Last night I saw part of Bill Maher's "Real Time" on HBO (I can only take it in small dribs and drabs). They had a discussion about "chickenhawks"...I understand the term to mean people in government who wage war without having risked their own lives during wartime.
Part of the conversation centered on John Kerry having served in Vietnam and therefore NOT being a chickenhawk and George Bush who did not and therefore, it was suggested, WAS a chickenhawk. But if the definition of chickenhawk rests upon the risk to one's life, let's examine some statistics regarding professions and the chance of entering that profession and being killed: [the following is from "World Almanac Book of Facts ,1998", p. 181] Number serving during Vietnam War: 8,752,000 Number of battle deaths: 47,393 Number of battle deaths as a percentage of number serving: 0.5% [the following are well-known statistics] Number serving as presidents in U.S. history: 43 Number of death due to assassinations: 4 Number of assassinations as a percentage of number serving: 9.3% Thus, becoming president of the U.S., you have a 2,300% higher chance of being killed than serving in the military during the Vietnam War. Is it fair, then, to label George Bush a Chickenhawk? Plus, George Bush DID serve during the Vietnam War. Whether he was at risk as much as others I cannot assess as I don't know whether there was a possibility his unit would have been called up; but, unlike Clinton, he did serve. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/JjtolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
