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Also, it's ROYAL Air Force (RAF) not British Air Force.
My Dad (20 yrs RAF) said the major difference between the US and UK forces was this: USA better equipment, UK better training. He used to fly Vulcans. There were pretty frequent bombing competitions with the USAF. Although the B-52 was a massively superior plane in terms of technology, the Vulcan could outmanoeuvre it. Vulcan crews could also bomb to a better resolution than the dot on the screen!
I mean, it makes sense. The USA has huge resources. The UK doesn't, and tends to compensate for that by great professionalism. They're both damn good forces, and complement each other nicely.
Me I'm just a Slug.
FWIW I think women in the Forces is fine as long as they keep out of "combat" roles and as far as homosexuals go, no they should not be allowed BUT it is a fact of life that there will always be some in the Forces, they joined knowing the rules, as long as they were sensible about it there wasn't a problem. No they didn't "mince" around that would have been asking for trouble.
Have a nice day as our colonial friends say <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/wink.gif">
Slug
Slug
Folks in the US whether they like it or not tend to be highly influenced by the bible and religion...in the old testament (I just call it the old book) we are told to take homosexuals and throw them in a pit with a provided rock show...if they are found! In the new testament...another old book but newer, they are forgiven and told to sin no more...and there you have it...don't ask and don't tell...and you are forgiven if you 'don't!
Homosexuality here is viewed as a perversion deserving of death if expressed publicly and forgiven if not practiced...as for the flaming fags amoungs US...mostly in selected large cities...they are catching AIDS faster than this discussion and will be largely gone in another generation...as will large segments of some of our minority populations...indeed the above 'religious bible belt fanatics' see AIDS as a gift of god and have publicly expressed as much.
I have already mentioned the current view in US of the term 'gay' as an anacronym for "Got Aids Yet"? The gender challenged folks have become a dangerous plague in US society spreading as they do a deadly contagion for which there is no cure...yes, I have read the prestigeous "Lancet" articles on the subject as well as "The Pasteur Institute" publications and our US medical rags...be scared, be very scared...!
Ta! (I love that term...learned it here)
Diesel
88888888
Exactly Slug, so whether we like it or we have to adapt and appear to accept the changing policies of the MoD or government.
Just like any new policies, there's people that adapt and accept, and there's people that rebel against it .. but in this case we have to appear to accept it, either superficially or altogether, as mature, reasonable people.
Visit Alzaweb <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/guitarist.gif">
I'd quickly like to add that my last post wasn't mean't to say that the US forces are a load of shit. They aren't. However, they are far more given to "gung-ho" and "We Are The Greatest!" shit than Brits (listen to recordings of Gulf War strikes if you don't believe me).
Gung ho is what it is all about...we fight with a pretty mixed bag of 'critters' and you best be gung ho...otherwise you'll have some dolt fragging you in the outhouse!
Someone complained about the originality of the names 'Thanatos & Thanatos-jr' and just in case you missed it the first time around, you ought to know...father and son...both Marines, one is one was...you always are once you have been! Semper Fi...says it all! And no, I ain't, wasn't and never have been...a Marine...good folks to have with you in a fight though.
Diesel
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Because they cant get it to leak oil.
There is always free cheese in a mouse trap
diesel are you having trouble reading and understanding the other 2 corrections ive posted to your use of the term "gender challenged"? it is incorrect. gay people are quite happy with the gender they are for the most part... a person who is GENDER CHALLENGED would be more accurate applied to a transvestite (person who enjoys dressing up as the other sex) or a transsexual (someone who is living the life of the opposite sex, sometimes with the use of surgery.). gay people just have sex with the same sex, as opposed to the opposite sex. is it so hard to understand?
who said anything about gay people telling of their sexual exploits? its quite different for a straight person to brag about their exploits and a gay person just to make it public that they're gay. a gay person can STILL be gay without having had any kind of sexual contact with someone of the same sex. it is a state of mind, not just actions which they demonstrate. the knowledge of whether someone is straight or gay, is very different from either person bragging about what they've done sexually.
Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.
BTW, just someone being gay is far to much. All they have to do is parade it and it is much worse that your grandma telling you how she got laid for the first time <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/biggrin.gif">
Well, there's aggressiveness in combat, and then there's just chest-beating. British forces are aggressive in combat, but they do it in a very professional manner.
For instance, a Gulf War bombing raid. The RAF back-seater is just giving strictly to-the-point info to the pilot, "Left a bit... 2 minutes... Bombs away..." that kind of stuff. With the Americans you get all this "Gonna kick some Iraqi butt! Yee-ha!" crap. I don't know, perhaps that's what your training staff feel is necessary to motivate your servicemen into doing the damn job.
Or another example. Medals. Look at a US brass-hat (Lt. Col / Cmdr or above). Gongs on his chest by the dozen. Most of them are just "Been there, done that" awards for, say, a tour in Vietnam. Now look at a comparable Brit officer. Probably 3-4 tops, for an 'average' officer. An MC or AFC perhaps, a long-service gong. Once, at a dinner at Omaha, my Dad was asked this by a USAF Major. He just said, "Well, we're just not very brave."
My point: the US forces are far more showy than their UK counterparts. Their strength lies in (a) numbers and (b) technology. Yes, the USAF could crush the RAF. But then so could the Soviet lot, so there goes the "might makes right" hypothesis.
Well if anyone needs 'cranial-rectal' surgery then i'd guess it's the cross -section of the USA population that have the same beliefs and standards as you lot do.
The world, yes that DOES include the USA, rather than USA and the rest of the world, is adapting to the changes in society .. not without issues, but it's adapting all the same without resorting to the childish insults, and name calling that you lot are oh so good at <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/smile.gif">
I'm pretty sure that either you, or your fellow Marines have had anal sex with a woman before. Personally i haven't, but does that mean that "they don't understand that a penis is supposed to go in a vagina" ??
An arse is an arse, whether it's a male or female arse .. it does the same thing <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/biggrin.gif">
Visit Alzaweb <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/guitarist.gif">
[This message has been edited by Powerslave (edited 19-08-2001).]
Better tell that to all of the heteros who practise anal sex them, moron.
Who'd have thought that a 'big tough marine' could be scared of a wussy homosexual?
There is rather a difference in being afraid of something, and being disgusted by an aberation...
I am not afraid of much in this world, including necrophiles... however, I STILL find their deviant behavior loathsome...
a) I'm ex-Royal Engineers/Medical Corps (Serving for 2 yrs)
b) I'm Bi
As far as I'm concerned and indeed many other service friends of mine in all 3 areas I don't see why sexuality is such a problem... it should be down to a persons ability as mentioned earlier, just because someone is gay/bi/whatever doesn't mean their ability to serve in the forces is affected.
I wasn't cut out for the Royal Engineers and I accept that, partly through injury (me breaking my leg on the training ground at Gib Brks and various other things) but when I got to the Meds I passed through all physical tests coming 2nd and only being beated by a bootneck (heh lucky) at Keogh Brks.. I am not camp, I don't paint my nails, I'm very straight acting and don't mix my private life with my straight friends, while in the forces I had a few relationships with various recruits (many navy.. lol) and that was kept behind closed doors and unaware to others...
What I will say tho is while homosexuality is now allowed within the military doesn't mean it will neccesarily be accepted especially amongst the Paras/RE and Infantry units, I remember the grief I got back in June/July 1999 with the RE when one of the recruits managed to find out via some people who knew me at college....
While I agree that we're all equal and should be treated as such I understand why people don't want gay/bi people within the forces but this regulation was originally enforced because they where afraid that gay soilders would be unable to concentrate on the frontline due to all the 'males' around them... well thats total BS, if that applied then women shouldn't be allowed in the forces... which is stupid...
I think that people should just accept that not everyone has the same tastes/sexuality/feelings as others and this doesn't necessarily affect their mental/physical ability... What I do feel though is that all people should recieve the same treatment, if the person is not cut out for service within a regiment then they should not be there, they shouldn't recieve special treatment... <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/smile.gif">
[This message has been edited by Justin Credible (edited 20-08-2001).]
Out of the closet, into the fire!
[This message has been edited by Thunderpants (edited 24-08-2001).]
for all those who are anti-gay, you're not even half the man you would be if you could look over differences like that
there was an article in the paper, an ex-SAS transvestite was arrested because he stopped a fight in a pub but the police thought he was causing it
it took 7 police men to arrest him. he was unaffected by CS gas and was taking on half an army.
he's like that because he's trained to be like that, it doesn't matter if you're gay, female etc - if you can get to that stage then you deserve it
Death is one of the few things that can be done as easily lying down. The difference between sex and death is that with death you can do it alone and no one is going to make fun of you
Anyone who thinks that servicemen are uniformly psychotic twats is clearly one himself.
I'm not suggesting that this holds for all servicemen, but many are motivated by a genuine sense of honour, duty and patriotism... even love. Some people enjoy seeing the world; some adore flying.
Yes, there are some ruffians in uniform, but they do not even comprise the majority, let alone the entirety.
Would you include those who have fought and died for your freedom in the past Century in your sweeping generalization?
So when exactly did you join up?
peacechild
[This message has been edited by peacechild (edited 28-08-2001).]
<poof> *personality change*
On the other hand it would seem that most men from the UK are a bit more sensitive and in touch with their feelings. This probably explains the overall effeminate nature of English men...
It would also explain why homos are more accepted in your culture.
I would like to personally return two pieces of American real estate to the properties of the crown...
Greenwich Village NY
San Francisco CA
you may have these properties back.
Are homos allowed to marry over there yet?
If so the citizens of these territories would gladly become "subjects".
Note that I am not completely biased here, I thoroughly dig bi-sexual chicks...
as long as their hot.
Hahaha. <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/biggrin.gif">
No, you misunderstand the English completely. The best description of an Englishman I ever heard was when someone was talking about Roger Moore (the ex-Bond actor), saying that he's a classic Englishman: looks like a bit of a dandy, but actually has a spine of titanium.
The real difference between England and the USA is this: subtlety. You just don't get it; we do. (That's the English, mind you, and they're an endangered species.)
You would make a good solider is my favourite insult right know
[This message has been edited by Shade (edited 29-08-2001).]
And that's the best insult you can think of is it, my my I bet you have alot of friends.BTW it should be "now" not "know".
take care, I mean that, because you're going to be fun.
peacechild
[This message has been edited by peacechild (edited 29-08-2001).]
I DO DISPISE CAMP GAYS IN THE MILITARY!!!
ego contemno populus, tam ego caveo populus
Nice open minded post...NOT!
You show your fear and lack of understand by the line:
So what is it about you that makes you SOOOOOOO attractive that a homosexual man will be unable to prevent themselves from raping you?
A homosexual man is not a rapist, paedophile, instantly attracted to all men or any of the other ridiculous comments I have seen posted here and which I have heard when discussing this topic in other arenas.
Grow up people, these are the kind of misinformed and bigoted views once held against blacks and asians.
The one thing that does bother me about fags (I know you Brits call cigarettes fags but I'm talking about the pillow biting kind) in the military is the uncomfortable atmosphere they create around normal guys. It's just normal for guys to look at all woman in a sexual way with the exception of family and fat and/or ugly women. So it stands to reason that homos are the same way. When a woman is talking to me all I hear is "blah-blah blah-blah blah" while I'm staring at her tits. All you normal guys out there, tell me I'm wrong. That being the case and the same probably holding true with homos, I don't want a fag sharing a room in the barracks with me and looking at me when I'm in the open showers. It doesn't stop there. In the field the sleeping accommodations can be rather cramped in a fighting position. Or while marching I don't want the queer's eyes behind me to be burning a hole in the ass of my pants.
The homos shouldn't be exempt from defending their nation but instead be put in "special" units. Such as mine field clearing units or testing new parachute designs for the airborne. Actually an infantry unit comprised of all fags would be fearsome thing. I think the Spartans tried that. Their believe being that they would fight harder to protect their lovers rather than just a buddy. Think about the money saved on bayonets. They could just grow their nails long instead. And even if they're wounded they'd be spreading their AIDS infected blood on the enemy. Talk about a persistent agent. <IMG alt="image" SRC="http://www.thesite.org/ubb/biggrin.gif">
"I'd rather have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not have it"
[This message has been edited by Mr_Perfect (edited 31-08-2001).]