and speaking as a vet myself I find today's jingoism a bit over the top.
I don't look down at vets, and I don't worship them as a group either. No more than I look up or down at hookers. They are human beings, no more and no less. I will agree that certain vets, huge numbers of them in fact do deserve our thanks for their individual sacrifices, but like BPS I really don't buy into the hero worship that seems to extend to ALL members of the armed forces. Simply putting on a uniform does not make you a hero, or even a decent person for that matter.
Hey boys and girls---
If you're planning to play tomorrow (Wed.) don't forget to get your cash today. Most banks are closed tomorrow.
ATM users, please ignore.
Carry on!
If you're planning to play tomorrow (Wed.) don't forget to get your cash today. Most banks are closed tomorrow.
ATM users, please ignore.
Carry on!
See the thing is the bank is closed. I have this check but it's for more than the amount we agreed on. I could sign it over to you but you will have to pay me back the difference?
Reminds me of a great scene from "Catch Me if You Can"!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31lZFoSS-VQ
-- Modified on 11/10/2015 4:17:37 PM
Just add Nigeria to the mix and we have something...
Reminds me of a great scene from "Catch Me if You Can"!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31lZFoSS-VQ
-- Modified on 11/10/2015 4:17:37 PM
or did you just phrase that really clumsily ?
and speaking as a vet myself I find today's jingoism a bit over the top.
I don't look down at vets, and I don't worship them as a group either. No more than I look up or down at hookers. They are human beings, no more and no less.
I will agree that certain vets, huge numbers of them in fact do deserve our thanks for their individual sacrifices, but like BPS I really don't buy into the hero worship that seems to extend to ALL members of the armed forces. Simply putting on a uniform does not make you a hero, or even a decent person for that matter.
and I get a little uncomfortable with all the 'thank you for your service' and hyperbole exhibited today. I also don't much care for the devaluation of the meaning of 'hero' by applying it to every serviceman, cop, or fireman simply because they get up in the morning an put on a uniform.
on the other hand, I prefer the hyperbole to being spat upon when disembarking from a flight from asia in 1968.
and I take exception to the snarky tone in BPS's post that suggests that vets are not worthy a little more respect than the cock suckers with "old football injuries" that stayed home and offered solace to the women while the vets were deployed in far away places.
...on the subject, but too lazy to search for them. Glad he said it again - much better than I could have. I probably would have said something snarky about thanking someone for his service when he spent his entire hitch passing out drawers cotton in the quartermaster corps.
I think the pendulum has swung much too far into jingoism or faux patriotism from the previous extreme of hating the troops, many of whom were conscripted into service against their will, forced to travel halfway around the world and fight to survive against an enemy they had never even previously known or held any animus against, but who now was trying their level best to kill them and their fellow conscripted soldiers.
After somehow surviving and returning home battered, bruised and often maimed for life, these poor kids often did not return home to loving friends and family happy for their safe return, but instead were set upon by a bunch of rich kids who sat out the war because of wealth and privilege but who now felt entitled to vilify the surviving victims of the war their rich daddy's started for either financial or political gain.
I don't mean to sound a bit bitter, but I suppose if the pendulum has to swing one direction or another, it's better to err a bit on the side of faux patriotism and jingoism that what faced soldiers coming home some forty years ago. That said, I too am not going to kiss the ass of some kid who thinks he is "entitled" because he as you said "spent his entire hitch passing out cotton drawers in the quarter masters corps"