Comments on: A Salute To America’s Veterans https://commonsenseworld.com/a-salute-to-america%e2%80%99s-veterans/ Thoughts on Politics and Life Tue, 24 Jan 2017 17:22:21 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.4.32 By: Hurricane Bob https://commonsenseworld.com/a-salute-to-america%e2%80%99s-veterans/#comment-925 Wed, 28 Dec 2005 16:32:00 +0000 http://annafiltest.wordpress.com/2005/11/11/a-salute-to-america%e2%80%99s-veterans/#comment-925 Ken, I must disagree in part with your comment earlier about why Americans serve in the military. While there are some who join for college money, or for a job I will let you know that I was not alone when I joined the Marines because I wanted to serve my country. I come from an upper middle class family and college would have been paid for so college money wasn’t it. I joined because of my feelings about my country and a need to be part of something larger and more important than myself. I wanted something to motivate me to be the absolute best I could be. So I joined The Marines. All they promised me was a chance that I might be good enough to someday call myself a Marine. Today I protect that title vigorously (I’ve been off of active duty for 10 years now).

Believe it or not, some of those I served with did join to fight. Others like me fought whenever our country asked us to in order to preserve our rights and way of life.

I rarely agree with what you write here, but I’m very proud to have had a small part in protecting our right to say what we believe and still disagree.

Semper Fi Ken
Hurricane Bob

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By: Der Tommissar https://commonsenseworld.com/a-salute-to-america%e2%80%99s-veterans/#comment-924 Thu, 01 Dec 2005 18:45:00 +0000 http://annafiltest.wordpress.com/2005/11/11/a-salute-to-america%e2%80%99s-veterans/#comment-924 In the 1960’s and 70’s, American soldiers were demonized by average citizens because of widespread discontent with the war in Vietnam.

Thank you for thanking the vets, including those who are serving overseas right now (unlike others here who are just itching to spit on them).

However, college-educated student leftists are not “average citizens”. It wasn’t the guys at the Union Hall that spit on our servicemen. It wasn’t small-town shop keepers that threw blood on them when they came home. It wasn’t the PTA that stood outside the airports shrieking “baby killers”.

And if there’s one thing I think we’ve learned, it’s that a good part of that segment that did such things haven’t learned a thing from it. They just use larger words to try to justify themselves.

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By: Hiddenson https://commonsenseworld.com/a-salute-to-america%e2%80%99s-veterans/#comment-923 Tue, 15 Nov 2005 09:17:00 +0000 http://annafiltest.wordpress.com/2005/11/11/a-salute-to-america%e2%80%99s-veterans/#comment-923 I am more on Sheanc here. You certainly wrote an eloquent post and are entitled to your opinion, as much as I would like to agree with you regarding the respect to pay to Veterans, in your own writing lies the thorn.

We cannot thank people unconditionally, on the premises that they do not take the decisions but simply follow the orders. As Sheanc pointed out, this blind commitment is the cornerstone of despotic societies, whatever the disguised label they abide to.

You state that fighting the battles of war is the job of the military. Fighting the politics of war is our duty. However, military are citizens too. So, before putting on the uniform, they have as much right and obligation to fight the politics of war.

In fact, I believe your counter example hurt more than proving your point. When military service is mandatory, one could excuse the people under said regime and claim it was not their fault, they had no other choice, besides, they served their country. What about the voluntary service you talk about? If soldiers volunteer, they share as much the responsibility of the order they are about to carry! Which brings us back to my point: before volunteering, information is necessary.

The aura of serving your country and your flag is a tad too dazzling to allow these informed decisions. Point and case: uninformed citizens are responsible for their government, whether they turn into soldiers later or not is irrelevant.

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By: Ken Grandlund https://commonsenseworld.com/a-salute-to-america%e2%80%99s-veterans/#comment-922 Mon, 14 Nov 2005 20:47:00 +0000 http://annafiltest.wordpress.com/2005/11/11/a-salute-to-america%e2%80%99s-veterans/#comment-922 (responses)

Radical Woman, Sustenance Scout, Windspike, Gigotti, Jon, David, & Shoelace-

You’re welcome for the post. but the real thanks should go to those who serve.

Alex- Time for a new calendar?

Shea-No need for safety glass here, you know that.

My take is a bit different. For many enlisted personnel, the military offers a chance out of poverty because of the promise of education. Most do not enlist to kill, or even to fight, even though they know that those are possibilities. They join for a better future for themselves, and try to turn the things they learn into productive aspects of their civilian lives in the future.

Yes, there are rotten people in uniform, but so too are there many, many good folks.

But your question about unconditional support is pertinent, especially with the examples you’ve given. The difference to me, and maybe this is just semantics, is that in this country, service is voluntary (or at least mostly always voluntary) where in the dictatorial regimes you posed, service was mandatory. Our soldiers can choose not to fight, but to support if they are bona fide conscientious objectors. I don’t blindly support those who revel in killing for killings sake, but I can make a distinction between the acts of war, those who are charged with following orders, and those who give the commands.

Anyhow, thanks for another perspective on this.

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By: Shoelace https://commonsenseworld.com/a-salute-to-america%e2%80%99s-veterans/#comment-921 Mon, 14 Nov 2005 13:12:00 +0000 http://annafiltest.wordpress.com/2005/11/11/a-salute-to-america%e2%80%99s-veterans/#comment-921 To SheanC, whatever… At least you have the right to voice your viewpoint thanks to those that fought for your rights to do so.

With regards to the article, thank you for your words. Very well written and much appreciated.

Semper Fi!

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By: SheaNC https://commonsenseworld.com/a-salute-to-america%e2%80%99s-veterans/#comment-920 Sun, 13 Nov 2005 19:27:00 +0000 http://annafiltest.wordpress.com/2005/11/11/a-salute-to-america%e2%80%99s-veterans/#comment-920 Okay, I am about to become really unpopular as I offer my really unpopular opinion about supporting the troops (excuse me while I step behind the safety glass).

I don’t “support the troops” absolutely. I support them conditionally, but not across the board. Why?

First, it’s blind loyalty to support an army “right or wrong”. I support those soldier who defend my country and, to a certain degree, its interests and allies. I do not support those who lend their services to actions which are expressions of outward aggression to seize resources, power, or influence. In fact, the unconditional support of the troops must logically extend to suppport for troops in general, and therefore support for our enemies’ troops, too – I mean, do we support Nazi soldiers who fought to serve their country, and answered its call? Or the brave kamikazes?

Second, I have known my share of soldiers, veterans, and wannabes. Many of them a great, wonderful people. But, others are vicious, violent sadists who want to hurt and kill people. Sorry, but it is true, based upon personal experience.

And since someone might ask: No, I did not serve in the military. I was born in 1960 and there has not been a war in my lifetime (that America was in) which involved national defense, so I never joined.

Okay, fire away…

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By: David Schantz https://commonsenseworld.com/a-salute-to-america%e2%80%99s-veterans/#comment-919 Sun, 13 Nov 2005 17:44:00 +0000 http://annafiltest.wordpress.com/2005/11/11/a-salute-to-america%e2%80%99s-veterans/#comment-919 You’ll find good and bad any where you look, but I think you will find some of the finest people on the face of the earth are serving in the United States military.

God Bless America, God Save The Republic

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By: Jon https://commonsenseworld.com/a-salute-to-america%e2%80%99s-veterans/#comment-918 Sat, 12 Nov 2005 01:21:00 +0000 http://annafiltest.wordpress.com/2005/11/11/a-salute-to-america%e2%80%99s-veterans/#comment-918 As a Veteran of the US Navy who served during the first Gulf War I thank you for this well written post. My hats off to all of our Veterans and to those currently in harms way fighting for our freedom.

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By: Alex https://commonsenseworld.com/a-salute-to-america%e2%80%99s-veterans/#comment-917 Sat, 12 Nov 2005 00:19:00 +0000 http://annafiltest.wordpress.com/2005/11/11/a-salute-to-america%e2%80%99s-veterans/#comment-917 Oh! Is it veteran’s day already? I’ve been overseas too long.

Yay vets!

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By: gigotti https://commonsenseworld.com/a-salute-to-america%e2%80%99s-veterans/#comment-916 Sat, 12 Nov 2005 00:07:00 +0000 http://annafiltest.wordpress.com/2005/11/11/a-salute-to-america%e2%80%99s-veterans/#comment-916 as a soldier, I couldnt have said it any better. thank you.

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