms of nursing because of the opportunities available for travel, promotion, leadership, etc. plus more respect from doctors.

The only thing holding me back in my mind is that I am so opposed to what we are doing in iraq right now. I strongly disagree with a lot of President bush's decisions, and I am afraid this makes me the wrong type of person for the military. I love my country and have always been politically active/opinionated. But I have very little respect for our current administration.

Are you looked down upon in the military if you disagree with the president or oppose the war? I know this might seem like a dumb thing to ask, but i am the kind of person who wants to live my life in an honest way, and if I joined the AF I could not pretend to support this war when I don't. I support the men and women of the military, not the war. :nurse:

Specializes in Critical Care.

I can remember being on active duty in the reserves on Jan 20, 1993 @ noon, and thinking, "Oh My! Bill Clinton is my Commander-in-Chief!"

That did affect my decision making processes - I left the reserves not too long after that. . . it wasn't the sole or even major reason - but a contributing factor.

~faith,

Timothy.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

well if you acted in accordance w/your conscience, I totally respect that Timothy. That was not a wrong thing to do.

Too bad you could not hang those 8 years, however, I mean, look at how things are now!!!!

(saying this w/tongue firmly in cheek)

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
I can remember being on active duty in the reserves on Jan 20, 1993 @ noon, and thinking, "Oh My! Bill Clinton is my Commander-in-Chief!"

That did affect my decision making processes - I left the reserves not too long after that. . . it wasn't the sole or even major reason - but a contributing factor.

~faith,

Timothy.

I can appreciate that, Timothy. In retrospect, my early years in the military were when the Honorable Ronald Reagan was Commander-in-Chief. I was very proud of my Chief as young Marine.

:beer:

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I guess I should have clarified what I meant when I said my daughter has become a political agnostic: she says she has no OFFICIAL opinions of any kind as a uniformed member of the United States Army. That doesn't mean she doesn't care about politics; indeed, one of the reasons she joined the military was to give something back to her country, although travel and college benefits did play a part in her decision. But even as an enlisted person, she cannot criticize her commander-in-chief, not even in the privacy of home when she is in civilian clothes.

I understand that, and I've accepted the fact that she and I can no longer enjoy the long political and philosophical discussions we used to engage in.......at least, not as long as she is an active member of the armed forces. I don't even bring up such topics when she's home; it's just something we all know not to discuss, especially since dh, our oldest son, and I are all emphatically anti-war and anti-Bush. To be honest, I don't even know anymore what she thinks......I suspect her opinions have changed a bit, because she IS in the military, she's lived in the pro-Bush South now for almost 2 years, and she actually wanted to go to Iraq before she was in the MVA last year that cost her much of the use of her left hand.

But it's all good, and hey, in a few years Bush will be out of office, dd will be out of the service, and we'll all be a little older and wiser.........in the meantime, we just shut up, and allow our soldier to do her duty without making it any harder on her than it has to be.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

well said Marla!

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.

Marla - Thanks for the support of your daughter, US Soldier, HOOAH!

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i got just as many pay raises under clinton as i did under bush. and clinton didn't gut the va....bush did and is. my $0.02.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
i got just as many pay raises under clinton as i did under bush. and clinton didn't gut the va....bush did and is. my $0.02.

All for gutting the VA hospital system.

They should have a Medicare Part V for Vet and let vets go to the local hospitals.

~faith,

Timothy.

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All for gutting the VA hospital system.

They should have a Medicare Part V for Vet and let vets go to the local hospitals.

~faith,

Timothy.

maybe so. but they should put something in place BEFORE they take away what's there.

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Hello, I love the quote from MLK. I do not agree with this war. American people have been framed into believing this is a just war. It isn't. You have been lied to. And W did a good job scaring the hell out of people. Lets live in fear! The 9-ll was a set up. FYI: I am a Navy Veteran, I serviced 1967-1971. I doubt if I could do it again. However, I had excellent mentors and the learning experiences I had helped pave the way for my Nursing career. I have enjoyed the benefits. The military is not for every one. Remember, you can get in, but you can't get out. I don't know, are we ready for another marble wall with thousands of names in D.C.?

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As a former service member, Ex-demo and ex-repub, I stay anti-partisan.

I admit to giving Bush a big pass especially after the Clinton Administration

as a matter of fairness).

President Bush is the Chief commander. You don't have to like or dislike him. You can choose to respect or not respect him. However, regardless of one's feelings, you have to respect the position he occupies. Don't let your dislike for any president to interfere with your respect for the position. Do not fall prey to the political distortions of either side of the isle.

If you choose to serve your country you are a definite patriot. Wars have

no bearing on it. That is the mission we are given. We did'nt agree with

vietnam, Iraq 1, Bosnia, Grenada,ect...

As a nurse in the military, you are their for the troops to care for the sick and injured. You are also there to provide care for the civilian people caught in the middle of the war, and the enemy combatant (like us, is serving their country for similar reason) THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE TERRORISTS BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO DO IT OUT OF MORAL OBLIGATION!

What is said politically is to be said behind close doors and not in public

forums. The Military has evolved republican as the democratic party has

shifted away to pacifism over the last 35 years. Like the democrats years ago, the republicans are now declining in the number of veterans who have served their country through military service.

Don't let the war or our presidents define your willingness to serve our

country. Your service alone will define you in an age when so few are willing to serve anything or anyone.

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Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!

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