Posted on 05/26/2014 8:05:05 AM PDT by US Navy Vet
...When someone says to you "Thank You for YOUR Service" and you know/think THEY were JUST TOO were JUST too DAMN GUTLESS and/or SPINELESS to Serve Themselves(especially "Men(boys)of Draft and/or Military Age)"?
Nope just slightly embarrassed and ready to talk about something else. That’d be kinda an ingrate thing to say to someone who says something nice to you. Anyway, our nation isn’t based on the idea that everyone should be a warrior.
There might be 1000 other ways that someone has served their nation in their life.
Id just say thanks.
Yes, it does; but maybe for a surprising reason. I didn’t volunteer; in fact, I had grave misgivings about the war (specifically, our chances for success) because I was misled and confused the left wing lie that it was a popular “saar of liberation”. But, I went because I also believed that when my country calls it is my DUTY to go. Its what I owe my country, and I should be humble enough to admit that, as a youngster, I really am not wise enough to understand everything.
I don’t blame those who were afraid to go. I understand their fear because I shared it. I am eternally pissed that they hide their real motivations behind a false mask of idealism. And they failed to meet their duty.
I guess that I am turning into a “Curmudgeon(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curmudgeon)";
I’m a former Commie-Lib, Viet Nam war protestor, who was not drafted. I try to thank vets when the opportunity arises as a way of saying I’m sorry.
Maybe I should stop picking up the tab for the visiting service men and women I have the pleasure of meeting overseas.
I guess being a pussy and all, I wouldn’t want to insult them. Here I thought I was a friendly face in a foreign country.
Dickhead.
Consider that maybe you don’t want spineless, gutless people in the military anyway, maybe that will take some of the sting out of it.
No, it doesn’t irk me (although I always blush a little because I am very shy about getting attention drawn to me). But I’m always very appreciative, from whatever source it comes from.
No, Not all people have the right mindset. They can serve their community and still be a service to our nation.
I don’t get offended. Sometimes we don’t know where folks were in their life’s journey when they were young. Not everybody has that spark of Patriotism to serve. Fortunately for me, my late father and two older brothers are veterans. I knew what I wanted to do.
By they way, when a civilian or other veteran thanks you for your service, respond with “And Thank You For Your Support.” That’s what I do and it usually brings a smile to the person face.
This.
>>I guess I get “irked” too easy.
I served in the “post-Vietnam, but pre-Desert Storm” where enlisted people were assumed to be vandals, drunks, rapists, and thieves—and that was on-base! Off-base, the civilians thought even less of us.
So, I don’t mind being thanked for my service, unless it is by some sneering liberal who is saying it out of a sense of duty or by someone who feels the need to explain why he didn’t serve as part of the thanks. I really don’t care about their heart murmur, flat feet, or that arrow to the knee that ruined their career as an adventurer.
We have an all-volunteer military force. That is exceedingly rare.
To think that in the US we actually get to choose whether to serve is amazing and wonderful.
Being thanked is just a ‘symptom’ of that phenomenon.
I think it a blessing for the country that we get to choose, and get to thank those that served.
No. I think its fine. What does irk me is that people say they owe their rights to vets.
When I’m on the checkout line and I’m getting dissed by everyone clamoring to serve some guy whose foreign credit card won’t work and my family waits without a wave off - nothing - and I get a bit ticked and start speaking my mind and all the citizens around me give me the evil eye The rule is, we kiss butt on these people and also the store managers. When I’m thinking the store mgr works for me
People depend too much on people in uniform to maintain their rights when it’s the opposite. Back home it’s the civilians’ responsibility. And it’s their responsibility to take care of vets as in the hospital The press is so confused over the hospital deal. Vets don’t pay people to fight for their rights against the government and citizens who won’t take care of them medically They don’t take it personally. They know that civilians’ make the choice on how they treat the military.
A schoolboy can’t threaten a bully. The only ones who are allowed to fight are soldiers in uniform on foreign soil. A guy can’t tell his neighbor to get his dogs in the house at midnight, they’re barking All the other neighbors whistle and look at the sky next day. The code is ‘don’t fight’. NOT ‘don’t disturb the peace’.
It’s getting wearisome
I also was RA 1968-71.
This should be a non-issue. Everyone has their own reasons for what they do.
Navy Vet: Don’t be so sensitive.
Not a vet here.
When someone thanks a person in uniform for their service, exactly how does the person in uniform know the person thanking them didn’t serve as well?
In life, take thanks for what it is. In this instance:
It is one human being building up the courage to address another person they do not know in public, to thank them.
I’m not sure how any aspect of that is worthy of judgment.
The person saying thank you is expressing a love of nation, a love of it’s defense, and a great deal of respect for the person in uniform.
Nice comment and one that pretty much sums up my service time too.
The few times I’ve been thanked for my military service I knew it was a sincere gesture. My MOM always told me to accept a compliment with kindness and humility without attribution of motive.
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