I went into my favorite place to visit my friend that also is a bartender. It straight up broke my heart when she told me what had happened the night before.
A military man had just finished his tour of duty and flew in. None of his family and friends came to pick him up, so he had to take a cab. So he said fuck it I want to drink. Two bartenders paid his bill out of respect and appreciation. From what I hear he was pretty upset to come home to nothing. He showed his military ID, because that is all he had. This is a very good friend of mine and she would not lie to me. I was very upset at the disrespect. I do not believe in most of the wars that our country has partake in... However I respect the soldier. Know why? Because when I was 17 all I had to do was sign on the dotted line and I would have been in the air force for six years, in counter intelligence (stationed in Germany for 5/6 of it). I worried about several promises not put on paper, so I didn't. I am very aware of what soldiers sacrifice for 1) in what they believe or 2) they were already in and stuck doing what told. So you are damn right I reimbursed those bartenders for what they did. I don't even have to meet the guy, because if I was in his shoes... I'd want the same done onto me. What the fuck is wrong with people? My family and friends would have been pushing and shoving to hug me if that was me. You can not control what you get put into sometimes, if you were already in the military you are stuck like chuck. Do it or be put in military prison. These people work way too many hours for little pay and they barely see their family. Then they come home and the government doesn't give them their dues. It is fucked up.It is very sad that many come home to nothing after their sacrifice, and to see it first hand provokes people to take whatever action they are able. I have a dear friend friend that started a wonderful non-profit organization Bridging the Gap, out of his pain and they way he was treated when coming home. His story broke my heart as well, his downward spiral into addiction and alcholism. And now he is recovering, and helping as many as he can. It is his purpose to help bridge the gap. He said he cannot wait on the government
So, keeping an open mind is the key.
Wish I could personally thank him for his service to our nation. That being said, I was in a similar situation. All I had to do was sign on the dotted line, and I would have been a Marine. But I never wanted to be a gangster for Corporate America. There are a lot of ways to serve your country without hurting or killing others so some asshat on Wall Street can stuff a few more bucks in their pocket.
their reasons why they joined or didn't. Mine's pretty simple, not guaranteed the specific job I wanted.
Yes, I don't know his family/friend situation... I just think it is crappy that no one was there to welcome him home etc. To do what he did (whether I agree with it or not) and come home to nothing. Just sad.
Yes, Willy... there are many ways to better our country and the world. Do what one is able to do, in the way that is best for the individual and their personal beliefs.
I got out of line at the airport in San Francisco to shake hands with an Army Private, and thank him for his service. He seemed truly surprised.
While in the service I came to know guys who joined the service, for a big reason, to run away from the messes they made in their relationships, and some of them made messes of their relationships just before going on a tour. So, though they were hurt that no one greeted them on their return, they weren't all that surprised. Regarding paying a bar tab, I would never do that. Good chance that I"d be contributing to his or her problem that is affecting his or her relationships. I would buy one drink, and that would be it.
and unlike many of my generation when I got out of the service. I don't treat them any worse either. Not all soldiers of today are heroes, or even decent people, nor were all soldiers of my generation baby killers that deserved to be spit on.
I treat people as individuals, I don't like treating all members of any certain group any better or any worse than members of any other group. Hero worship is for children, and calling all service men and women heroes is bullshit. There are a million different reasons for joining or not joining the military service, many of them self serving.
I am a vet, Willy is not, does that mean that I somehow deserve more respect than he, just because I put on a uniform for a couple of years? Of course not, I deserve more respect than him for a thousand other reasons, but not because I served in the military and he did not. By that same token, I don't think any other members of the military deserve hero worship or should be valued higher than lets say some other young person who stayed in school, studied medicine, and is now a doctor saving lives. Who is to say that the soldier deserves more respect than the doctor?
And, I agree, it's silly to paint all service members as being good or bad.