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June 19, 2008

Did You KNOW...That If You Join the MARINES

...you might get...well...SHOT AT or something?!?!? News. To. Me.
Thank GOD for the eagle eyed MSNBC reporter who went to see "Sex and the City", sat through THIS outstanding Marine Corps commercial during the pre-"Sex" warm-ups and...felt a public service warning was needed.

...The lush music, deep-voiced announcer and stunning cinematography make it a natural fit for the big screen. In fact, it’s hard to appreciate the commercial if you don’t see it on a movie-sized screen, and it’s so eye-catching that you can enjoy it even if you are the target demographic for a movie about thirty- and fortysomethings living in New York City rather than twentysomethings considering a career in the military.

...The stereotypical military ad focuses on the adrenaline rush of serving your country -- the allure of physical feats of greatness and the sheer power of using advanced fighting machinery -- or tout benefits such as opportunities and education. Those approaches allow the military to accentuate the upsides of service while also acknowledging a sobering truth: this is a country that has been involved in a major, complex conflict for five years, and joining up these days is very literally an agreement to risk your life for your country.

...“America’s Marines,” is lovely, but its beauty risks being disingenuous. Certainly there are people who will join the Marines because they love this country, and the ad reminds us of how much there is to love about this country. But these days it takes more than patriotism to agree to serve -- it also takes the guts to know that you will likely be facing a messy battlefield....


Sh*t. Sneaky bastards. Here I was just going to sign up for the college money. (And that cool ass outfit they all wear.)

Nobody told me there was a war on.

Posted by tree hugging sister at June 19, 2008 12:26 AM

Comments

Nice to see the ignorant author getting an education in the comments section. A pity none of it will make an impression on the ignorant author.

Posted by: Gunslinger at June 19, 2008 06:49 AM

...joining up these days is very literally an agreement to risk your life for your country.

geddouddahere! When you sign up for the military you might get hurt now?

What do they do, feed you salmonella tomaters at boot camp?

Guns, you're right, the comments are a hoot. A helluva schpankin'.

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at June 19, 2008 07:01 AM

Colonel: Watkins why did you join the army?

Watkins: For the water-skiing and for the travel, sir. And not for the killing, sir. I asked them to put it on my form, sir - no killing.

Colonel: Watkins are you a pacifist?

Watkins: No sir, I'm not a pacifist, sir. I'm a coward.

Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at June 19, 2008 09:06 AM

The article contains 472 words, which is 469 more than she needed to make her point: "I am clueless."

Posted by: The_Real_JeffS at June 19, 2008 09:27 AM

(Heh heh--THS said "pre-Sex warm-ups.")

Frankly all the people in the movie theater should be insulted that this shallow writer said they were being fooled by a commercial. How is it stereotypical when you're showing what Marines do? The irony is, if they *did* show Marines fighting on a "messy" battlefield (messy? like, ew, my manicure is ruined!) she'd be screaming about that, too.

I am *loving* the comments setting her straight.

Posted by: Kate P at June 19, 2008 09:29 AM

And not just ANY battlefield ~ a "messy" one. Far, far worse than your regular "dangerous" one and an eyesore at that. Perish the thought!

Posted by: tree hugging sister at June 19, 2008 09:42 AM

What a pin head.

Posted by: major dad at June 19, 2008 10:18 AM

Battlefields should be neat - like Call of Duty or something. Ever run that on a dual-processor rig with a few gigs of RAM? SWEET! But in real life, they use real blood, and nobody hides a full health can in the secret area in the bombed-out casino. You don't get multi-directional laser cannons from random crates you find lying around. So don't be fooled by slick commercials or glossy direct-mailings!

You know - even mocking this stuff makes my head hurt.

Posted by: nightfly at June 19, 2008 10:22 AM

If they want non-messy battlefields, they should let in the gays.

(I keed, I keed!)

Seriously, though, I'm hoping H's ASVAB scores land him in the Marines. Bingley can be a Marine FIL!

Posted by: Lisa at June 19, 2008 11:41 AM

The circle would be complete, Lisa!

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at June 19, 2008 08:44 PM