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Many of them are simply underachievers who probably couldn't get a good job anyway, hence why they joined the military. I know a guy who joined the military several years ago just because his father had been in "Nam". The guy's a mess anyway. When he came back from his tour of duty, he got a job as a nurse and eventually got fired from the job. Who the hell would get fired from a nursing job? Only someone who's a mess.
LOL seriously?!
There are a lot of brilliant and educated soldiers and Marines, as well as lots of senseless idiots in both branches.
Do you HONESTLY believe your one guy friend represents the whole military or many people in the military? Citation requested for your bold statement, "Many of them are simply underachievers who probably couldn't get a good job anyway, hence why they joined the military."
1. It is your right not to support the troops. This is a free country.
2. Serving due to patriotism is not a requirement; everyone has their own reasons!
3. The military is not a welfare or job training program! It is up to each person to decide whether the MOS they sign up for meets their future goals. Those who displayed "aggressive behaviors" perhaps have been processed out a long time ago.
4. Nobody needs your recognition or respect. I believe most military men and women received that respect from those whom they served with. They don't need any civilians approval because not many civilians really know or understand or can relate to what they have been through.
5. There are no free benefits! Believe me, people in the military EARNED their title or rank.
It's true. Firefighters and police officers put their lives on the line nearly every day, but you never hear anybody say their work is heroic. It's always only the military members who are the "heroes". And really, what makes soldiers "heroes"??? Many of them are simply underachievers who probably couldn't get a good job anyway, hence why they joined the military. I know a guy who joined the military several years ago just because his father had been in "Nam". The guy's a mess anyway. When he came back from his tour of duty, he got a job as a nurse and eventually got fired from the job. Who the hell would get fired from a nursing job? Only someone who's a mess.
The military itself is not behind the branding campaign of the soldiers all being "heroes", it is corporate America in partnership with the U.S. Government. The military consists of some average, some exceptional Americans who are motivated to serve for a variety of reasons. Just being in the military surely does nothing to make someone a hero.
Thus whole rebranding campaign started after 9/11, for the most cynical and nefarious of reasons: to deflect any criticism of the governments war against Iraq in its drive to secure access to Iraqi crude. It was mainly directed at Democrats who might oppose the invasion (99% of Republicans were on board) and to question their patriotism. Then various entities jumped on the bandwagon, and FOX, of course, reinforced this belief before all their sporting events they televised, which they continue to this day.
The real justification for this lies in making the military sacrosanct, above reproach, and it works. Anyone questioning its actions is viewed as suspicious, and the red meat, wingnut crowd will often verbally attack and alienate these opinions. Most people don't wish to be alienated and attacked and remain silent, while politicians who speak out become easy targets for their opponents.
The military, however, just does its job. They also make real sacrifices worthy of our praise, but this blanket worship is all part of a larger agenda to sway, and even curtail, closer scrutiny of U.S. foreign policy and our wars of aggression in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to instill fear into those who would dare question what the majority of Americans believe: that the military is full of heroes, and how dare you question their sacrifices.
I can't separate them, because we have a volunteer army. Unless you enlisted before 2001, I have no respect for anyone's decision to join.
So you do, then, respect those who, like me, enlisted during Vietnam, right? You do respect the volunteers who served in the Continental Army and those who volunteered during the Civil War, on both sides, correct? One would suppose, then, that you also respect the tens of thousands who enlisted in WW I and WW II, not to leave out the Korean War. Curious!
I have the utmost respect for your right to have and express an opinion. I even swore an oath of service to protect that right from all enemies, foreign and domestic, and would have fought to the death to do so, even if I disagreed with the people whose freedom I was fighting for. You see, that's what soldiers do and are willing to do for their country and its people. That kind of dedication takes courage. In my experience it's usually those who lack it who are the most negative toward the troops themselves. Perhaps it's over-compensation for not being able to measure-up.
"Are they giving their lives for us, though? Or for special interests? Think about it."
Dumbest post I have EVER read on here!!!! I am in the Navy, and have been to Iraq and Afghan! Never ever ever met one person who was over in a combat zone for a special interest! Truly a ridiculous statement!!!!!
Are they giving their lives for us, though? Or for special interests? Think about it.
Are you serious? There is nothing to think about. How many in the military do you know that go to war for special interests?? And what do you think these special interests are? The fact is they do what they are told to do. I don't think troops are over rated at all. I admire their courage and commitment. They put country first, before family. How many of us are willing to do that?
When will people outgrow their hero worship?
I was in the army and I don't consider what I did to be some great sacrifice worthy of reverence. It was a job involving guns and other ordnance, basically. I took a certain amount of pride in it, but I've taken a certain amount of pride in every decent job I've had.
Many civilians die in their line of work. Many soldiers never even get injured.
I don't see people carrying on about firemen or the few good police officers that are still around.
How about honouring search and rescue teams? That would be a nice change.
No surprise here. Canada, where you hail from, is a nation of beer-swilling leftist cowards that spends lavishly on social programs made possible by relying on their southern neighbor for their national defense.
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