Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I will agree with most of this, however I don't think soldiers can be blamed for it.
Soldiers returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan had nail clippers etc confiscated on their return trip home. Imagine fighting a war against the terrorists and returning home to be treated like one.
I am fed up just like many others about our troops being overseas while our own borders are unprotected. I'm just not getting it why people blame the soldiers and not the Gov't officials responsible for these decisions.
With the cutbacks in the military, it is the wages and benifits of soldiers that are being cut instead of the Gov't contracts that are the biggest offenders in waste. But once we cut back to the point of reinstating the draft because no one in their right mind will volunteer (why not sit home and take instead) more people will find out what the military is all about. You don't think we will go without armed forces, do you?
I think that you make some great points here. Anytime anyone complains about our foreign policy which put our men and women in harms way to begin with, we're automatically labeled as unpatriotic, or traitors..ect....ect...!
It's the policies that put them there that we disagree with! Isn't it time we worry about our own problems for once, and quit trying to solve everyone elses?
Well, others have made the point that we do thank them...with a salary.
The other point is what about doctors, teachers, police officers, fire fighters, and any other person who aids in the betterment of people. Instead we sue doctors and cut pay the next three. However, we should buy lunch for soldiers fighting a foreign war on the vague concept of "freedom"?
I don't mean to disparage soldiers, but rather disparage the government for sending them to fight wars that actually made us more vulnerable and more hated around the world.
With that said, CG is correct. That is the profession that they chose. We should respect them, just like any other person deserves respect. We should be empathetic, just like we should with all other people. We can criticize the policies that they fought for, but we should not criticize the person for obeying orders (unless they were truly out of line).
One thing that's been overlooked in this thread is what the gesture of buying someone's lunch really is about.
For example, I'm a 31-year-old single dude. This might be starting to change as I get older, but for the most part, people in the military are my peers. For people in the 20s and early 30s, your typical young soldier that doesn't know you already is probably going is probably going to think that you're either 1) incredibly socially awkward, or 2) trying to come on to him/her. Either way, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to buy a solider lunch because he/she won't be comfortable with it. I'd be more inclined to go to a bar and shoot some pool or something with some soldiers than to "take care of them."
If you're talking about people who are somewhat older, it's a nice gesture. But I do think a lot of it has to do with the fact that they're young, and these soldiers remind them of their kids or something like that. The fact that they are serving is just icing on the cake. While nobody has technically bought me lunch yet, I have received a sandwich for being with a group of college students on a mission trip for spring break, and maybe once or twice had these types of conversations because I was a poor graduate student going home to visit my family for a special occasion.
People who serve in our military deserve nothing but our utmost respect and admiration. But they are normal people who operate in the same way that the rest of us do.
Additionally !!! Policeman, Fireman Teachers, Etc. get to go home to sleep at night without worring if they will wake up in the morning.
Not always.
And military members aren't deployed all the time.
And they CHOSE to join the military in a time of war.
If they're so concerned, they didn't have to join. They can quit when their enlistment is up, etc.
It's all about choices.
And no one goes to sleep at night knowing if they'll be alive in the morning.
My letter carrier drops off any large packages we get right at the door, thus saving us a trip into town. He rings the bell to let us know he's dropped something off. I always say thanks if I catch him before he gets back in his truck.
The school crossing guard gets a wave whenever I go by.
I also thank the person who has the perfectly awful job of cleaning the various public restrooms I have occasion to visit. "Thank you. It looks good. I appreciate it." With a smile and eye contact.
Takes two seconds out of your day to be nice to someone.
I like you, i too am like you, showing appreciation and a caring attitude, neve hurt anyone. I do the same thing, when a package is dropped off, and i catch the UPS DRIVER OR FED EX, i will open the door, to say thank you.
If at a casino, and coming out from the restroom, and the cleaning staff is cleaning the restrooms, i thank them, and say nice job.
No it isn't that you have too, it is because you want too! that is the difference.
If i want to buy someone in the military a free lunch, or a coffee, or whatever, that is my dang business, the only thing that is saying is your appreciated, and there is not enough of this going around these days.
Compassion never hurt anyone, looking down on compassion is our problem.
Yes i have taken the time to tell police, i appreciate their service, and firemen. In all fields, there are extradionary personell, and some who don't play by the rules. And especially true of politics?
I wouldnt agree that becoming a teacher in an inner city school is honorable, Most of them I have seen don't care about the kids, and are there because they couldnt get hired on anywhere else, and only care about getting a paycheck.
Well said. I tried to say it before in another post. Just because you have the job doesn't mean you are good at it.
Well said. I tried to say it before in another post. Just because you have the job doesn't mean you are good at it.
Same with military, wouldn't you say?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
