UKMustangFan Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 "I Pulled the Trigger, You Didn't. Don't Take That Away From Me" Interesting perspective. On a personal note, my brother-in-law feels exactly like these Vets do.
MBWC41 Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 Interesting piece. When I thank someone for their service, I'm trying to show them that I appreciate their sacrifice. I appreciate them putting their personal goals on hold and risking their lives to defend our country.
theguru Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 Very interesting. I admit I have noticed some vets were stoic when I thanked them. My gut said something was up and wow, thanks for posting that UK.
nkypete Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 If this true, I quite frankly now don't know what to say to a vet. I am not sure that I 100% agree with what the article states are alternatives either.
theguru Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 I am with you pete, I have no idea what to say. I may just stay quiet instead of taking a chance of offending someone.
nkypete Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 Well, I'm certainly not going to just give him a c-note just because he is wearing fatigues. Even if he is truly a vet, I would think that would be insulting in a different way. Is patriotism about our service men and women a thing of the past now?
Cats3x Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 Kind of shocking but okay. I don't know what these men and women have went through. I don't know what it is like to have to leave home and fight a war. I don't have to worry about groups like ISIS taking over America. I don't have to question the fact that we have a great military with exceptional men/women who risk their lives so I can enjoy the freedoms so many have died for. I don't know what to say. I know that my thanks could never repay the sacrifices they have made. But I did always think it was better than ignoring them or not thanking them.
Colonels_Wear_Blue Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 It's funny...I've always been selective of when I do/don't thank people for their service. I don't really know what my formula is for what occasions I think are appropriate for me to do so....but I have consciously thought to myself on many occasions "I'm not going to bother that person now by offering my thanks" because I didn't want it to seem trite. On the flip side, I have a relative who I think 100% is guilty of going overboard to thank veterans out of some kind of strange internal "I'm going to make myself feel better about myself for being so gracious to thank a veteran" notion. Also...I think in this day and age, the Veterans Day and Memorial Day "Thanks to all of the veterans for their service!" obligatory social media posts are to the point of being virtually meaningless.
justsayin Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 I have the utmost, profound respect for the men and women who are asked to serve our country. My "thanks" to them is always heartfelt. Read a book like "Fearless", and you will feel the same, whether you agree with the mission or not. I can't help but think of the following. It has relevance: Colonel Jessep: "Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinburg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to."
bugatti Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 I can't relate to the perspective. This is not meant to denigrate the notion, but it comes off as "don't you dare thank me for my service, but you best be appreciative of what I have done for you." I can't say if that is right or wrong, but that is just how it feels to me. I would rather say "thank you" and be judged for that rather than not saying a word and being judged for that.
ggclfan Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 I am with you pete, I have no idea what to say. I may just stay quiet instead of taking a chance of offending someone. I am just going to say thanks and mean it. If the person is offended, at least I know I was sincere. I bet most are not offended BTW...
doomer Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 I don't stop people on the street and thank them for their service. However those soldiers I have talked with, including a nephew who was deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan don't appear to mind being thanked for their service. However, I can see how, in any fraternity, there gets to be some point where one becomes suspicious that the "thanking" is simply meant to make the "thanker" seem supportive when, in fact, they really are not. It seems to me that no matter the make-up of the armed forces - voluntary or involuntary - disillusionment is a common theme. Many go in with high hopes and career aspirations which are quickly dashed. Then the person is serving out their hitch. So, I wouldn't say the attitude is necessarily the best anyway. I haven't seen any of the soldiers who reply negatively when a person thanks them, but it only makes sense that they are not going to be overcome with joy either given the backdrop.
BigVMan23 Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 Very odd, weird perspective that, as a veteran I don't agree with. With that said, I never shot anybody or was shot at in combat, either. It seems this is a perspective from young vets if I read the article correctly. I have to say, there are some odd notions from some of todays young people in general that I can't relate to.
UKMustangFan Posted February 23, 2015 Author Posted February 23, 2015 JMO, but I think it's more the random strangers they're talking about in the article, and not so much people they know.
spindoc Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 My dad served as a marine in Vietnam, and interestingly, we had this conversation when I was a teen. He told me that I should be respectful to all military veterans. And in the right context, thank them for their service. Then he said, "make no mistake, I knew what I was signing up for". That stuck with me.
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