Originally posted by Branden Burden:
Alright jerseydevil, lets go. For everyone else, off topic, but when challenged I will respond.
Colorado School of Mines, BSc Mining Engineering (pretty much the world wide leader in mining engineering) Graduated with 160 credit hours, enough for a masters at POS schools like CU Boulder and any Cal. university. Took 5 years because I started my masters program in mining engineering, which I will be finishing in the next year or so. Classes were a technical focus (physics, fluids, thermo, differential equations, prob/stats, tunneling, site investigations, and every mining class offered with the exception of explosives engineering II), mixed with a small lib. arts background (political economies of the middle east was my focus). The best part - for one of the toughest engineering schools in the country - it was incredibly easy. I am also working towards a Mine Safety Professional cert., I am a member of the local volunteer fire department, and historical society. I was contracted during my senior year at Mines to locate 30 drillholes for a project in the DR, I hit on 28. The mine is now producing thousands of tons of copper a year, and a little gold everyday, based on my work. And I paid my own way through, I have lots of debt.
Alright, your turn.
To desert_rat - the discussion here has been about education. I do agree that education is not a measure of intelligence, however it does show a certain drive to work to better yourself. Education makes you a better person, period. Does killing people make you a better person? Did you ever kill anybody? Did you ever kill an innocent? Do you ever feel shame for the taking of a life?
To you and your son, and I am being sincere, I hope he comes home safe. And I hope he takes advantage of the college education he can recieve, and goes on to greatness. I hope he doesn't end up getting stuck in Iraq, like Bush.
Ok, so what I gather from all of the above is that you are good at mining. Well gee, you had 5 years of training in it, I should hope you'd pick up something during that time. Now, I have a B.S. in Animal Physiology and am about 8 hours shy of a M.S. in Reproductive Physiology. I also spent 5 years in school. Guess what I do for a living. I am responsible for around $20 million in communications gear that allows some guy in a fox hole to talk to the White House. But that's not the most valuable asset I have. You see, I also have 16 of America's sons and daughters for whom I am responsible. While I spent the last 5 years learning to kill people, I also picked up a few other skills. I have no background in the communications world outside of my cellphone. I rely on my paratroopers to do what is needed to make sure the communications systems are working to facilitate the killing of those that would gladly cut your smug throat. Well, most of them anyway. They rely on me to make sure they have the training they need to survive, not so they can come back home, but so they can do their job. You may dig holes in the ground and get lots of money for it, but I'd bet you my job is more rewarding. Life is good - where else can you jump out of an airliner 800ft off the ground, twice, in two days, and call it work?
Edit: I love how many experts on Iraq we have here. Branden apparantly has seen the "killing fields" with the bodies of innocent Iraqis "strewn about". Claus seems to think Iraq is a shit hole. Based on what? When were you last in Baghdad? What about Mosul? Karbala? Just over the fucking Kuwaiti border? Oh I know, you saw it on TV, right? So based on that, California is a state where everyone runs from the police, and belongs in a gang. Colorado doesn't exist - ever hear anything about the place? Here's a hint for you all. Before you go spouting off "facts" about someplace, go learn them first. Iraq is as much a shit hole as the state of New York. Surpised? It's just like any other large geographical area. You have the large cities with their slums and nice buildings, you have your small towns and villages, and you have your beautiful scenic areas. How many of you have heard of Dohuk? Shaklawa (phonetically spelled)? Probably one of the nicest vacation spots in the middle east that's not on the Med. Yup, they're in Iraq.
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