I'm a Vet but I don't need thanking for a job I took willingly

[Demonaut]

veterans come from all classes and backgrounds, don' need no stinkin Tokyo Roses here at DU

[two gun sid]

1. Thanks. I just tried saying something like that on another thread.

You did a much better job. We aren't deserving of anymore respect than any other human being.

[SouthernDem2004]

6. I would have to disagree with that....

People that dedicate their lives to helping others deserve a little more respect then those that just whine and complain and do nothing. Professions like the military, Police, Fire, EMS, Social Workers, Child Advocates, Teachers, Medical workers etc. I would include in that group activist such as Environmentalist and the like. I do not mean the ones that protest once or twice ever 2 years. I mean the ones that have dedicated their lives to a cause that is about more then just themselves. Anyone that actual does something deserves more respect then those that whine on the internet.

This is my opinion in general. It is no way an attack on anyone here since I clearly do not know anyone here.

[two gun sid]

8. I'd like to believe that, it appeals to my ego but,

it's like the man said: We "volunteered willingly".

[SouthernDem2004]

11. So does eveyone else that tries to make a difference. What is why

they deserve respect. The volunteered to help others instead of being self absorbed.

[Ripley]

13. Yeah, all people who don't volunteer for the fire department or

to be a soldier are LAZY FUCKING SELF-ABSORBED PEOPLE.

Gee in your respectful world, every American would be a soldier. And those too feeble should kiss their asses. Hmmm, what does that remind me of?

[SouthernDem2004]

21. Can you even read? I mean did you read the other post or just feel the

need to demonstrate you intelligence with profanity?

[burn the bush]

14. but my definition of HERO is someone who knows that they are risking

harm to themselves (physically,mentally or even financially) but goes ahead and does it for the good of someone else. This would apply to someone going into a fire to save a child or someone risking their job to whistleblow, or to our military who risk everything for the good of the whole. Sorry guys, you are heros and you deserve our thanks, our love, and our admiration. LIke it or not.

By the way, the fact that you don't think you deserve it, only makes you deserve it more.

[autorank]

22. I do stuff like that and I never think of anyone thanking me.

I don't know where the notion comes from. As a matter of fact, I think the CVS check out folks, my barber, and my mechanic also contribute a lot. I'm not thanking them, they're not thanking me, it's all good! We just do our thing with mutual respect all around.

[erinlough]

2. Thank you

You have echoed what my WWII father taught me and every other member of my family.

[newyawker99]

17. Hi erinlough!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[ultraist]

3. Actions speak louder than words!

Democrats support our vets by voting FOR increased VA benefits, increased salaries, etc. and by voting against back door drafts and unnecessary wars.

I appreciate your saying that you don't need any empty words. ;)

Your honor speaks for itself!

[Just Me]

4. Persons of dignity and honor are that way.

I greatly admire and respect such people.

[bling bling]

5. You're a class act.

And whether you want it or not, I truly thank you anyway.

[suston96]

7. I know you don't need it, but....

...you are gonna get it anyway.

Thanks for your service.

I am proud and lucky to have served with many WW II and Korean vets. When I left the service, Vietnam veterans were being spit on when they came home.

I thank them for their service and I am truly sorry for how the stupid ones in this country reviled and spit on them.

I thank those in the Gulf War and in the Middle East today. I thank every one who ever wore a uniform in the service of their country.

Is that enough thanks? Did I cover everyone?

[flamin lib]

10. I've heard about the spitting but never actually met a Viet Vet

who experienced it. I'm sure it happened somewhere but I've never met anyone who had it happen. I came back to civilian life and had only my dress greens for formal occasions. Wore them to church, to weddings and to funerals. Never had anyone make a derogatory remark.

As for thanking the vets, yeah, like it or lump it you've got it coming. It isn't the nicest job in the world and someone has to do it. The fact that you put your @$$ on the line for those who do other things makes you different. It's one thing to do plumbing or broker stocks, it's another thing entirely to be put in a position of being shot at.

Don't particularly understand the Tokyo Rose comment. Looks a bit like flame bait to me. Glad nobody bit.

[Bigmack]

12. First time...

I've ever jumped on anyone at DU. (even as gently as this)

First, the phrase "Thanks for your service." sends chills up my spine. Like so many words and phrases in America today, like "Liberty" and "Freedom", that phrase has been hijacked by the right. It's exactly what the rightwingnut chickenhawk radio hosts say when the drooling Bushbot he's had on hold for 10 minutes says that he's a vet.

Second, Viet Vets were not being spit on. Read "Spitting Image..." by Jerry Lembcke.
A short address to Holy Cross gives the flavor of the book. http://www.rlg.org/en/page.php?Page_ID=95

Third, I've never been ashamed of my service.. After all, Kennedy asked me what I was going to do for America and the World. What I am ashamed of is what this country did with the service - and sacrifice - of millions of young men.. flushed it down the toilet of a losing war that the politicians knew was a loser from about 1965. I may have been serving my country, but that service had nothing to do with American ideals or values - or freedom.

I've practiced (and used several times) my own little phrase for the "support the troops" crowd. "If you support the troops, why do you insist that they piss away their lives on a losing war like this one?" Puts 'em off balance a taste.

[rockymountaindem]

9. Thanks anyway.

[UTUSN]

15. Me, Too. That's What I Said to a Departed Thank-a-Vet Type

I am one vet who doesn't want to be thanked.

As my hero Charlie RANGEL says, minorities are over-represented in the military because of economic circumstances. In many instances it is a form of indentured servitude, trading some years of one's life for future educational and employment benefits---with the gamble, that is, that one makes it.

As far as military bashing goes, I haven't seen much here, overtly. It's no secret that older Libs grounded in the anti-Vietnam era DID and DO have an anti-military bias ---AND IGNORANCE. It's no secret that CLINTON White House staffers treated military staff with contempt.

That said, my personal preference would be to continue seeing you, (Departed Person), here. As far as your commitment and activism go, you are a gem. That said, I would hope that, outside this site (and the Dem party?), you would hold your fire about us and not give aid to our common enemies. If you have to choose between the occasional person who uses the phrase "baby-killers" and the Shrubbites, who would you want to win? I submit that that is the choice in its starkest form.

We are a conglomeration of many sub-groups---civil rights, social justice, labor, etc. Some of the sub-groups might have only a couple of things in common and not show much understanding of some other groups. I myself have been PC-slapped by individuals from a few DIFFERENT sub-groups. I don't believe something can be changed by abandoning it, only from within. Peace be to this house.

[JimmyJazz]

16. I don't care what you say - I'm thanking you anyway!

:toast: - Thanks for your service to this country. :hi: Although, "thank you" seems like such an inadequate thing to say.

[WebeBlue]

18. Uh, gonna say thank you and mean something different...

I have to smile at this discussion. The vets posting, that is what I've come to know, honor and respect about the military and veterans. You warm my heart and your expressions of humbleness for the service you have rendered sounds about like what I've come to know about true heros.

Military family here, with two close loved ones deployed to Iraq, both are veterans now, both are under orders for second deployment to Iraq within a few short months. Both are Stop Lossed. Both are to make decision about re-enlistment next month, but being both Stop Lossed and already under orders to redeploy to Iraq, it doesn't sound to me like they really have much "choice" about re-enlisting. Rather it sounds like they've been drafted whether they want to re-enlist or not.

Myself, raised as a military brat, and was young wife to young husband, drafted and served Vietnam. I'm a military family who speaks out to get these kids out of there. And now it's not just kids any more, as the older guys are activated in Guards, Reserves and IRR. I chafe mightily at the shallow and hollow use of the words "support the troops', yellow magnet ribbons, and empty words of thank you for your service. I want for my kids to receive the honor and dignity they have rightly earned and like the vets posting here I know my kids will be too humble to accept, with a kind of ah, shucks, weren't nothing maam, it was my job and I did it.

But as other posters here have pointed out, veterans do deserve to be praised for what they have endured, especially when they've seen combat. So how do we say to you veterans, with sincerity and meaningfulness that we do wish to honor you?

As one poster expressed, the "thank you for your service" which might at one time have been meaningful, has been reduced by the other side to hollow and empty words. I know that many who say those words do mean them sincerely. I also know many others who say them are just reciting the talking points they've been taught to repeat ... show patriotism by saying thank you to the troops, but continue to support the war and the administration that initiated it...and toss in a good word for the Great Leader while you're at it.

And that is the full extent of those kinds of folks "support for the troops". It's meaningless, superficial and shallow. Requires nothing of them but some empty words while shoving the propaganda agenda that showing patriotism and support for the troops means supporting the lies, destruction and carnage of this war in Iraq. No other definition of patriotism is permitted.

Not and wrong. Anyway, I've taken off on a slight rant when my intent with this post is to actually say thank you to vets posting here, even if you don't want to hear it, your service deserves and needs to be honored.

[Bluebear]

19. Thanks for your service anyhow.

No taking back, as the children say :)

[Demonaut]

20. well thanks to all but a good many here at DU are vets and I think the

fact that acceptance is the way of a liberal shows that Vets are acknowledged. As in my original post..military service draws those from all backgrounds, As such the breadth of personalities meant that we served with potential cowards and potential heroes, and with close quarter living, spending months at a time together without a break you get a good idea who has what potential. Trumad and UTUSN , I think would agree with that assessment as would most vets. but the reason I don't need to be thanked is though I may have served I think YOU as a whole have done more towards the cause of freedom than my short service, I takes a hero to take on the abomination this administration has become, It takes a hero not to back down to overwhelming power or join its ranks when convenience takes precedent over beliefs...

[Rex]

23. Same here - the Army helped me find some discipline in my life.

I will complain about the institution when the time comes that we no longer need armies.

[johnfunk]

24. You may not NEED it, but you DESERVE it...

... and you can bet your bottom dollar that we, the people who you defended, are going to fight fight FIGHT to protect -- and extend -- your rights and benefits.