Let's not place our soldiers on a pedestal (Sanders, 9/11, crime)
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Excellent commentary, totally agree on all his points. While his negative experiences are with military family, he is correct about this entitlement mentality and coddling of the military.
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It's a byproduct of all the hoo-rah building up cherishing nonsense you HAVE TO DO to maintain a big volunteer army. If you don't convince them they are great, who's gonna volunteer to die for your dumb agenda?
The side effect will be entitlement. Sadly, not even from the soldiers, but their families.
/\ DITTO! I am always bemused by my fellow citizens who have never born the burden of defending the Flag under fire (and the basic obligations of citizenship if one is inclined to read the Constitution) while enjoying the benefits of those who have done so.
The people serving now are hardly defending our flag.
That's the sad, sorry, painful truth.
They do deserve respect for being willing to should push come to shove.
That being said, if we actually ever were really threatened, I would pick up a gun and go, too.
And that ain't a bunch of hooey talk.
As an ex river rat I would never want to be placed on a pedestal, metaphoric or real, because I would then become a really good target.
Please do not blame our soldiers for their predicament. They served so they deserve some compensation beyond room, board and salary. Respect would also be appropriate.
If you want to complain do it about our financiers, corporations and politicians that have yet to be able to thrive without constant war. We do not need to spend over ten times as much for our "defense" as any other country except to keep our military suppliers and their investors on a the biggest government welfare system ever built.
The people serving now are hardly defending our flag.
That's the sad, sorry, painful truth.
They do deserve respect for being willing to should push come to shove.
That being said, if we actually ever were really threatened, I would pick up a gun and go, too.
And that ain't a bunch of hooey talk.
At what point would that be? If you wait till the bombs are falling on Dallas, it's a little too late, don't ya think?
The idea that just because someone is in the military they are a "hero" has always bugged me.
More than anything though I can't stand spouses like the one in the OP, stop wearing your husband's rank. You didn't serve and aren't entitled to military discounts.
Military discounts aren't required they are something a business chooses to offer. If they want to only extend it to military members and not family members that's their right. When a spouse then turns around and complains, the business might just stop offering the discount all together.
The people serving now are hardly defending our flag.
That's the sad, sorry, painful truth.
They do deserve respect for being willing to should push come to shove.
That being said, if we actually ever were really threatened, I would pick up a gun and go, too. And that ain't a bunch of hooey talk.
Well - thats a very comforting thought. Unfortunately great nations don't just have nice simple "my God - they are on our borders, grab 'yer gun Bubba!"
Modern international interactions are a tad more complex than that.The subject is quite complex and not one I've any real interest in exploring on CD.
Suffice to say this - IMO, there are two classes of people in this country (no sexism, many women also serve); the classes, especially for males, are simply this:
At a militarily appropriate age, did one serve? It is a particularly acute question if the Flag was under fire during one's prime military age.
Being of the Viet Nam generation, I had a very clear view of how many of my peers reacted. Some of us were dumb enough to turn down scholarships for college - and enlist in 1968.
Trust me - you can get hurt in combat, sometimes it is even terminal. It dang sure ain't fun.
But somebody has to do it - or, you wouldn't have a country at all.
Pedestals - stuff it! I'll take the mutual respect of those of my brothers who shared the experience - we did not shirk our duty as citizens of this nation. To those who have come after us wearing the uniform - I do indeed salute them and ask the gods to keep from harm's way.
That's all, Folks.
Last edited by Pilgrim21784; 06-05-2015 at 08:37 PM..
The people serving now are hardly defending our flag.
That's the sad, sorry, painful truth.
They do deserve respect for being willing to should push come to shove.
That being said, if we actually ever were really threatened, I would pick up a gun and go, too.
And that ain't a bunch of hooey talk.
Well - thats a very comforting thought. Unfortunately great nations don't just have nice simple "my God - they are on our borders, grab 'yer gun Bubba!"
Modern international interactions are a tad more complex than that.The subject is quite complex and not one I've any real interest in exploring on CD.
Suffice to say this - IMO, there are two classes of people in this country (no sexism, many women also serve); the classes, especially for males, are simply this:
At a militarily appropriate age, did one serve? It is a particularly acute question if the Flag was under fire during one's prime military age.
Being of the Viet Nam generation, I had a very clear view of how many of my peers reacted. Some of us were dumb enough to turn down scholarships for college - and enlist in 1968.
Trust me - you can get hurt in combat, sometimes it is even terminal. It dang sure ain't fun.
But somebody has to do it - or, you wouldn't have a country at all.
Pedestals - stuff it! I'll take the mutual respect of those of my brothers who shared the experience - we did not shirk our duty as citizens of this nation. To those who have come after us wearing the uniform - I do indeed salute them and ask the gods to keep from harm's way.
That's all, Folks.
Well said. I totally agree.
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