A few words.

[Relic]

I'm just going to put it simply (I had a big long explanation typed up but I'll spare ya the headache of reading it..)
There are nations and people all over the planet right now, who would LOVE to harm us. If it were not for our military, they would and could, 100%. I cant put it any more basic than that.

 

[CapnSev]

Wow. Just wow.

 

[Pilgrim]

I have thought about this a lot. I'm of the Vietnam generation, when many people did their best to avoid serving. I personally have never thought I would do well in any branch of the military, and I'm absolutely not - never will be - one of the "love it or leave it" types. I don't worship at the altar of the military.

But those who sign up today are NOT just doing a job. That may be the way the cards deal, and they may never be in combat or within 100 miles of a combat zone.

But they have voted with their lives and bodies that IF assigned, they will go there. IF they are sent to combat, they will go there and serve.

They may never be asked to give their own life, but they've put themselves on the line and said they will do it if asked.

If you have not served in the military, law enforcement or emergency services, it's more than you have done. I've been a reserve deputy and have been in some prickly situations, but I don't consider that the equal of the commitment made by those serving in the military.

To me, these folks deserve respect.

 

[IPA]

I'm just going to put it simply (I had a big long explanation typed up but I'll spare ya the headache of reading it..)
There are nations and people all over the planet right now, who would LOVE to harm us. If it were not for our military, they would and could, 100%. I cant put it any more basic than that.

Which ones?

 

[CapnSev]

This thread should be closed ASAP.

 

[Darkstrike]

Uh.... wow...

 

[IPA]

This thread should be closed ASAP.

thank the defenders of freedom with a a lil freedom of speech eh

 

[Gard]

I have thought about this a lot. I'm of the Vietnam generation, when many people did their best to avoid serving. I personally have never thought I would do well in any branch of the military, and I'm absolutely not - never will be - one of the "love it or leave it" types. I don't worship at the altar of the military.

But those who sign up today are NOT just doing a job. That may be the way the cards deal, and they may never be in combat or within 100 miles of a combat zone.

But they have voted with their lives and bodies that IF assigned, they will go there. IF they are sent to combat, they will go there and serve.

They may never be asked to give their own life, but they've put themselves on the line and said they will do it if asked.

If you have not served in the military, law enforcement or emergency services, it's more than you have done. I've been a reserve deputy and have been in some prickly situations, but I don't consider that the equal of the commitment made by those serving in the military.

To me, these folks deserve respect.

Pretty much THIS^.

 

[drteeth]

Which ones?

Does that even matter? All that the soldiers do is put their lives at stake when people (organizations? institutions? nations?) decide that, for whatever reason, decide that they should do so. That deserves respect.

EDIT, since I was again late: for a better wording: see Pilgrim's post.

 

[CapnSev]

thank the defenders of freedom with a a lil freedom of speech eh

You've single-handedly turned this thread into a political troll-fest. It needs to be shut down.

 

[Gard]

thank the defenders of freedom with a a lil freedom of speech eh

Like it or not, this is a private discussion board, with rules. Specifically germane to THIS discussion is a very clear "no politics" rule in OT, which you and a few others are rubbing up against right now.

Nothing in the original post did so, and it did not need to get into that type of discussion, but some folks just need to "go there" for some reason.

 

[IPA]

Does that even matter? All that the soldiers do is put their lives at stake when people (organizations? institutions? nations?) decide that, for whatever reason, decide that they should do so. That deserves respect.

Yes it matters. There's nothing wrong with questioning the objectives.

So you should respect Al Qaeda that for "whatever reason" decide to put their lives on the line?

 

[bassrique]

Without service members, past and present we would likely be in a world of shite right now.

Its an unprovable hypothetical. We could go back and forth about it all day... which is not to say I disagree with you, but...

Since we do not have a control planet, we don't know with 100% certainty What the world would look like today if the Axis powers has won WWII because the US had no armed forces. We only have a 99% certainty that the world would have turned out quite badly, as in "shite".

 

[drteeth]

I am going to shut up now before it gets even more political.

 

[Darkstrike]

Geez, anyone who puts their life on the line to defend their countrys freedom deserves respect, along with anyone who does so to make the world a safer, cleaner, or better place, and even those who are called to help when people are in need, such as firemen(does a fireman deserve less respect on a Tuesday, if there is no fires that day?), doctors and such.

 

[sloasdaylight]

What pilgrim said, +1.

Regarding thanking people who are doing dangerous jobs other than in the military, or jobs that just down right suck: I do thank those people for what they do, as I think everyone should. Last night I was out with some friends and one of the guys there is a volunteer firefighter. I thanked him for what he volunteers to do. I thank the sandwich maker who makes my food for me. When service people of any kind ask me, in just that passing kind of way "How are you?" I tell them I'm well and ask them how they're doing. Some people just glaze over it, but some people I can tell it makes a difference.

Bottom line for me is that the people in our Armed forces, Police departments, Fire departments, Ambulances, Trash trucks, etc are there to make our lives suck a little bit less, by engaging in jobs that suck pretty hard, so I think the least we can do is show some appreciation back. This goes doubly in my opinion for members of our armed forces, who often get deployed over seas for extended periods of time without their family and friends.

If you want to make this into a political military whatever sort of thread then that's your call, but I'm not going to participate in that anymore than I have. It really pains me threads like this can't go more than 10 posts or so before it gets turned into a **** storm.

 

[Mike M.]

I too would also like to give a heartfelt thank you to those in uniform who've chosen to serve and to protect us. You are the bravest of the brave. At times I often feel ashamed knowing that I could never measure, that I've never had the courage to put myself in harms way like you do everyday.

I'm at a loss for words right now. All I can say is thank you and God bless each and everyone of you.

 

[JayAmel]

Like it or not, this is a private discussion board, with rules. Specifically germane to THIS discussion is a very clear "no politics" rule in OT, which you and a few others are rubbing up against right now.

Nothing in the original post did so, and it did not need to get into that type of discussion, but some folks just need to "go there" for some reason.

Well, did anyone seriously think this thread would NOT turn into political trolling ? Always happens with this kind of topic.

Despite of that, my full respect to all those people who risk their lives for their country and/or for the world.

 

[Gard]

Well, did anyone seriously think this thread would NOT turn into political trolling ? Always happens with this kind of topic.

Despite of that, my full respect to all those people who risk their lives for their country and/or for the world.

I always have hope that a simple, heartfelt "thanks" to a group of people that daily put themselves on the line to protect the vast majority of the rest of us from those that would do us harm could be JUST THAT - a thank you to these people.

Some people just have to hit a hornet's nest when they see it though, hm?

 

[Relic]

I always have hope that a simple, heartfelt "thanks" to a group of people that daily put themselves on the line to protect the vast majority of the rest of us from those that would do us harm could be JUST THAT - a thank you to these people.

Some people just have to hit a hornet's nest when they see it though, hm?

Yep. I just cant see why some folks just have to interject their opinions knowing full well that it's going to cause a s***-storm. If you don't agree with thanking someone, then just don't post a "thank you" .. in fact just don't post at all, how hard is that??