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Rangel tried to argue that minorities were over represented in combat positions and therefore disproportionately effected by war.
It was pointed out that while minorities are disproportionately represented in the military they are underrepresented in combat positions and therefore actually insulated from risk at a higher rate than non-minorities.
One argument for this disparity, which is neither intentional or a good/bad thing, is that while minority recruits enlist due to the carrot offered in education and GI Bill benefits, non-minorities enlist due to the "life of adventure" sale's pitch. Said another way - minorities see it as a stepping stone out of poverty and into a real career - - white guys see it as an opportuniy to go shoot somebody. Think about it next time you see an armed services recruiting commercial.
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