Extremists...

[yv0nne]

Nope, wouldn't call myself an extremist about any of the usual venues, I am not overly religious or political so I can't understand why someone would get extreme over it, but whatever.

You are like THE MOST extreme anti-kid person ever lol

 

[Dogdragoness]

You are like THE MOST extreme anti-kid person ever lol

True, but that is not what one would consider a "usual venue" when people think of extremists. Which is why I didn't mention it. But yeah I am extremely anti-kid for sure.

 

[milos_mommy]

The only thing that bothers me is people who are anti-military, it's ok to not support war in of itself, but protesting soldiers funerals (a dear friend of OH was killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan last year and there were those ass hats across the street) is wrong and shouldn't be allowed IMO. Let the poor family grieve in peace.

I'm anti-military (not just anti-war - I would never put up any kind of support our troops stuff, I don't believe in the glorification of the military by seeing servicemen as generally heroic, sacrificial, manly, courageous, etc...it bothers me when kids shows but support our troops commercials on, and I have told many military members who have served that I'm not proud of what they do, I'm sure they HAVE made lots of sacrifices in their personal lives for their families and so on, but I don't believe those sacrifices are for or beneficial to our country (surprisingly they've all agreed with me and say it's really offensive when people blindly throw out "support our troops" nonsense when they have no idea why these guys are even overseas or what they're doing) and I think there's a good chance that if you serve you've probably done unethical stuff that I (and most of our population) would find disturbing and not at all admirable. And, like Goingnowhere said: my views are radical but in Japan or Costa Rica and even many Euro nations, it'd be considered radical to want or care about a military.

I still would never, ever approach a military funeral with those views. That's literally not benefitting anyone, it's not spreading any message (other than that the person protesting is an asshole and probably borderline sociopath). I don't think being anti-military (or pro military) are extemist views. I'd say people protesting the funerals are extemists but it looks to me more like they're looking for an excuse to be a jerk.

 

[sillysally]

You are like THE MOST extreme anti-kid person ever lol

If we could NOT turn this into one of "those" threads it would be awesome.

 

[sillysally]

Sometimes I think some of my views on certain criminal justice issues would be considered somewhat extreme or radical. For example, I could never in good conscious serve on a jury at the trial of a battered woman who killed her abuser. People who beat and torture their loved ones deserve what they get, and it would be a public service killing as far as I'm concerned. Now, I would be VERY upfront during jury selection for such a case, because it would be unethical to serve in the jury knowing I feel the way I do.

I've also come to believe in the death penalty in certain situations. However, I think that a jury that sentences someone to death should be required to directly witness the exicution. If you can't stomach watching an exicution you shouldn't be ordering one.

I also don't feel it's right to kill things for fun. I know lots of people who blow up frogs with firecrackers, will deliberately run over animals like possums they don't like, etc. I feel like someone should have a good reason for killing anything. I do totally get that a "good reason" is subjective, but I don't think that sticking a frog in a freezer to see if it would just come back to life after it thawed out later is a good reason to freeze a frog to death (this example from an actual conversation I had with a coworker a few months ago).

 

[milos_mommy]

^^ I wouldn't count any of those views as extreme, I think they're actually very common! Hence people who go to prison for abuse or rape often needed special protection. Lots of people believe a woman shouldn't be held accountable if they kill their abusers (or parents killing child moldsters, etc).

im a little worried you know so many people who intentionally kill or harm animals! Here people can go to prison for up to 5 years for intentionally running over geese or other animals and it makes the news of kids get caught blowing up a frog or something (and they do get charged with animal abuse). But I think we have the strictest animal abuse laws in the country. People who hurt animals, even wild ones or strays, are not dealt with lightly.

 

[amberdyan]

im a little worried you know so many people who intentionally kill or harm animals! Here people can go to prison for up to 5 years for intentionally running over geese or other animals and it makes the news of kids get caught blowing up a frog or something (and they do get charged with animal abuse). But I think we have the strictest animal abuse laws in the country. People who hurt animals, even wild ones or strays, are not dealt with lightly.

I'm lucky to have moved to a town that's way more serious about animal abuse. There are hefty fines here for abusing any animal and the laws are pretty strict on what constitutes abuse. But the town I moved from pretty much couldn't have cared less. People ran over and/or shot animals for fun and it wasn't a big deal.

 

[milos_mommy]

I mean I guess it's good that I'm kind of totally disturbed by this. I think some kids put a firecracker in a frog a few years back and all were arrested. It made news. Someone dumped a puppy in a dumpster in a parking lot and a picture someone took of their car was plastered all over the county. They caught them based on the license plate and they got like $7,000 in fines or something, and they didn't even actually harm the puppy. A few people purposely ran down geese on the highway once and they got at least 3-5 years in prison.

I can't imagine ever hearing more than one person admit to purposely harming even a small animal, I'm pretty sure sometimes HS kids here mess with the science fair animals and they get suspended if not expelled and sent to anger management and crap - if they don't get straight up arrest on animal abuse and damaging school property charges.

ETA I'm sure these laws or reactions might be considered extreme in other parts of the country

 

[sillysally]

It's pretty much unheard of here to be arrested for purposely running over an animal. My parents aren't big animal people but I was raised that hurting animals for no reason/for fun, etc was just something that you did not do-not ever.

When I told my coworker I thought it was wrong to freeze a frog in the freezer to see if it would come back to life when thawed the response was, "Um, it's a frog." When I responded that I did like the idea of killing things for shits and giggles I was looked at (by several coworkers) as if I had three heads and the subject was changed :/

 

[milos_mommy]

That's so weird if someone here said they put a frog in the freezer alive I'd honestly expect them to be physically attacked, they could probably lose their job depending on the venue, and they'd be seriously ostracized. It's not even a matter of legal reasons and I didn't think I lived in a particularly animal-friendly place (except regarding abuse laws) but I think that almost everyone in my circle of aquaintences/neighborhood/area would be nothing short of disgusted if they heard of someone intentionally injuring an animal - no matter how small - for no good reason.

 

[Dogdragoness]

I'm anti-military (not just anti-war - I would never put up any kind of support our troops stuff, I don't believe in the glorification of the military by seeing servicemen as generally heroic, sacrificial, manly, courageous, etc...it bothers me when kids shows but support our troops commercials on, and I have told many military members who have served that I'm not proud of what they do, I'm sure they HAVE made lots of sacrifices in their personal lives for their families and so on, but I don't believe those sacrifices are for or beneficial to our country (surprisingly they've all agreed with me and say it's really offensive when people blindly throw out "support our troops" nonsense when they have no idea why these guys are even overseas or what they're doing) and I think there's a good chance that if you serve you've probably done unethical stuff that I (and most of our population) would find disturbing and not at all admirable. And, like Goingnowhere said: my views are radical but in Japan or Costa Rica and even many Euro nations, it'd be considered radical to want or care about a military.

I still would never, ever approach a military funeral with those views. That's literally not benefitting anyone, it's not spreading any message (other than that the person protesting is an asshole and probably borderline sociopath). I don't think being anti-military (or pro military) are extemist views. I'd say people protesting the funerals are extemists but it looks to me more like they're looking for an excuse to be a jerk.

Maybe you are not old enough to remember, but the men coming back from Vietnam were met with a mentality like this. There was no parade, no confetti, no support. They were spit on, and refused service from many places, and I have to say that if someone came up to my father and said that, knowing and seeing what he has been through (and still goes through both mentally and physically) I would probably have to suppress the knee jerk reaction to punch them in the face.

 

[milos_mommy]

Yeah you've made it pretty clear how tolerant you are of people's who's views are different than yours.

 

[Dogdragoness]

Yeah you've made it pretty clear how tolerant you are of people's who's views are different than yours.

I for one support the support our troops ads, the only one I have seen air to a wide audience is the wounded warriors fund one, and while I don't say go out and give to some TV advertised organization. I do think people need to know what these guys and their families sacrifice.

On the other side, the soldiers should thank there lucky stars there is support for their cause, I am sure that if they were treated like the soldiers returning from Vietnam of Korean war they would welcome any kind words or support.

All the families and servicemen I have met are grateful and happy for al the support for the military. And as for Japan and Costa Rica and their views, maybe that's why they lost their battles.

 

[sillysally]

As the saying goes, war is hell. While I think there obviously need to be standards of conduct for soldiers, I also think it's awfully easy to sit safely behind a computer and judge when you've never been in a combat situation.

I am a staunch supporter of our troops. I don't always agree with the decisions the American military, and sometimes soldiers (like ALL humans) do awful and unethical things. However, for me that does not take away from the sacrifices that others make.

My step brother is a ranger who has served extensively in Afganistan. Knowing the things that he has gone through over there, seeing the impact that it has had on his family life and on my parents, I cannot have anything but respect for him. My cousin is leaving a lucrative micro biology job to join the airforce as a para rescue specialist because he feels there are more meaningful things he could be doing with his life than climbing the corporate latter. On one hand, he's my little cousin and I want to protect him and tell him to keep his cushy job, but on the other hand I'm so proud of him.

I will criticize the US government, it's motives, and the military industrial complex that is alive and well in the US all day long. However, I will support the men and women who go over there in whatever way possible, and I assure you as the step sister of someone who has been risking his life for his country since the age of 18, that support is anything but blind.

 

[Dogdragoness]

As the saying goes, war is hell. While I think there obviously need to be standards of conduct for soldiers, I also think it's awfully easy to sit safely behind a computer and judge when you've never been in a combat situation.

I am a staunch supporter of our troops. I don't always agree with the decisions the American military, and sometimes soldiers (like ALL humans) do awful and unethical things. However, for me that does not take away from the sacrifices that others make.

My step brother is a ranger who has served extensively in Afganistan. Knowing the things that he has gone through over there, seeing the impact that it has had on his family life and on my parents, I cannot have anything but respect for him. My cousin is leaving a lucrative micro biology job to join the airforce as a para rescue specialist because he feels there are more meaningful things he could be doing with his life than climbing the corporate latter. On one hand, he's my little cousin and I want to protect him and tell him to keep his cushy job, but on the other hand I'm so proud of him.

I will criticize the US government, it's motives, and the military industrial complex that is alive and well in the US all day long. However, I will support the men and women who go over there in whatever way possible, and I assure you as the step sister of someone who has been risking his life for his country since the age of 18, that support is anything but blind.

Same here, I see, even after all this time the effect it has on my dad, and when my OHs friend died, the effect it had on him and his family. My support is also anything but blind, 3 en if I don't always agree with the decisions of the powers that be. That isn't the soldiers fault and we shouldn't blame them for that. Hey have enough problems when they come back, they don't need the contempt of the general public, too.

it's not hypocritical to say, "I don't necessarily understand what you went through, but I respect you, and your sacrifice.

 

[*blackrose]

I'll just pop in as someone who is married to a sailor (Seabee in the USN).

There are plenty of men and women serving who aren't great people, or who don't conduct themselves well. There are also plenty of people who are great and who hold themselves to a higher standard. Just like there are plenty of bad cops and plenty of good cops. They're still people. They still have their own personalities and vices.

The sacrifices made are real, for both the solider and their family and friends. I am lucky enough that my husband is on a set deployment rotation and is also on a "peacetime" deployment. No combat anywhere near him at the moment. This is hard enough as it is, I can't imagine if he where actually in a combat area. Not everyone is so lucky.

The bureaucracy and red tape in the military is extremely frustrating. It is definitely a government organization and I don't mean that in a good way. But these soldiers and sailors and airmen...they're not a part of that. They are men and women putting themselves, and their loved ones, second so that they are fit, ready, and able to serve said government and the citizens of the United States. Whether what the government uses them for is good, necessary or right, THAT is up for debate. That does not lessen the respect that I have for their sacrifices and service.

(I don't LIKE every servicemen I come across, and I may not respect them as an individual, but I do respect their service. If that makes any sense at all.)

I do, however, get a little annoyed when people just parrot out, "Thank you for your service!" when they see a uniform. My initial thought response is, "Do you even know what you're thanking them for? Do you even care? Do you really, truly appreciate everything that they've been through in order to be where they are today?"

All in all, basically, this:

I will criticize the US government, it's motives, and the military industrial complex that is alive and well in the US all day long. However, I will support the men and women who go over there in whatever way possible, and I assure you as the step sister of someone who has been risking his life for his country since the age of 18, that support is anything but blind.

 

[Dogdragoness]

I cant imagine what it must be like for families of deployed servicemen and women, especially those deployed in "wartime", but really anyone who is separated for that long from their families and loved ones.

It is kind of lie the police, sure there are assholes, but just because I dont like SOME cops doesnt mean I dislike ALL cops.

I also dont just go up and thank everyone in uniform, unless appropriate.

 

[*blackrose]

I also wanted to clarify and say that I get what you're saying, Milos_mommy, and I don't take any real offense to it, I just wanted to share my opinion, too.

 

[CrystalGSD]

Now that I think of it this may be seen as extremist, especially to some people: I believe that if you can't accept the fact that you may have an LGBTQ+ child or a child who rejects your religion then you have no business having a child.

 

[joce]

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!