Why are soldiers treated with so much respect?

There are many enlisted members who dislike being in the service, and are just waiting for their contract to end. A lot of these individuals are the ones who feel more entitled to everything they can get from others, putting out how they served and they earned the respect.

In for just over a year now, if someone thanks me it's personally awkward in my opinion due to having such minimal time in and no oversea deployments.

 

I agree with you. It seems nowadays armies are run as businesses, where the profits are kept by those who have the power to dictate the actions the military take.

I'm not from america but I've seen a lot on social media about their war veterans becoming homeless and not being well looked after by the government after fighting in wars. Anyone know if this is common/legit?

I'm all for safety; a war to keep myself and my family safe wouldn't bother me much, it just seems to be a charade nowadays for political goals. I'm no expert but america has had more damage done to it by its own people (school shootings etc) than by foreigners? Or am I wrong?

Forgive me if any of my views are wrong, I can only go with the sources I have as I'm not american. But it's the same here in the UK, I don't think any of our citizens genuinely fear for their lives, or even fear that they will be harmed in any way. Yet our country is still at war...

 

The military industrial complex is very real and very dependent on constant war. The US averages a major war every 10 years throughout their short history.

Some of the guys coming home from the south are destroyed by PTSD, for a long time there was literally no programs for veterans returning home. At least not in my country, im not American either.
These guys were greeted at the airport when returning home like "Welcome home soldier, thanks for your service, take care now" Enjoy your trauma.

Some of them choose to become homeless because they feel like there is nothing for them to do in society, others try to forget what they saw/did during the war and go the way of substance abuse.

I share some of your views, even though im ex-military. The reason why we go to war in foreign countries isn't just for wealth and gain. You can't break it down to just one reason.
Stabilizing the middle-east will create peace for a lot of countries, create western friendly allies closer to Africa and get rid of radical islam. Also many middle eastern countries pose a direct threat to mainland Europe under the wrong leadership.

 

im in the military and you and everybody should be thankful, because you are sitting on your ass at home on your computer we and other people in the military are on US soil and overseas making sure YOU can sit on your ass with freedom, and we protect your freedom and this country so you better be god damn thankful you little shit.

 

oh and also if you arent in the military you dont salute those who are.

 

I salute you, and I respect that you are in the military. It takes a brave man to go through with such a risky job. It's also keeping the people of your country safe.

I just don't think your job is really needed to be honest. The West, over the years, has cried out about threats that they've created themselves. They view groups that are heavily armed a "threat" yet they are the biggest exporters of arms in the world (western countries, generally are).

I also don't agree with the western countries always sticking their nose in other countries problems. 99% of situations in foreign countries at war, Syria for example, are so complicated because so many countries are sticking their noses in that the only solution to fix it is a big war thats leads to bombing the shit out of everyone, including the civilians. I don't think that's very nice and wars of this nature don't belong in the 21st century.

Don't get me wrong, the West do a lot to help the world in foreign aid etc etc I just think their foreign policy on military action could be utilised better.

I'll use Syria as an example; there's a coalition of near enough the whole of North America & Europe (and more) bombing in Syria, this is a world war it should've been over ages ago. The only result is going to be destroyed life for the innocent people of Syria, and I don't think any threat in the world is so powerful that the most powerful countries in the world combined can't deal with easily & effectively.

That being said, shoutout to the soldiers as I know it's their job to help and protect civilians too, it's just sad that other soldiers have a job that will destroy their lives also.

 

It takes a group effort to accomplish what they do, you cant look past anyone who hasnt seen combat. You SHOULD support the soldiers because they support you, and everyone around you. Society is so out of touch with reality its crazy.

 

I know you mentioned your not from the US, so the wounded warrior program doesent help you, but I think its an awesome initiative I donate $19 a month to them, what they do is tremendous, we cant just support soldiers over seas, we have to help them when they come home as well. I have personally never served, but alot of people in my family have. It just wasn't for me, however I have tremendous respect for people who have.

 

I've learned that most soldiers, or former and current active duty members (not only soldiers btw) don't want to be thanked, and actually see it as being an extremely shallow thing to do when they are thanked. Especially if they have been in combat, because you weren't there and you don't know what you are even thanking them for, you don't know what they've been through and to thank them is like trying to say you know what they've done and what they've been through, thus taking something from them. The best thing to do when you meet a veteran is to just acknowledge the fact that you know they served without thanking them for it. It is also against regulation to advertise the fact that you were in the military so to accept thanks from someone who has never served is a complete insult.

If someone who has served thanks you that's one thing, but if you're being thanked by a civilian you should tell them not to thank you, you volunteered, you get paid for the job that you do, nobody put a gun to your head and forced you to take the oath. Anyone who has served that tells you differently is only seeking attention.

 

...You must have forgotten about the tens of millions of young men who have died from being conscripted into armies under threat of imprisonment.

 

You literally have no right to even say anything along those lines. You weren't born during those times and those who were "drafted" at that point in time are likely not still alive. This thread is about thanking veterans. Go ahead and name one veteran that you know who was drafted who is still alive and i'll look him up.

 

Are you fucking kidding me? First of all, I have the right to freedom of speech, which soldiers so often take unearned credit for "protecting", so "literally" fuck off. 10s of millions of graves of young men, a massive atrocity of human rights by any sense or standard, and you try to claim the moral high ground and say that historical FACT should never be mentioned?...

Second of all, drafting for the military takes place even today in basically every country in the world.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription_in_the_United_States

I would imagine the worst kind of slavery is the kind of slavery where you are forced to shoot at your would-be liberators.

 

You're 100% wrong with your statements. I asked for proof of someone being forced to join the military who is able to be thanked which is what this thread is about, if you are unable to do that, come up with a real argument with proof or find another thread to post in.

 

Me and about 100 million other men in the United States are 100% proof, lmao? I was forced to sign the selective service agreement under threat of a $250k penalty and 5 years in fucking prison.

https://www.sss.gov/Registration/Why-Register/Benefits-and-Penalties

You SURELY can't be so misinformed that you didn't know this is happening right now under the law?

 

But did you or the people you are referring to ever get forced to serve, or are you just mad that you signed a piece of paper that will never make any difference in your life? Again you are not backing up your original statement. You are also not posting rational arguments.

 

^This is just a complete shitpost. How have you not read what I just posted in front of you?

FUCKING OBVIOUSLY YES. Both my grandfathers were in the military as well as my great grandfather are included.

If I don't sign the piece of paper, I get 5 years in prison and lose $250,000. That's a lot more than $2,000. How is does that not qualify as "any difference in my life"?

 

You make some valid points I'll give you that. But you'll have a higher likelihood of being struck by lightning twice, in the same spot, on the same day... Than that piece of paper every man over 18 signed ever calling you to service.

To touch on the subject of respect, I think people respect those who serve(d) because they know its a necessary evil. It's like cleaning the toilet. Everyone knows it has to be done, and nobody really wants to do it. But knowing how grimy things get when it doesn't get done, a select few will step up and do it so the not so select few can sit back and criticize how dirty things still are....

As far as thanking a solder...Being a former 11B it was and is even more so now, fucking awkward when someone thanks me. I don't like it one bit. But I try to think of it from their perspective and take it as a "I feel for you, keep your head up" type thing. Y'know, so they won't have to deal with the shit for themselves.

Finally just for clarity, I'm not in any way shape or form calling anyone out, or trying to be passive aggressive. Every asshole has an opinion.. Or however it goes. And mine is mostly meant in jest. But don't get me wrong, I do think people are too quick to judge soldiers. Whether it be for better or worse.

 

-.-

I have no idea why this claim has just been made yet another time... I just provided an example of tens of millions being drafted and killed last century alone. Half a generation was destroyed, yet people are still brushing it off as a "would never happen" scenario, even though conscription has been the norm worldwide since forever, including today?

 

I know like.. I had a look its like what the fuck. So you basically do it or your life is fucked?

 

I think people have never changed from the soldiers who fought in the larger wars a lengthy period of time ago, whom didn't always have a choice and were selected by chance. These people then went off to war, risking their lives to help their country's future. Even though they might not of wanted, they still went. I think that's the soldiers who deserve recognition. People just continued to do it, and forgot that a high majority of soldiers these days join by personal opinion.