Should I be ashamed of myself?

[11 Bravo]

The same thing happened to me last year, and I posted about it then. For some reason I seem to attract these assholes.
I had to go downtown (DC) over the weekend, and parked near Walter Reed. A group of young (I'm 55) college-age freeper types were out in full "Support the Troops" regalia. A couple of them took exception to my "GW Bush: How dumb is too dumb?" and "Support the troops, bring them home now" bumper stickers. What followed was the typical, stale, "You don't love this country" and "You are hurting troop morale" bullshit. I took it for a minute, but eventually one of them pushed the wrong button. He told me that our troops were fighting and dying to protect the rights of "Pussies like you" to sport unpatriotic bumper stickers. That did it. I turned and pointed to Walter Reed and informed the young prick that in 1972 I checked out of that very building with a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and enough frag in me to set off airport metal detectors to this day. I further informed him that as an ex-grunt I could guarantee him that "The only kind of support the infantry cares about is fire support, junior, so either put down your sign and pick up a weapon, or shut your fucking mouth." (This is pretty much the same thing I said when previously confronted, but I couldn't think of anything better.) The problem is that one of the young women in the group had a couple of toddlers with her (why do these clowns ALWAYS have kids around?) and I feel bad about swearing.

[Ioo]

1. MORE POWER TO YOU from one DAV to another...

You did what you should have done. As a fellow Disabled Vet, I am proud of you!

[exlrrp]

107. Shoulda kicked his ass!!

I'm a 100% disabled veteran too, 101st Airborne and MACV Lrrps/
The Perfect Squelch doesnt get the point across like kicking ass does.
The Right thinks of us as wussies and will untill they start counting their lumps

[exlrrp]

108. The benefits of PTSD

My disablities are from PTSD, wounds and loss of hearing
The PTSD shoud get us a few freebies in the Chalk Outline On the Floor department

[RubyDuby in GA]

2. The only shame would have been had you not said it

I'm sure those kids probably get enough of that language at home. They could probably make you blush.

Well done.

[Nightjock]

3. What they are doing

to thier kids by blindly supporting bush is worst than a few swear words.

And they used the word "pussy" in front of those kids. I'm sure it's not the first swear words those poor children heard. Don't feel bad.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

4. No, I think you said the right thing.

[JuniperLea]

5. Good for you!

No need to change your words... perfection to my ears.

I hear there are a lot of young (35 and younger) RW groups in DC. Pity. I bet the dumbasses all go biking with Bush.

[tenshi816]

6. Well, I for one think you were right,

and I speak from experience that hearing swear words never hurt my kids when they were small - they don't remember that stuff at that age, not if it's occasional.

You did good.

[A Simple Game]

7. You should be proud of yourself.

If a person doesn't want their young children to hear bad things, simple, don't be confrontational with other people, you're just asking for it to happen.

[teenagebambam]

8. Those kids are hearing worse at home

I guarantee it. Thank you for your service.

[fooj]

9. No. Don't be ashamed. These are trying times...

I think your response was PERFECT! Thanks for your service to our country. Did any of those imbeciles thank you for your service? Hmmmmmmm...

Peace.

[Tsiyu]

10. WEll, since Scalia gave the one-finger salute in church

And Cheney told a Senator to "Fuck off," I figure all holds are off.

Say what you want. They sure do.

But good of you to care about the youngsters. :)

[MountainLaurel]

11. What was the response?

Out of curiosity . . .

[11 Bravo]

16. Crickets

Actually, I just walked away after I said my piece. I didn't hear a word from any of them as I left.

[MountainLaurel]

32. I figured as much

These sorts are what in elementary school we used to refer to as "all talk and no action."

[_testify_]

34. I prefer 'All Hat and No Cattle' myself!! n/t

[Bhaisahab]

87. I'd say - "all fart and no shit" n/t

[BR_Parkway]

12. Someone has to educate those children. Thank you for saying it

and thank you for your service to our Country - both in early 70's and today.

Who knows, the fact that you used that word may make it stick out in the kids minds enough that they'll reflect on it over the mindless drool they probably have to listen to their chickenhawk father spit out.

[wakeme2008]

13. The only thing you forgot is that you would be proud to walk them down

to the Army enlistment office right now so they could sign up today

[ThomCat]

14. You said what those pricks need to hear more often!

The kids will get over it. It's too bad the adults won't learn from it.

[reichstag911]

15. Fuck 'em.

What's worse, swearing or defending a war crime and its perpetrators (while being too gutless to go fight for Iraqis' "freedom" themselves)?

[Uncle Joe]

17. Semper Fi 11 Bravo,

I love the fire support line, especially considering Bush would not listen to his generals and send enough troops in there to do the job.

Kicked and recommended.

:kick:

[Fleshdancer]

18. They thought the word "pussies" was ok to say

so you might as well educate the young tots on the word "fucking". :shrug:

[Chimichurri]

19. Bravo!, Bravo n/t

[mdmc]

20. You could have told that mom

what will you do when your kids need to go fight and die for weapons of mass deception. Moms never like to see their kids at risk.

[pstans]

21. Bravo Patriot

:yourock: :patriot:

[jukes]

22. good job, 11B!

every house on my block is fundy xian, all have "W" stickers on their SUVs, all have service-age progeny; not a uniform on the block!

D Co, 1/5th Cav, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile); Quan Tri & Tay Nihn Prov's, '68>'69

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

23. Don't feel bad

you told them like it is. You know, I have trouble with these "wave the flag" types who show no respect for veterans.

Question: did any of the chickenhawks put down their signs and go enlist?

I didn't think so.

Just a thought: next time, ask them how they are really supporting the troops? If they were outside Walter Reed, did they actually go inside and see wounded vets, offer to help them out financially if they needed it?

[spuddonna]

24. The kids will live... and hopefully be smarter than the parents!

You did the right thing, and I would not worry about your language. They started the verbal assault, and if they attack, then they should be ready to accept return fire. And if one of them said "pussies like you", then I'm sure the kids hear crap much worse than that at home...

Besides, by the time those kids hit first grade they will know every swear word in the book. My daughter in Kindergarten came home with a list of swear words she'd learned and wanted to know "what word is the worst". LOL! This list included pretty much everything except motherf*****, c**k, and c**t.

Life is full of learning opportunities! :7

[bigscott]

29. god bless you

we need more men like you to stand up to these assholes. God bless you and thank you for your service

[roguevalley]

25. don't feel bad. she should be more concerned for her child for

being fodder for future wars than hearing heartfelt emotion from a vet. God bless you.

[KansDem]

26. Regarding the toddlers...

I can understand your concern about the presence of toddlers, but the reality is, if this woman continues to pursue this mindset, her toddlers had better get used to hearing cusswords.

[spooky3]

27. The mom should not expose her children to aggressive and rude

tactics like those her friends used. If that's how they want to behave, they should leave the kids at home.

[warrens]

28. Carry recruitment forms

Let's see who's a pussy then.

[11 Bravo]

37. It's funny, I usually have a couple of DD Forms 4/1, 4/2, and 4/3 handy.

Those are titled Enlistment/Reenlistment Documents: Armed Forces of the United States. But when I NEEDED them, did I have them? Nah.

[AndyA]

30. You should never be ashamed for saying what you said!

They were clearly out of bounds, and you told them how it is. The truth shall set you free!

Thank you for serving and protecting our country. You are an American hero, and you have certainly earned the right to put whatever bumper stickers you want on your car.

Don't think about it for another second, you behaved yourself in a respectful and admirable way. :patriot:

[stop the bleeding]

31. Bravo, that was the first bit of reason that those kids probably heard

in their lives....

Remember you earned the right to say that.

[savemefromdumbya]

33. Did you mention the Chickenhawk leaders?

[Warpy]

You said exactly the right thing to that bitch and her kids

and if she doesn't want her precious kiddies to hear swear words, she can leave them elsewhere. My guess is that they already know all those worlds and that their mother has used them frequently.

Oh, and thank you for both your service in the 70s and your service in nailing those punks today.

[Hissyspit]

35. He called his elder a "pussy?" And you're wondering if you should

be ashamed? He's lucky you didn't give him a major brain injury before the rest of them took you down or ran off whining.

Next time, tell them "It's THREE YEARS into this disaster that was based on lies to begin with, including that it would only take a few months, and that you know damn well there are plenty of grunts in Iraq who are absolutely hoping (beyond the fire support) that someone is sporting a 'Bring Them Home Now' bumper sticker."

[progressoid]

36. Perfect response. If the toddlers even remembers this incident...

they'll be more ashamed that one of their guardians called you a pussy.

[Radio_Guy]

38. Good job

Way to go. Where in downtown DC did you go?

[11 Bravo]

47. I volunteer at Walter Reed a couple of days per week when I can.

Sometimes those kids just want to talk, sometimes they feel like listening. Maybe it helps a little bit that I know what they're going through.

[Kansas Wyatt]

65. How ironic

They fire verbal shots at you and put you down for not supporting the troops (really means their Party), yet you are supporting the troops more than any of them could even begin to comprehend.

Carry on, you are not the one who placed children in the vicinity of obscene attacks on your continued service to this nation.

[Pastiche423]

80. Nope

Not even a scintilla of a reason to feel ashamed.

What I feel for you is a great appreciation for what you are doing for those you visit at Walter Reed.

You have a very generous heart.

[Bake]

39. Shame on you (wink, wink)

Ashamed? Not just "no" but "HELL NO."

Bake

[SheilaT]

40. Good for you!

I don't think you should have waited so long as a minute to present your bona fides (Star, Heart, and shrapnel). You should immediately start every confrontation with jerks like that with some version of "If you're so supportive of the war, why aren't YOU in uniform?"

What enrages me (and it happened this weekend) is when someone says something like, "I have a son in the Marine Corps" as if that gives them some sort of special moral authority that I don't have because neither of my sons (19 and 23) are in service, nor did any of my brothers serve in Vietnam (one was on active duty and was in Berlin for two years, 1962-64) and my father, while in the army during WWII, served stateside (Someone had to make sure the paychecks actually got issued).

Everyone is truly entitled to their own opinion, and if the mother of a marine supports the war in Iraq, well, she may be sadly uninformed, but that's her prerogative. But her support is no more moral than my opposition. In fact, I think it's less so, but again, that's my opinion.

I suppose I should have asked her how she likes the cutbacks in military benefits, but the argument (by email) had gone on long enough, and I let her have the last word.

[The Stranger]

41. Give them a rifle and send them to the front.

They need to be on point.

[mcscajun]

42. No Shame to You, Sir. Many thanks for your service and sacrifice.

You said it yourself, the mother brought her children with her; whatever happens is her fault, not yours. You spoke plain only after taking unwarranted abuse for your free speech (as evidenced by your bumper stickers.) The jerk deserved to have the riot act read to him, and as far as damage done to whomever was hit by the verbal shrapnel, well, too bad.

I'm pretty much your age, but you have my respect for your service, regardless of what rank you held. So I say, You did good there, sir.

:patriot:

[Texaroo]

43. Bravo, Bravo!

And kudos, too.

I might have added much more choice language - I am sure the jerks whined about how you said that in front of kids, but note that they CHOSE to use their kids as a political statement (and I guarantee you it wasn't an accident that they dragged them out to the rally).

On the other hand, maybe you you made them think for about half a second, until the little shits classified you as a wacko so they could get back to assuring themselves that blind "patriotism" is NOT Nazi at all...

[Katherine Brengle]

44. Um, you did the right thing--

If all you feel bad about is the swearing, then you have nothing to worry about.

You put those hawks in their place, and that's a good thing.

[Lorax]

45. Good for you!

I want what you said on a bumper sticker! Heck, I want your other bumper stickers too! I guess I better start looking on cafe press.

[BlueCollar]

46. Way to go...

"The only kind of support the infantry cares about is fire support, junior, so either put down your sign and pick up a weapon, or shut your fucking mouth."

Couldn't have said it more clearly .... Way to go

[lpbk2713]

48. The little candy asses.

They were dead wrong, typical for the Kool-Aid bunch. I wish I could have been there to see the assholes put in their place. Way to go.



(USN 1965 - 69)

[xchrom]

49. no -- you educated them that not all anti-war folk

are what they think.

and it's given me quite the chuckle.

[Bellamia]

50. Good for you!

Clap, clap, clap. Nothing to be ashamed of.

[Lerkfish]

51. no shame.

I did not serve so I cannot make the same argument. but its a great argument nonetheless.

[PatrioticLeftie]

52. Maybe steer clear of the cussing, but other than that

I applaud you. You shouldn't be ashamed for standing up to Freepers and their bullsh*t.

[Mad_Dem_X]

53. Don't you dare feel ashamed

It's their fault for having the kids there and teaching them that crap. You did great, telling off those idiots.

:applause: :patriot:

[buddysmellgood]

54. At some point, one of those children might be in a similar situation to

yours. Now they will know what to do. You did a good thing. :)

[riona]

55. thank you for serving

they're all talk - bet they weren't home on leave or planning to sign up.

[lies and propaganda]

56. Good job and so eloquently put.

Sign up or shut the fuck up.

How could you support something so vehemently and not?

[glitch]

57. Sign Up or Shut Up. Good bumpersticker, short and sweet.

To you 11 Bravo: :applause:

[eppur_se_muova]

58. "why do these clowns ALWAYS have kids"...to guilt-trip you, of course.

They can be confrontational to you and provoke you, and when you (justifiably) lose your temper they shriek "Not in front of the dear, sweet children!". The whole thing is a setup. Don't even wonder if it's not.

[grace0418]

59. You taught those kids more than their parents ever will about

what is right and good in this world. A little swearing is nothing compared to that.

I'm curious though, what was the freeper reaction to your suggestion?

[LynnTheDem]

60. From former 11 Bravo US army career officer hubby (now 4ID NBC)

:patriot:

And from me;

:hug:

[Warren DeMontague]

61. No.

No, no and no.

You should be praised for your self-restraint, sir. :patriot:

[ms liberty]

62. You are my hero!!!

Don't you dare be ashamed of yourself! You did exactly the right thing. So what if there were kids around - do you think they cared about the kids when they were calling you a pussy and whatever else they were saying? No, of course they didn't.

You showed their offspring more patriotism and guts in that one exchange than they'll ever see out of their own parents.

And as a veteran, you have earned the right to say whatever you please, whenever you please; particularly when it comes to setting straight a gaggle of soft, spoiled armchair warriors who'd run screaming back to momma if they fell into a real battle.

I thank you for standing up to them - every time one of us stands up against these people, even in our daily lives, we're standing up for ALL of us.

If we had a smilie that saluted, I would put it here!

[0007]

63. You should be proud that ya got a pair of balls.

[dorkulon]

64. Are you kidding?

That's the best thing you could possibly have said. There is no better rebuttal to all that support the troops crap. If these people love the troops so much, they should join them. And no situation would be more appropriate for the emphasis a good curse word provides. Trust me, those kids didn't learn any new words today.

[walldude]

66. Ashamed??? I don't think so.. Proud is the correct word

proud of the fact that you put your ass on the line and managed to get home alive, and proud that you are intelligent enough to see through the lies and bullshit. We need more people like you to stand up for the soldiers who are doing what you so bravely(or crazily) did years ago...

[rateyes]

67. No, you did less harm to those kids,

than did the chickenhawk pricks and what they were teaching those kids. You shut their damned pieholes and taught the kids a better lesson.

:patriot:

:yourock:

[tom_paine]

68. No, not ashamed...you should be proud

From one vet to another:

:toast: :thumbsup:

[suziedemocrat]

69. Bravo!!! Don't worry about the language - they started it. n/t

[MsKandice01]

70. I have a 2-year-old and I think you have no reason to be ashamed..

You did a great thing.

[mzmolly]

71. Don't feel bad about the profanity. Perhaps the kids will remember

your message and one day see the light.

Bravo to you "Bravo!" :toast:

[in_cog_ni_to]

72. WOO FUCKING HOO!

AWESOME smack-down! Did they stick their tails between their legs and leave? They aren't use to have "pussy liberals" talk back to them. EXCELLENT comeback!:woohoo:

Don't feel bad about swearing! HE didn't care when he called you that name!

[bliss_eternal]

73. Good for you...

...and thanks SO much for sharing your experience here! :hi: It makes me feel good that someone that has served defending our country gets it, and knows we aren't being unpatriotic by saying we'd like to see our troops brought home.

I'd like to add, I'd also like to see them brought home and adequately cared for and supported, unlike the many Vietnam vets that met nothing but hostility and little in the way of financial support that was promised to them. Something tells me the same fate is waiting our boys when they return from this mess, and it makes me absolutely ill.

:scared::puke:

Thanks again,
bliss_e.

:patriot:

[BrklynLiberal]

74. You did the RIGHT thing.

Too bad you did not have any Military enrollment forms to give them, and ask them why the Hell they were in DC and not Iraq!!!

Kudos!!!

:bounce: :thumbsup: :hi: :grouphug: :headbang: :yourock: :applause: :applause: :woohoo: :patriot:

[Pryderi]

75. Print out and carry this enlistment form with you

http://usmilitary.about.com/library/pdf/enlistment.pdf

and hand it to the next jerk that yells at you.

[Mr_Spock]

76. You did the best that you could - no shame in that

These folks should not bring their kids around people who provoke others by calling them "pussies".

Very appropriate response.

[DemoTex]

77. What a classic line, 11B!

The only kind of support the infantry cares about is fire support. There was nothing more terrifying in Viet Nam than hearing the whispered words, "fire mission, over," on the Fox Mike radio. It was usually followed by, "bring it in real close."
Also, I'm gonna bet you checked out of Walter Reed with a CIB (Combat Infantryman Badge), too. Right? Welcome home, soldier. Thanks for your service and your sacrifices.

Mac

[11 Bravo]

110. Roger that. That little musket on a blue background ...

is one of my proudest possessions. (And I swear, just reading the words "bring it in real close" made the hair on the back of my neck stand up and jump-started the old pucker reflex.)

[deadparrot]

78. Don't worry about the swearing.

Stand proud. You did good today. :patriot:

[Swamp Rat]

79. You're a better man than I Gunga Din

I would have knocked out every last tooth in his head, making his friends shit their pants. :grr:

Talk about pussies! How come they are not in Iraq? Hmm? :eyes:

[Lifelong Protester]

81. I second the "HELL No" sentiment

I am a school administrator, and I agree with the many here who have said that toddlers will not remember what you said (especially if it is already a part of their household lexicon). But they may remember that a brave man had courage to stand up to someone who was stupid enough to try to bully him. Kids need those role models.
Thanks for your service 11 Bravo.

[Hailtothechimp]

82. You told them what was what. Good for you.

And those toddlers will hear those words somewhere else (like in their own homes, probably.)

Thank you for standing up to those idiots for us. If only our elected representatives had your guts.

[YouthInAsia]

83. You should have kicked their f***** asses. IMHO

[immoderate]

84. They got a dose of truth.

Fortunately, the right person was there to tell them. Thanks for enlightening them.

--IMM

[mitchum]

85. You could have mutilated the toddlers and told the freepers to...

"Chill, and pretend like their Iraqi children. See, that makes it all right now, doesn't it?"

You did nothing wrong, 11 Bravo

[TheCentepedeShoes]

86. bravo, Bravo

better you swear some now than those kids loose their lives for another Bush*Co war later.

[ourbluenation]

88. I LOVE YOU!

You have absolutly nothing to be ashamed of. For godsakes - they should be ashamed of themselves.

[Triana]

89. Thank you. TWICE. For serving so honorably and...

...for putting a chickenhawk in its place.

Bless you.

Edit: and HELL NO you should not be ashamed of yourself. I think you did what needed to be done.

[mmonk]

90. No, not ashamed.

Wish I were there to witness that. I really get tired of people that will never choose duty supporting this administration and its bogus reasons for the current conflict.

[napi21]

91. Marches is no place to "bring your toddlers!"

If they're too stupid to know that, then they're going to have eto explain "What does that mean Daddy?" to the little kids!

[tuvor]

92. I remember your post last year. You should make this an annual tradition.

:toast:

[Skittles]

93. I think you did great

I am very proud of you 11 Bravo - WELL DONE :thumbsup:

[JI7]

94. you did a good thing, don't feel ashamed or bad about anything

the stupid woman with the kids allows them to be around disgusting pricks like the one you described. a little swearing is not going to hurt.

i hope you continue doing this anytime you are confronted by these assholes.

[sakabatou]

95. Too true

These assholes should stop it with their hypocrisy.

[ClayZ]

96. Not a problem, you told the truth. So you puntuated it!

Good on you. Give them all something to think about! Kids too!

[TacticalPeek]

97. Right the fuck on! And don't worry about the language.

9/11 changed everything.

:patriot:

[Stockholm]

98. You should be proud of yourself and your service!

n/t

[shanti]

99. you rawk, 11bravo!!

they got served! :thumbsup:

[REP]

100. Fuck No!

Don't worry about swearing around children. It won't hurt them. Being raised by morons will, but nothing you can do about that.

Good for you for not punching the little douchebag in the mouth, which he richly deserved.

[Dead_Parrot]

101. Well said, sir. nt

[Hekate]

102. Eloquent. Pithy. To the point. Thank you -- bravo, even.

As for why yokels like these take little kids along? Beats me -- the right-to-lifers drag the wee ones along while they tote photoshopped posters of hideous bloody babies. brr

Hekate

[GeorgeGist]

103. The mother of the toddlers has far more to worry about...

than you swearing in front of them. Maybe she'll think about her children dying because of pussies like her.

[Pacifist Patriot]

104. As a mother with young children...

I wouldn't have batted an eye. I've heard much worse from the chickenhawks. Good for you for speaking up!

[Vinca]

105. Don't worry about the kids. Defending an immoral war

is more obscene than using the "f" word.

[smoogatz]

106. "The only kind of support the infantry cares about is fire support, junior

"so either put down your sign and pick up a weapon, or shut your fucking mouth." Classic. Truly great stuff. If those kids remember anything, it'll be the tough old dude who had the balls to tell their idiot parents the truth. Good on you, 11 Bravo. Go cat go!

[Tyler Durden]

109. Ex HM1 "Doc J" sez:

You should have said shut your fucking mouth you chickenshit chickenhawk son of a bitch.

As and ex Navy Corpsman, I don't believe in halfway measures. Semper Fi, by the way.

[mimitabby]

111. NO

If they want to show their children the real world, that's their problem.
in the real world, people swear when they are upset.
You did the right thing, you stated your case perfectly, explicitly and gave
all those idiots something to think about.
and those kids learned something too! They learned that all is not what it seems
and that there MIGHT be a good reason to NOT support the war if a veteran is against it.

[EVDebs]

112. The Commander in Chief needs a court martial if no other means of

accountability are found soon. The entire war in Iraq was set from Day One to happen; The Price of Loyalty, by Paul O'Neill shows us that. Then the OSP and WHIG groups ensconced into regular intelligence to stovepipe lies were set up. These groups basically aided Iranian intelligence to get us to do their bidding. The DIA's Patrick Lang has said as much ('it was good work, and I admire good work').

Anyone blowing the whistle was S.O.L. and faced retaliation. Retaliation for simply doing their Constitutional duties and telling the truth ! That should never happen in the land of the free and home of the brave. Truth, justice, and the American Way are supposed to mean something.