This weekend we celebrate Memorial Day, one "holiday" I take very seriously. I know that most folks see it as another day off...brats or ribs on the grill...beer in the cooler...maybe a trip to the beach...etc. I am not trying to take any of that away from the day, I think it is cool to have a three-day weekend with all the things that go with it. I just want to share with you a few thoughts about why we have this holiday. As a nation, I think that we are better tuned into Memorial Day and its meaning than we were pre-9/11. Lots of young 'uns have fallen in the last few years and it would be hard to find a family that hasn't been touched by this war in some way or another. I am invested into it in a number of ways, topmost is the fact that my oldest son is back over there for the third time. Even though I have been retired and away from the Army for more than 16 years now, I have a number of friends who have had family members over there, have watched young mothers struggling with kids who need to have their dads around, and live in a community where lots and lots of its young people have been in harms way. And more than a few have come home in a CBA. There was another ceremony over at Fort Cartoon the other day for five more. This year the Air Force Academy is honoring another fallen grad, a young woman, at their commencement. I don't think that any of them died thinking that they were doing it for their country. It is usually a little more personal than that. But it was their understanding that this was a potential outcome of their service and their willingness to accept that risk in pursuit of security and safety for us all that makes them deserve the honor we extend. So we should extend it. To them and their families. A toast: "To those who came home draped in the flag that they served with honor...God love them...and thank God for them"
This weekend we celebrate Memorial Day, one "holiday" I take very seriously. I know that most folks see it as another day off...brats or ribs on the grill...beer in the cooler...maybe a trip to the beach...etc. I am not trying to take any of that away from the day, I think it is cool to have a three-day weekend with all the things that go with it. I just want to share with you a few thoughts about why we have this holiday. As a nation, I think that we are better tuned into Memorial Day and its meaning than we were pre-9/11. Lots of young 'uns have fallen in the last few years and it would be hard to find a family that hasn't been touched by this war in some way or another. I am invested into it in a number of ways, topmost is the fact that my oldest son is back over there for the third time. Even though I have been retired and away from the Army for more than 16 years now, I have a number of friends who have had family members over there, have watched young mothers struggling with kids who need to have their dads around, and live in a community where lots and lots of its young people have been in harms way. And more than a few have come home in a CBA. There was another ceremony over at Fort Cartoon the other day for five more. This year the Air Force Academy is honoring another fallen grad, a young woman, at their commencement. I don't think that any of them died thinking that they were doing it for their country. It is usually a little more personal than that. But it was their understanding that this was a potential outcome of their service and their willingness to accept that risk in pursuit of security and safety for us all that makes them deserve the honor we extend. So we should extend it. To them and their families. A toast:
"To those who came home draped in the flag that they served with honor...God love them...and thank God for them"
I second that sentiment.
I third the sentiment. We should remember that while it's OK to fire up the grill, put on the new bathing suits, look forward to a long weekend and to enjoy the sales that go on during this weekend; we must not forget that Memorial day is more than a day off, it's a day to honro those who gave their lives so we could have this day, and others like it, off, so we could fire up those grills, so we could wear those new bathing suits and so we could look forward to longer weekends with pay.
To all those who died for my freedoms and those who survivded and still do, I salute you.
Thanks fellas
BFD, thank you for this article and I want to thank you for your service in the military.
I, er, fourth (rw?) the sentiment. Thank you all!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9yRzoOB1C4
Thanks America!
If you can't say anything nice.....
Anyways, thank you to all who have served in the military and a special thank you to all who made that their last actions.
As usual, I am at a loss to understand this kind of response. The thread is a salute to fallen brothers-in-arms who have died in the service of their country. It was not a political piece, could have been but I chose to keep it simple. It was not a pump piece about how great the military is, could have been but I chose not to. It wasn't designed to make a statement on the conduct of the war, could have been but I have made myself clear enough on that subject in the past. It was simply a salute to the young men and women (and their famililes) who have earned the Purple Heart Posthumously. So please explain, if you can, what was the purpose of your response? Or don't. Or ESAD.
Thanks, all, for the response.
It's simple.
While there are certainly troops who fight with dignity and honour, there are also troops who are inhumane and sadistic, and I tire of mindless worship of the military.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lEMasOiG_shttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSnHudm5Cmkhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUg-bdE7M70
Compare those to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJRthpxDM10
I will honour all your dead when they all honour the living. I harbor no ill will for troops in general, but scum like this means I no longer respect them in general either. That is up to the individual to earn or lose respect, or simply be acknowledged as another person doing a job.
Edit: In other words, no, not all troops deserve honourable memory extended to them.
Second edit: Also because seeing people react angrily at people who simply show their own troops conduct is hilarious.
Seeing people who can't simply take Memorial Day as a day to honor those who have died for our freedom is sad and disgusting. But you know what, those men and women would be the first to defend your freedom to be as big of an Asshat as you see fit so more power to you.
I spent a lot of years marching in Memorial Day parades either as a Girl Scout or in the marching band. Kids would always complain about getting up early, being too hot or how far we had to walk. I always took it as a reminder of the extremely hellish things that those men and women endured for my right to live the cushy life I live. I think having a grandpa who fought in WWII in the South Pacific and having a dad who was in the Army during Vietnam made it very personal for me.
I've missed my grandpa every day for the last 14yrs. He was like a second father to me. I got to know a lot of WWII vets by helping at the VFW hall that my grandpa was very involved in. Those guys taught me how to peel potatoes and were living reminders of the price of freedom (some were missing arms and legs but all were scarred by experiences).
No matter how you slice it, being a soldier is not just a job. There is nothing that can compare. I am eternally grateful to anyone who is willing and able to put their lives on the line for mine.
Mmm yes everyone who comments on American soldiers conduct must be an American *smokes a pipe sagely*
Are you seriously not clueing in to the fact that I just said a soldier who conducts himself honourably is fine; that it's the scum-sucking beasts who mock others suffering, or support "enhanced interrogation" techniques I'm angry with?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUkj9pjx3H0
Not all who serve are heroes; not all who are heroes serve.
No, but this is an article about an American holiday to honor our fallen soldiers both past and present. A large part of the world owes a lot to our fighting men and women. We have family who just visited Normandy. They say people there haven't forgotten. When I visited Germany it sure seemed they hadn't forgotten. Americans shouldn't ever forget either.
Are you seriously not clueiing in to the fact that the guy who wrote this served, has family currently serving and that is what this article is about? You need not point out that there are those who don't conduct themselves in an honorable fashion. Are you saying that we shouldn't honor those who have made the ultimate sacrafice?
You have the right to not put your hand over your heart in the presence of our flag (few do anymore and that's a shame) and stay home during memorial day. You have the right to write your own article about how not all soldiers deserve to be honored and if your point is that we shouldn't observe Memorial Day, go ahead and write about that. But you could show some respect to those like the author of this article....but you have the right not to....obviously.
i'm with you bfd!
i am thinking about all the people who have put it all down for us. i look at my babies and can't believe how lucky i am to have what i have. thanks to all the vets and to all the kids who didn't make it home. and to all of their families for helping to keep mine safe and FREE!
we'll never be perfect, but i love our country, and always will. and i'll be proud as hell if any of my children choose to join the military, or any form of public service.
...Why would I put my hand over my heart in the presence of your flag?
And yes, I am saying you shouldn't apply a blanket honour to anyone who happens to die during military service. You know nothing of their conduct or motives. Honour decent people, sure. But don't worry, I'm sure those iraqi kids did some amazing terrorist attacks when I wasn't looking.
To segregate opinions and wrap yourself in the comfort of the like-minded breeds cognitive dissonance and creates the atmosphere of an echo chamber, ultimately leading to stagnation of self.
what i want to know is... why do I keep on getting "memorial day mega sale" ads... I mean, this is not very respectful of the dead.
Because under the right guise and to the right person it can be seen as a patriotic salute in the form of savings for the consumer when in reality it's another excuse to suck the dollars out of each warm body that comes into the store. I used to be in advertising and stuff like this was just the tip of the filth ridden iceburg. It's a dirty, soulless business and things like this are why I left it to become a nurse.
Because there are some people that are bad in a group do you exectute the whole group? If not then please don't do the same with our military. If you want respect then give it. There are thousands upon thousands of honorable men and women that have died in the defense of the United States of America. Those of us who are actually from this country are greatful for their sacrafises to protect what we have today.
If you want to start your own anti-American or anti-military thread be my guest, however it's very disrespectful to do so here. If you want to start your own thread putting the US down or praising your own country's military, go for it. You comment is not only off topic but rude and disrespectful of the original post.
I made the assumption you aren't from the US because you commented that not everyone who comments here is American, if I was wrong in that assumption then excuse me.
Nephilim_X
This thread has become like wrestling with a pig...everyone gets dirty...but the pig LIKES it.
I get where you are coming from Mr Nephilim (interesting moniker, are you a Mormon?), but you are not telling enough about yourself to help us determine what you really are. I have spent the majority of my adult life with soldiers and one thing I have learned is this: Do not underestimate the potential for cruelty and savagery of the nineteen year old American male. If you equate the stupidity that you have linked for us with cruelty and sadism, you are truly naive. I don't condone cruelty, don't encourage it, do not approve of it. You show us some videos of soldiers doing dumb stunts in Iraq then start talking about enhanced interogation techniques as if the two are in the same league. They don't even come close. Yeah, those guys in the vids were meanies, so if they die we condemn them to hell because they were thoughtless and immature? One thing they can say is that they ARE THERE. They are drawing the perimeter of our national defenses way outside the tent. Good for them. And should they wind up being killed in their efforts, they will get my heartfelt salute...even if they were meanies.
As to the rest of ya, thanks a lot and have a good holiday.
It's almost as if the potential for cruelty and sadism is amplified upon being given a gun and a position of power over civilians in a war-torn country! Those meanies! Laughing as children beg for clean water, but it's ok, OORAH it's for our national defense! Throwing dogs off cliffs! OORAH! Raping 14 year olds and killing her family! OORAH! Just a dumb stunt, man, I still salute those meanies for being there!
Not a mormon; atheist.
Currently a nursing student because I would serve mankind by healing the sick and comforting the dying. Also being told to eat shit and die and that I am a pig because I am outraged over cruelty and indecency towards human beings, especially children. OORAH *smashes beer can with forehead*
I'll tell you what then. You go track them down and have this out with them and leave us to go about our business.
Before I start a rant, let me get this strait... You expect a country that has had relatives, friend, and family members horrifically killed in 9-11 by people who would rather kill themselves than to see YOU alive and they're supposed to be "nice" to the ethnic/religious group that did this to us? Is this what I'm hearing? Because if it is, I just need one question answered before I start my rant, how many more times would you like to see the US Invaded and Attacked by terrorists before you say enough is enough or are you one yourself? Oh, you're Atheist, that my friend is a lie, because if you seriously were Atheist and not using it as cover to mascurade as another religion you would be going on and on of how stupid a religion is to say its ok to commit mass genicide instead of a soldiers coping methods in a state of war -- I take it you've never seen bombs strapped to kids before just so a solider will get close to give a kid his canteen and then, Kaboom! You see, they're being smart, instead of sobbing because they can't give the children water, they cope with it diffrently, as sobbing, is a pretty big sign of weakness and a huge morale dropper -- so, laughing fits.
I have spent the majority of my adult life with soldiers and one thing I have learned is this: Do not underestimate the potential for cruelty and savagery of the nineteen year old American male.
I've been inactive since 2003, but I suggest a few movies for you to watch that are very descriptive (got them as recommendations from Soldier's Magizine), one is "In the Vally of Elah" and "Home of the Brave". This is very descriptive of why US Soldiers have turned cruel during these times of war, its because it is the ONLY way they survive together. Such as the youtube clip suggests, if any of those soldiers had half a heart they could have been Radical Islamic Hamburger. But today's training teaches them not to have a heart, or at least how to turn it off and keep it off which is what you see, not the creulity of a 19y/o male -- even they die often from having compassion for children.
Regards,
Mike
US Army, Retired
not a mormon, a moron.
I don't know how you suddenly got from memorial day to a rant about how american soldiers are evil (they aren't) but its woefully inappropriate thing to do on a day for remembering our dead servicemen.
Even if it was any other day it would still be extremely stupid of you to make such assumptions. You think american soldiers laugh at children begging for clean water? you think we call that national defense? how far up your own ass must your head be to even contemplate such evil in everyone but yourself?
You are currently a nursing student because you are too stupid to be a doctor.
Since youtube is such a useful tool for deciding what really happens in Iraq (appearantly) here you go.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=child+suicide+bomber&aq=f
HAHAHAHA -- the tears.... Must stop.... LMAO!
That was good *the last part at least*
But you have to know he is kinda right on that the overall mindset of US servicemen has changed since WWII, they're not quite as helpful to civilians as we use to be. We have the Vietnam war (children/women killing servicmen and playing on their sympothy's) and now the same with the War on Terrorisem. The servicemen have realized that if they let any emotion drive them in a time of war and in hostile areas then their life is forfiet. It is sad but it is absolutely nessary to prevent loss of more American Soldiers.
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