By:
Nicole Belle on Tuesday, August 28th, 2007 at 10:10 AM - PDT
Raf Noboa at OpenLeft is tired of the empty rhetoric of supporting the troops.
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53 Responses for “Please, stop thanking me for my service”
Yeah. I’m over that forced phrase, imposed upon us by the warmongers from hell.
I am a veteran and I HATE when people hear that I was in Kuwait in 91 and Somalia in 93 and they reflexively respond with, “Thanks for your service” It makes me nuts because of the circumstances of my joining the military, which is like so many others when I joined (a job with benefits and college money) and the premise of the comabt zones I served in.
It has become an obligatory response with no sentiment or understanding why they are thanking someone.
Espeically when the appreciation shown isn’t really appreciation, more like platitudes.
The troops want to come home - show support by leanding on Congress to make it happen.
Until they come home, send them the equipment they need so they CAN come home when the time comes.
Apart from that, I don’t blame the troops for wanting to tell someone that “I support the troops” to go drink several cans of Shut Yer Piehole…aka STHU
miss_kitty @ 1:
I don’t recall it being used much until after 2001. Now I cringe when I hear it.
If you want to thank them, if you want to support them, then bring them home.
Even worse, I hear it most from the guys around me who openly admit that they never wanted to serve, but are SO in favor of the current Iraq war
Thank you all very much for your service.
They thank the troops for their service because reich-wingers actually believe that’s “supporting the troops” ™.
Michael @ 4:
I served for 4 years in the South in the early 90s, and NOT one of those inbred hicks ever thanked me or my shipmates for our service. Generally, those inbred reich-wingers didn’t trust sailors or marines and looked down on us.
I support my troops by paying my taxes so that when their enlistment period is over they can cash in by signing on with Blackwater.
If a soldier is fortunate enough to avoid a messy court marshall, he can go on to work for a contractor in our mercenary army and murder and torture with no reprisals.
That’s not what Larry Craig said.
Don Davis @ 10:
ROFL. Priceless.
Spud,
That is an awfully broad brush to be painting with. Not fair. Looks as if I didn’t turn out like that. I don’t appreciate your narrow minded view of US Veterans.
That’s my point. The simplicity of both side’s rhetoric. The far greater goal is to work for justice and keep our eyes open. While we rip each other apart, the fascists are stealing the ground out from under us. If you want to debate the value of a “thank you” to the troops then they have won.
Wasn’t why I chided you. You sound incapable of an open mind.
if you want to show support for the troops….keep pushing the message to bring them home ASAP….preferably sooner than later……and…….help a homeless vet…when you can……aside from the VA(not the best but it’s a whole lot better than it used to be)…they discard our Vets when the get out….But our soldiers DO NEED to KNOW…that we care and respect them…..otherwise their likely to buy into the repug bullshit…help a homeless Vet when you can…even if it’s just a couple of dollars…….together we can help them……
Outstanding! I’ve been saying that for years. Ever since this fiasco started, non serving war supporters have prefaced every one of their responses to me with “Thank you for serving”. I don’t want or need their “thanks”. I’m sure it makes them feel better about themselves to thank we veterans but it is just a farce.
oh and when people say thank you for serving to me……it’s embarrassing…when I enlisted I certainly didn’t do it so people would thank me…..
and I couldn’t wait to get it over with and get back into society……..lifers are nuts
The sad, sadistic legacy of the USMC lives on:
Ok, sorry. It’s usually only the special forces personnel who have the opportunity to “go Blackwater.” Its personal and individual and not most do it.
That being said, we need to shift the focus to justice– for our armed services, for Iraq, and the Middle East in general.
If we pull the troops out we still have hundreds of thousands of contractors working for US corporations and the US govt.
Our troops are being chopped down because there are Americans who are murdering and that needs to be stopped by us.
Sorry, here’s the link. Have I mentioned lately that Haloscan sucks?
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/s.....TE=DEFAULT
My husband was in the Navy back when and I asked him once if he wanted everyone to thank him for his service in the Navy. His answer was, “Hell No!” So I took my cue from him.
I live around Camp Pendleton. I see young marines all the time. If I am out and I see one buying a drink or ordering some food, I often step in and ask, “Are you active duty?” If they say yes, I pay for them. I think they appreciate, for the most part, that they have our support. But anytime I tell them thanks, I ALWAYS say that we are working to get them home ASAP.
Spud @ 20:
The contractors you cite are their for the money..and nothing else…And we all know who’s side their on……….
Che’s Lounge @ 23:
Yeah right on…I buy um a beer or a burger or ask them if they need a ride somewhere…and when you get them one on one …THEY ALWAYS SAY THIS IS FUBAR……not all of them…but 7 out of 10 do…..
What the wingnuts really mean is: “Thank you for doing our dirty work, now give speeches saying how wonderful it was, or STFU and go away.”
Ricky Bones @ 2:
Very well said. I was in a supermarket about six weeks ago wearing a Vietnam Veterans Against the War T-shirt when a middle-aged employee told me that his son was in Iraq. He then thanked me for my service. I informed him that I have always regretted the fact that, unlike those military personnel featured in the incredibly moving film Sir! No Sir!, which focused on the GI Movement that took place at or near military bases at home and abroad during the Vietnam War, I did not refuse the orders that I was given during that time period which then contributed to the unnecessary deaths of innocent Vietnamese people. He then magnanimously told me that I should have then been thrown in jail if I had followed through on my intentions. Apparently this employee seemed to think that because his son is in Iraq, it then entitles him to a sense of moral superiority over those who dare to disagree with his nationalistic fervor.
As you correctly point out, these people say this meaningless phrase without ever examining the content of its meaning. As is the case with so many superpatriots, when they hear the word patriotism, their brains just seem to automatically shut down.
just saying Hi with a smile works wonders……that makes them think that all the bullshit they hear from the repugs is bullshit.
The troops, the national guard, veterans and patriotic americans are also sick of the empty rhetoric coming from an insane descendant of an elite treasonous family who is destroying America.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_family
We have all had ENOUGH of elite families and bankers who are destroying America, what our WWII veterans fought for, Geneva Convention treaties. America has had enough. Including fake religious groups who endorse torture..
And What exactly did insane religious broadcaster Pat Robertson mean on Jan 2 07, when he predicted that an attack on the United States would result in “mass killing” late in 2007.
http://www.breitbart.com/artic....._article=1
Congress should act soon…
Bring the troops and the national guard back to the United States so they can take into custody and court marshall all of the criminals and traitors to America… starting with George W Bush, Dick Cheney, Limbaugh, Pat Robertson, PNAC advisors, Corrupt Judges, Money laundering bankers and GOP Arkansas Chairman Milligan
I was told to just say WELCOME HOME .
Because the soldiers are having to do terrible thing over there.
They don’t want you to thank them for maybe, killing men women and children among other terrible things.
So just say WELCOME HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
court-martial
I have to agree. I am a Vietnam veteran and am often “thanked for my service”, usually by a winger draft dodger I just backed into the reality corner. The remark is never intended to convey thanks upon the veteran. It is intended to present the speaker as thankful. There is a big difference. I might add that I have never believed a single one of the “thankers” to be on the up and up at all.
It would be nice if our Armed Forces served to protect our Country from potential invaders and adversaries instead of being the worlds policemen or worse tools of big business and people in government who insist on being the big swinging dick of the planet.
President Warmonger is rattling his sabres today — the m*therf*cker is going to attack Iran.
When I hear the phrase, “Thank you for your husband’s service”, I cringe. Of course, one of my biggest pet peeves is when someone says, “Thank you for fighting for my freedom here at home.” That has to be the worst one. When all of our freedoms are flying out the window at record speed and we are embroiled in a war of aggression, that is the last thing me or my husband want to hear. If you want freedom, fight to save the constitution, and if you want to help the troops, speak out against the disgusting policy of “preemptive war”.
Dr. Acula @ 34:
Thanks for reminding me about an important point. If you want to help the troops, yourself and your nation, speak up now about stopping another preemptive war in Iran.
It’s nice to hear the opinions of fellow veterans here on the board. I’m of similar opinion on the subject as well. I do have a slightly different take on it though. In my mind, when one of these chicken hawk types thanks me for my service I think they are doing it for the exact same reason that they “pray” for other people affected by hardship such as Darfur or Katrina. By praying or thanking us they can tell themselves that they have done something without having to expend any effort. It’s all a matter of ingrained guilt.
It goes something like this…
Are survivors of a hurricane, tornado or other natural disaster having a tough time? I’ll pray for you. BAM! My conscience is now clear and I never had to leave the comfort of my air conditioned living room and big screen television always tuned to Faux Noise or CBN. Boy, it sure feels nice to be able to do something for people I don’t even know without having to go to any effort. Talk about the best of both worlds. Hmm…is that a body floating down the river? Sure hope he doesn’t go to hell.
You served or are serving in the military? Hey, thanks for doing that man! You’re fighting the enemy over there so we don’t have to fight them over here. BAM! I feel so much better letting that veteran know that he has my support. The cool thing about it is that I never had to serve in the military myself. I mean, if I died in combat, who would pray for all those people that need me so much? If I died, then I wouldn’t be able to sport my little yellow ribbon magnet on my car now would I? Gee, what’s with that soldier’s facial tic? You’d think he was traumatized by something.
Folks, it’s real simple. Most of us didn’t join the military to serve with honor and protect mom and apple pie. We needed a job and the military was hiring. We aren’t here to protect your constitutional rights. That’s your fucking job to do! Our oath is to support and defend the constitution which means we are here to defend a set of basic laws. If your rights are protected by us as a result then that’s just a perk for you.
Yeah, chickenhawks make me just a tad bitter.
mudshark @ 18:
amen to that mudsark!
Hey Tyree ..how many lifers were alcoholics when you were in….you know the ones…the ones that would wake up with a bottle of Jim Beam next to them and take a hit off of it……
Whenever I debate a knuckle-dragger on this site about war policy, and mention my stint in the Air Force, they thank me for my service BUT…
Che’s Lounge @ 19:
http://www.classic-tv.com/shows/images/gomer.jpg
mudshark @ 39:
most of them and most of them got kicked out because of it!
Ricky Bones @ 2:
My unit was in Somalia too…86th Evac, Ft. Campbell. It also irritates me when people thank me for my service. This seems to always come from people who would never consider going into the service. And like you, I didn’t go in because I was a super patriot; I went in because I had kids to raise and couldn’t find a job.
navyswan @ 35:
This is truly one of the most succinct and spot on comments on this subject I’ve ever read!
My $0.02: No US military person has “fought for our freedom” since the War of 1812. Most other wars have been bloody chessgames for the elites.
And as far as thanking the peeps in uniform . . . I respect the miltary peeps (except the sociopathic killers), I respect their discipline and training, but I also don’t feel safer, I don’t feel any more free, I don’t approve of them being used as hired a goonsquad for the corporate-political weasels and . . . . well, navyswan said the rest. [You must’ve had a lot of time to think about it to hit the bulls-eye dead center like that.]
“When fascism comes to this country it will come wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross.” — U. Sinclair (I think)
Raf,
You’re learning what those of us who went before you learned: The government is long on promises, but the politicians - invariably the conservatives - will do everything they can to make sure that the government comes up short on delivery.
Dr. Acula @ 34:
Not that I disagree at all, but . . . got links??
#44-When Freedom Fails Says
“When Fascism comes to this country, it will come wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross.” Good quote and it certainly seems to be where the United States appears to be headed but that line is actually attributed to the writer Sinclair Lewis not the politician Upton Sinclair. Ironically, Sinclair Lewis does mention Upton Sinclair in his prescient novel It Can’t Happen Here whose main theme revolves around the United States becoming a fascist country in the 1930s.
When Freedom Fails @ 46:
Not that I disagree at all, but . . . got links??
Here is a link that summarizes Bush’s insane speech today.
“Bush said he has authorized his military commanders in Iraq “to confront Iran’s murderous activities… We can envision what they would do if they were emboldened by American forces in retreat.’’
“Iran’s actions threaten the safety of nations everywhere,’’ said Bush, insisting that “we will confront this danger before it is too late.’’
Bush basically unilaterally declared war on Iran today with this speech. Scary stuff.