UTMC

You know, I always feel weird when people thank me for my service and say 'thanks for the freedom'.

I personally haven't fought for anyone's freedom (even though I was in Iraq in '90/'91), and neither has any soldier since WWII. No war since then has had anything to do with keeping Americans safe and free. The motivations for the Korean War, Vietnam, Gulf War, etc. had nothing to do with the American people, and served only the US government. Some may say that the current wars in Iraq/Afghanistan have kept us safe from further terrorist attacks, but I say that's bullshit. It's the US government's arrogance and foreign policies and shady doings that caused the hatred and agression towards us in the first place.

I understand thanking vets from WWII and earlier, but not me.

Had to get that off my chest.


/rant

I agree, but here's my take on it.

No matter where the fuck the government sends you and why, you still signed up to stand there, holding a gun and getting shot at, in case the bad guys really DO try and pull some shit.

It's the government's poor choices, the proper expletives for which do not exist to explain the actual magnitude, that send you into harms way for bad causes.

That doesn't negate the fact that you volunteered to be a potential bullet bag in the name of your country.

And as a further aside, which delves into the extremely theoretical what ifs: what if a lot of those "pointless" wars really DO serve a purpose? In every pack there needs to be an alpha dog to keep things in line or all manner of hell can break loose. What if you were the teeth of that alpha dog?
Two of those wars were to disrupt the spread of a political ideology that was antithetical to our own, and one that which, if spread, just MIGHT have led to a real, honest to god war to save the country.
(And I understand the arguments on both sides of this. I'm just saying, there COULD be a purpose to a lot of the shit that US military vets have been put through.)

So thanks.

Uh, you're welcome?


Feels weird. I don't feel I've done anything that benefits the American people.

Perhaps you don't feel you have done anything special or heroic, but,

You volunteered.

You said, I'll stand here in front of you all and I'll fight, and maybe die so you can be safe.

So you didn't fight in the way you felt was meaningful.

So you didn't die. (I'm glad.)

You were there.

Thanks.

motorpsycho67 wrote:Uh, you're welcome?


Feels weird. I don't feel I've done anything that benefits the American people.

You did urinate on the militarized vehicle of the commie bastard parking army... we're at least grateful for that.

Pintgudge wrote: You said, I'll stand here in front of you all and I'll fight, and maybe die so you can be safe.

But that's my point.

I don't feel anything I did had anything to do with your or anyone else's safety.

My service didn't benefit the American people in any way. I'm okay with that, but it feels wrong when someone thanks me for it.


I appreciate the sentiment, it just feels misplaced.

motorpsycho67 wrote: But that's my point.
I don't feel anything I did had anything to do with your or anyone else's safety.
My service didn't benefit the American people in any way. I'm okay with that, but it feels wrong when someone thanks me for it.

But you did benefit me. Because you (and others in sufficient quantity) volunteered, the draft was not brought back. Hence, I am not a veteran - which is a good thing as I have problems with authority and am the last person you want to give a gun and grenades to.

So thank you.

motorpsycho67 wrote:You know, I always feel weird when people thank me for my service and say 'thanks for the freedom'.

I personally haven't fought for anyone's freedom (even though I was in Iraq in '90/'91), and neither has any soldier since WWII. No war since then has had anything to do with keeping Americans safe and free. The motivations for the Korean War, Vietnam, Gulf War, etc. had nothing to do with the American people, and served only the US government. Some may say that the current wars in Iraq/Afghanistan have kept us safe from further terrorist attacks, but I say that's bullshit. It's the US government's arrogance and foreign policies and shady doings that caused the hatred and agression towards us in the first place.

I understand thanking vets from WWII and earlier, but not me.

Had to get that off my chest.


/rant

Totally understandable.
Sometimes I have a hard time distinguishing the difference between Memorial Day (honoring our war dead) and Veterans' Day (honoring our war...living? even though it used to be Armistice Day)

The other day I drove past a strange ceremony in a neighborhood park: The local VFW post was "retiring" flags. Burning nylon flags in an empty barrel, saying some sort of invocation with a modest crowd seated on folding chairs and comprised mostly of what I can only assume were widows, old people, veterans or others that had some sort of vested interest in flag worship. It was strange. The importance some selectively attach to things really makes me wonder sometimes. Maybe I'm a bastard for not being sentimental.

If you sought out accolades instead, then it would be misplaced.

You'll take our appreciation and like it, little missy!