Extremists...

[BostonBanker]

I have some views that I think would be considered extreme by many in our current culture. I do not consider myself an extremist because I would never expect others to abide by my beliefs just because I believe them, nor would I want laws passed to force people to follow them.

 

[Dogdragoness]

I would have said my views were extreme that I was die hard pro choice at different points probably. Vote democrat no matter what their other views where. I am so over politics right now.

For me just hearing someone is anti military just boils the blood though instantly. I will say that. I think people should be able to have their feelings about gay marriage and abortion and god knows what else without infringing on someone else rights. But the military? They fight for you. My little brother is still in and hopefully will not have to be actively back in any war zones before he is out. Several lifers in the family. Interesting stuff they do. It's not just kill kill kill.

But the extreme views are what brings out the emotions!

In fact, most of the veterans who come back are AGAINST violence, for the longest time, dad wouldnt even allow guns in the house until we started having such a bad coyote and snake problem a few years ago, when he finally had to break down and buy one.

I agree, like I said, if someone came up to anyone I knew and said what MM said in her post, I would probably punch them in their face ... if my OH, or my MOTHER didnt do it first LOL (she has been dealing with people like that for as long as she and dad have been together).

My heart just clinches in pain at the mere thought if someone telling the parents of my OH's soldier friend that, I just ... I cant.

 

[amberdyan]

In fact, most of the veterans who come back are AGAINST violence, for the longest time, dad wouldnt even allow guns in the house until we started having such a bad coyote and snake problem a few years ago, when he finally had to break down and buy one.

I agree, like I said, if someone came up to anyone I knew and said what MM said in her post, I would probably punch them in their face ... if my OH, or my MOTHER didnt do it first LOL (she has been dealing with people like that for as long as she and dad have been together).

My heart just clinches in pain at the mere thought if someone telling the parents of my OH's soldier friend that, I just ... I cant.

Meh. I think everyone has the right to their own opinion, without being punched in the face. I think it takes a bit of courage to put out what is likely to be an unpopular opinion, and I can totally get where she's coming from. I don't think she's saying that all soldiers do horrible things, but that she disagrees with war as a whole and soldiers (not counting those who were drafted in the past) choose to be part of that, so she chooses to not support them. (That's my interpretation, she can correct me if I'm wrong!)

That being said... I have no idea what makes someone want to go into the military, but I like to think most of them go in honestly wanting to help or do good and I can respect that. I have nothing against a good soldier, even if I think he/she is part of corrupt system.

I also wasn't trying to pick on you, DD, just to be clear! I appreciate and understand why you have a strong opinion about this and it makes sense, especially since you have people you are very close to involved in the military. I have never had that experience and am largely ignorant about the armed forces.

ETA: I think my gender equality/gender roles/transgender rights opinions could probably be considered fairly extreme. In my area it's pretty normal but according to the news, there are a lot of places where it is not.

 

[*blackrose]

I can't remember who said it (I'm on my phone currently and scrolling is hard!), but being a soldier is so much more than the war aspect. Granted, my husband is an engineer and is not SUPPOSED to be on the front lines anywhere (Seabees originated when the military needed construction done, but couldn't contract civilians due to high risk factors - they needed people who knew how to defend themselves and their positions!), but even a generic infantryman does much more than just...battle.

DH's battalion helped build a new baseball/football stadium for a local school while they were here at home. Past deployments have seen groups head out to multiple places over the world for humanitarian projects. One such group built hospitals in northern Africa. Another built wells for remote villages.

The military body is so vast, and there are SO many jobs these men and women are doing that don't center around wartime. And I think that is awesome.

 

[Greenmagick]

I guess this is my view....I believe all people deserve respect as a human, but I dont believe certain jobs/careers automatically make you a good person or above reproach. I think that is where some of my feelings come from. Just because someone is a soldier does not mean I automatically should support or respect them for doing that, especially considering yes, I have issues with the military in general. A lot of problems come from blind support or giving passes in a sense because of being military.

 

[amberdyan]

DH's battalion helped build a new baseball/football stadium for a local school while they were here at home. Past deployments have seen groups head out to multiple places over the world for humanitarian projects. One such group built hospitals in northern Africa. Another built wells for remote villages.

The military body is so vast, and there are SO many jobs these men and women are doing that don't center around wartime. And I think that is awesome.

That's exactly the stuff I was thinking about when I mentioned people going into the military to do good things/help people. I'm not close with anyone in the military, but a casual friend of mine does that kind of thing. He's a band director in the Army and it seems like (based on facebook) they're always doing social service. He's also never seen combat.

 

[sillysally]

Even with those that do see combat taking a life is not something that most (in my experience) take lightly. Often is kill or be killed, and in the case of snipers they often have to take one life to save other lives. Again, it's very easy to judge if you have not been in that situation.

It's a complex thing. No, people are not automatically good or beyond reproach if they are soldiers, but I personally give that occupation more respect than say, a hedge fund manager. That doesn't mean that I give soldiers a pass on bad behavior, and I honestly don't think most people do. I also feel that the mental toll that combat takes on people must be incredible--particularly in a conflict where there is no clear designation of who the enemy is.

I can't even imagine what it was like for those Vietnam vets to be sent, often without a choice, into a hell halfway around the world, see unimaginable horrors, then come home to an ungrateful and downright nasty reception.

Honestly, if some random person walked up to my step brother or cousin criticizing their service I wouldn't punch them (not really my style), but I would have a very strong suggestion for where precisely they could shove their opinion.

 

[milos_mommy]

A lot of problems come from blind support or giving passes in a sense because of being military.

This.

I'm not about to meet someone in the military and start criticizing their life choices or what they've done - like Andrea said, the military does a lot of important things that aren't typically associated with the military, for example, aid during the Ebola crisis. But I think I'd also never go up to a serviceman and be like "oh my gosh, thank you so much for your heroic actions to protect me and my country!!!". And most people who do have no idea what the hell people in the military even do, probably have no idea how many people (American or otherwise) have died due to the wars we're involved in, where America last bombed, etc. They also have no idea about alternatives to combat and military relations between countries. I don't think its ethical for our country/military to take that ignorance and lack of education on the subject and shove "HERO. SACRIFICE. VALOUR. SO BRAVE SO PERFECT MUST BE SO ALTRUISTIC FOR YOUR CIVILIAN BENEFIT KEEP BAD TERRORISTS OUT OF AMERICA WOOOO" down people's and kid's throats.

Basically, I don't have an issue with people who serve in the military, I feel the same way about them I do about teachers and doctors and social workers. But I don't think the general view of unwavering support for the military should be pushed.

And DD - as for your comment on Japan and Costa Rica ... Did you never hear of Pearl Harbor?? Japan didn't HAVE those attitudes when they won the war. They developed them in response to the devastation their country experienced after WWII. So I don't know what logic you were trying to use there...

 

[Dogdragoness]

This.

I'm not about to meet someone in the military and start criticizing their life choices or what they've done - like Andrea said, the military does a lot of important things that aren't typically associated with the military, for example, aid during the Ebola crisis. But I think I'd also never go up to a serviceman and be like "oh my gosh, thank you so much for your heroic actions to protect me and my country!!!". And most people who do have no idea what the hell people in the military even do, probably have no idea how many people (American or otherwise) have died due to the wars we're involved in, where America last bombed, etc. They also have no idea about alternatives to combat and military relations between countries. I don't think its ethical for our country/military to take that ignorance and lack of education on the subject and shove "HERO. SACRIFICE. VALOUR. SO BRAVE SO PERFECT MUST BE SO ALTRUISTIC FOR YOUR CIVILIAN BENEFIT KEEP BAD TERRORISTS OUT OF AMERICA WOOOO" down people's and kid's throats.

Basically, I don't have an issue with people who serve in the military, I feel the same way about them I do about teachers and doctors and social workers. But I don't think the general view of unwavering support for the military should be pushed.

And DD - as for your comment on Japan and Costa Rica ... Did you never hear of Pearl Harbor?? Japan didn't HAVE those attitudes when they won the war. They developed them in response to the devastation their country experienced after WWII. So I don't know what logic you were trying to use there...

If I remember rightly, Japan attacked us first, FDR was trying hard to keep us out of the thick of the conflict.

But your original post is exactly the mentality my father came home to, and the trauma of that and what he saw over there still haunts him, and I don't think anyone is suggesting anyone run up to some random servicemen and start gushing, I also don't think it is shoved down kids throats, it's just a reminder of their hardships And to keep them in your thoughts.

 

[release the hounds]

I'm not automatic with my affection or disdain of men and women in the military. I've met enough over the years to know some are some of the greatest human beings on earth and some are just assholes. Kind of like every other group of people, but regardless, it's hard not to see the sacrifices made during conflict that is made by them.

I don't think anything else can compare and I think it should be recognized and revered.

 

[Greenmagick]

I should add, I do support our military, just in different ways than is commonly recognized. I am a strong proponent of better mental healthcare across the board in this country. I think the sacrifice military men and women make should be recognized fully, including the issues that come with it. It is a sacrifice. However, when they come back and their service is done, we totally just forget about their real life struggles.

And yeah, when you are against the actual missions they are involved in, there is a conflict. I can respect that they dont really have a choice, but can also not respect their actions in certain cases.


The automatic respect that is ingrained in many IS harmful. Its why the "bad apples" are often pushed aside or ignored...or worse yet, held as a standard of good.