Comments on: Perspective. That’s all I’m saying. http://www.chrismclaren.com/blog/2007/04/24/perspective-thats-all-im-saying/ As honest as a gambling man can be Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:19:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Mr. McLaren http://www.chrismclaren.com/blog/2007/04/24/perspective-thats-all-im-saying/#comment-42233 Mr. McLaren Fri, 27 Apr 2007 04:25:34 +0000 http://www.chrismclaren.com/blog/2007/04/24/perspective-thats-all-im-saying/#comment-42233 I've been thinking a lot about the class makeup of the US military, and I wonder if there isn't an element of class to the apparent distinction here. Far and away the majority of the people who volunteer for military service come from the bottom end of the economic scale. Is it possible that in addition to not caring about brown people dying the majority of North Americans are much more shocked by the death of middle-class college age youths (you know, the ones that go to college) than by the death of lower-class college age youths (you know, the ones in uniform)? I’ve been thinking a lot about the class makeup of the US military, and I wonder if there isn’t an element of class to the apparent distinction here.

Far and away the majority of the people who volunteer for military service come from the bottom end of the economic scale.

Is it possible that in addition to not caring about brown people dying the majority of North Americans are much more shocked by the death of middle-class college age youths (you know, the ones that go to college) than by the death of lower-class college age youths (you know, the ones in uniform)?

]]> By: Kevin http://www.chrismclaren.com/blog/2007/04/24/perspective-thats-all-im-saying/#comment-42232 Kevin Fri, 27 Apr 2007 04:01:41 +0000 http://www.chrismclaren.com/blog/2007/04/24/perspective-thats-all-im-saying/#comment-42232 Co-workers response to the cartoon was less than favourable. I think they thought I was mocking their opinion in addition to being insensitive. Co-workers response to the cartoon was less than favourable. I think they thought I was mocking their opinion in addition to being insensitive.

]]> By: Mr. McLaren http://www.chrismclaren.com/blog/2007/04/24/perspective-thats-all-im-saying/#comment-42204 Mr. McLaren Wed, 25 Apr 2007 01:56:08 +0000 http://www.chrismclaren.com/blog/2007/04/24/perspective-thats-all-im-saying/#comment-42204 I have heard responses that somehow "unprovoked deaths of young people" are more tragic. As if no people of college age die in Iraq. Hell, even if you say military deaths are less tragic because they are more expected (not a position I would take), you can't rule out the college age, and younger, Iraqis that die every day. I have heard responses that somehow “unprovoked deaths of young people” are more tragic.

As if no people of college age die in Iraq. Hell, even if you say military deaths are less tragic because they are more expected (not a position I would take), you can’t rule out the college age, and younger, Iraqis that die every day.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.chrismclaren.com/blog/2007/04/24/perspective-thats-all-im-saying/#comment-42203 Kevin Tue, 24 Apr 2007 23:48:14 +0000 http://www.chrismclaren.com/blog/2007/04/24/perspective-thats-all-im-saying/#comment-42203 I made this exact comment at work the day after the shootings. My colleagues thought I was being insensitive. They somehow felt that these killings were more tragic than the hundreds of useless deaths that occur across the planet everyday. I didn't ask them what made the Virginia Tech. deaths more tragic. I did copy this cartoon though. I'm curious to see their response to it. I made this exact comment at work the day after the shootings. My colleagues thought I was being insensitive. They somehow felt that these killings were more tragic than the hundreds of useless deaths that occur across the planet everyday. I didn’t ask them what made the Virginia Tech. deaths more tragic. I did copy this cartoon though. I’m curious to see their response to it.

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