I may have accused you of projecting your behavior on others, or expressing a line of thought that wasn't logical, or dodging an issue with a tangent subject; but I have never shouted you down for proselytizing.

I think it's only fair to the discussion that you offer your views on the questions. I'm interested in your thoughts on the subject.

I disagree with the premise that it is an altruistic act.

People volunteer for the military for a whole panapoly of reasons only a few of which could be considered altruistic. In my case, as well as every vet I have ever discussed "why" with, it was never a single reason. Nor did I ever talk to anyone whose primary reason for joining was pure altruism. Nor did I ever talk to anyone who did not find any personal value in their own service.

What others think about my service matters less than nothing to me. It was something I did for my own benefit on a lot of different levels, not for the benefit of others.

Given what our society has been devolving into now, if I were to look at it on the basis of my service being pure altruism, I would come to the conclusion of "why on earth did I bother".

Your premise of altruism assumes that the volunteer gets no value from their service. That could not be further from the truth. Although much of the value gained is nearly impossible to explain to others.

Service in the military winds up being a mix of reward and sacrifice as follows any other life changing decision.

In the end whether you personally decide it was a good choice depends totally on you and what you make of it.

Are there risks? Absolutely

Is anything in life risk free? Absolutely not

Are there benefits? Absolutely, and obvious. In my opinion the obvious benefits far outweighed the risks.

Your mileage of course may vary.

My time in the Marines was rewarding, and had a lot more "fun" involved than any job I have had since.

You decide it is in your interest to preserve your republic. It has to be about you first. If it 's important for you, often others benefit. For myself, when I was younger, I weighed the option and decided no. I have always been politically active. Your last question seems irrelevant. What consistent agenda is pushed by joining the military in the US? Even with groups such as unions, it 's not clearcut. I tend to vilify, Rand said the concept of a union could be admired. I think if you agree a standing military is necessary for your sovereignty, then people working for that military can be as virtuous as they want to be. It can be dangerous work, so with some exceptions, I appreciate and acknowledge fighting in a war or dangerous training. But I don 't elevate people who are in the military any higher than scores of other jobs and services.

I volunteered for the military. I chose to do that. As a women there was no threat of force for being drafted. I didn't do it with the assumption that I was throwing my life away and it was in no way altruistic in my case. I did it because at the time it was in my rational self interest, even though at the time the military was vilified by the public. I volunteered to enlist. When we were graduating from Corps School and they asked for volunteers to go to Nam I did not volunteer. Does that help you any?

I think this is a very intriguing question, Robbie, and it is one I have battled with.

The choice is voluntary now. Military participation provides value (experience, camaraderie, discipline, scholarship opportunity) in exchange for human participation value. The choice is at least partly selfishly made, but likely not completely.

I express gratitude to all who have participated in the military. I did not ask you to live for my life, but given that you did so or are doing so, I will gladly say "Thank you."

How about cops? That's supposed to be life threatening work. I personally know a few and have encountered many. None of them, not a single one became a cop on an altruistic basis. They became cops because it pays very well, has an insane benefits package, gives them an extreme sense of superiority and its fun to open carry and drive like a complete @$$hole everywhere you go.
Cops have no interest in protecting others, that's the part of their job they hate the most.

She faced death every time she surrounded herself with people dying from contagious and deadly diseases.

Your last question is, for lack of a better term, F-ing stupid.
The simple answer to your first question is that they volunteer out of love for their country (the idea of America), not the people who happen to live in it.
It is also not as selfless an act as you make it out to be. Many people feel its very gratifying to have served in the armed forces.
You also make it sound like if you sign up you're probably going to die, that is not nearly the case at all. Commuting to work on an interstate highway is more likely to get you killed than joining the armed forces.
Would you insinuate that I risk my life for my boss every time I drive to and from work?

Ahh, it was like Christmas, huh?

Some of us signed up for military service, not for any deep-seated patriotic reason, but because a buddy did so. Of course, when one is young, deep thinking is rare. In the case of $5Au he wasn't even thinking of money associated with the military and was quite surprised when a sergeant showed up and told him to sign on the dotted line. "What's this?" The sergeant grinned, "It's your scholarship, stupid!"

Should those who volunteer for the military be admired, or vilified?

What anyone admires or vilifies is based on their values. I value individual human life and liberty and I admire those who take actions to protect and preserve it. I despise those who take actions which destroy it.

Individuals take actions based on their values. This may include self-sacrifice and serving others.Taking "value based" actions will result in greater happiness, or at least less guilt than not taking them.

Avoiding painful emotions may not be "true" happiness, but that doesn't change the fact that it's human nature to seek happiness and find a way to achieve it.

The "typical American" who volunteers for military service does not do so because they want to sacrifice their life, though some of them know that could happen.

The government of United States was based on the concept of unalienable rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I admire those who are willing to fight and, if necessary, die for those principles and I do not equate that with altruism in the least

Here is a link to an Atlas Society discussion on Objectivism and the military. It should answer your questions.

http://www.atlassociety.org/objectivism_...

How can I vilify someone who protects our country? Like I said...It's their choice. Freedom to choose. Do I admire someone who signs up just for free college not thinking they might be killed in battle (I've known a couple of those)...No. Because it lacks thought and reason. If someone enlists believing they are fighting against evil and for freedom, I can admire and appreciate that. Would I sign up? No. I fight evil and for freedom in other ways. What's your point?

How do you, as a Christian egoist, answer your questions?

Thanks Mimi: I've seen it, but had forgot about the mention of the draft. I certainly felt is was evil when applied to me.

Check your premise. The first thought should be “Does this serve my self-interest to serve?" That clearly is a choice. I remarked further down below.