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OK I have a Memorial Day question(FOR VETS ONLY)...Does it ever kinda "irk"...
26 May 2014 | US Navy Vet

Posted on 05/26/2014 8:05:05 AM PDT by US Navy Vet

...When someone says to you "Thank You for YOUR Service" and you know/think THEY were JUST TOO were JUST too DAMN GUTLESS and/or SPINELESS to Serve Themselves(especially "Men(boys)of Draft and/or Military Age)"?


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: angermanagement; questionforvets
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To: US Navy Vet

Nope just slightly embarrassed and ready to talk about something else. That’d be kinda an ingrate thing to say to someone who says something nice to you. Anyway, our nation isn’t based on the idea that everyone should be a warrior.
There might be 1000 other ways that someone has served their nation in their life.
Id just say thanks.


21 posted on 05/26/2014 8:13:37 AM PDT by DesertRhino (I was standing with a rifle, waiting for soviet paratroopers, but communists just ran for office.)
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To: US Navy Vet
You're not being fair. Since 1973(?) there has been a VOLUNTARY draft in the US. Not everyone can and wants to serve. Those that do make that choice deserve EVERYTHING we can give them during and after their (your)service. Look on the bright side, since Gulf War 1, there has been a renewed sense of pride and patriotism especially after 9/11 even more so. I remember vets coming back from “Nam” and being spat upon so we have come a long way but there is so much more to do.
Those that make an effort to say thanks does not mean they're spineless or “yelluh”.
I am an Israeli Defense Forces vet and here we still have compulsory duty for all or nearly all, both men & women. I think that makes a big difference, compulsory duty.
One way America MIGHT get back on track is to have some form of service for ALL. Then things will all come together.
22 posted on 05/26/2014 8:14:05 AM PDT by Netz
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To: US Navy Vet

Yes, it does; but maybe for a surprising reason. I didn’t volunteer; in fact, I had grave misgivings about the war (specifically, our chances for success) because I was misled and confused the left wing lie that it was a popular “saar of liberation”. But, I went because I also believed that when my country calls it is my DUTY to go. Its what I owe my country, and I should be humble enough to admit that, as a youngster, I really am not wise enough to understand everything.

I don’t blame those who were afraid to go. I understand their fear because I shared it. I am eternally pissed that they hide their real motivations behind a false mask of idealism. And they failed to meet their duty.


23 posted on 05/26/2014 8:14:14 AM PDT by Vesparado (The American people know what they want and they deserve to get it good and hard --- HL Mencken)
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To: US Navy Vet

I guess that I am turning into a “Curmudgeon(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curmudgeon)";


24 posted on 05/26/2014 8:14:32 AM PDT by US Navy Vet (Go Packers! Go Rockies! Go Boston Bruins! See, I'm "Diverse"!)
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To: US Navy Vet

I’m a former Commie-Lib, Viet Nam war protestor, who was not drafted. I try to thank vets when the opportunity arises as a way of saying I’m sorry.


25 posted on 05/26/2014 8:14:37 AM PDT by Huskrrrr
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To: US Navy Vet

Maybe I should stop picking up the tab for the visiting service men and women I have the pleasure of meeting overseas.

I guess being a pussy and all, I wouldn’t want to insult them. Here I thought I was a friendly face in a foreign country.

Dickhead.


26 posted on 05/26/2014 8:14:53 AM PDT by mindburglar (When Superman and Batman fight, the only winner is crime.)
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To: US Navy Vet

Consider that maybe you don’t want spineless, gutless people in the military anyway, maybe that will take some of the sting out of it.


27 posted on 05/26/2014 8:15:13 AM PDT by jiggyboy
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Comment #28 Removed by Moderator

To: US Navy Vet

No, it doesn’t irk me (although I always blush a little because I am very shy about getting attention drawn to me). But I’m always very appreciative, from whatever source it comes from.


29 posted on 05/26/2014 8:16:29 AM PDT by fidelis (Zonie and USAF Cold Warrior)
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To: US Navy Vet

No, Not all people have the right mindset. They can serve their community and still be a service to our nation.


30 posted on 05/26/2014 8:16:40 AM PDT by ssschev (Pick up the can, throw out the trash.)
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To: Yorlik803


31 posted on 05/26/2014 8:17:34 AM PDT by null and void (Disarm Hollywood! No Guns for Box Office!)
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To: US Navy Vet

I don’t get offended. Sometimes we don’t know where folks were in their life’s journey when they were young. Not everybody has that spark of Patriotism to serve. Fortunately for me, my late father and two older brothers are veterans. I knew what I wanted to do.

By they way, when a civilian or other veteran thanks you for your service, respond with “And Thank You For Your Support.” That’s what I do and it usually brings a smile to the person face.


32 posted on 05/26/2014 8:17:40 AM PDT by Joe Marine 76 ("Honor is the gift a man gives to himself." ~ Rob Roy MacGregor)
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To: Freeping Since 2001; All
What irks is the mistaken assumption that Memorial Day is about veterans in general, when it is about honoring our war dead.

This.

33 posted on 05/26/2014 8:17:53 AM PDT by TADSLOS (The Event Horizon has come and gone. Buckle up and hang on.)
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To: US Navy Vet

>>I guess I get “irked” too easy.

I served in the “post-Vietnam, but pre-Desert Storm” where enlisted people were assumed to be vandals, drunks, rapists, and thieves—and that was on-base! Off-base, the civilians thought even less of us.

So, I don’t mind being thanked for my service, unless it is by some sneering liberal who is saying it out of a sense of duty or by someone who feels the need to explain why he didn’t serve as part of the thanks. I really don’t care about their heart murmur, flat feet, or that arrow to the knee that ruined their career as an adventurer.


34 posted on 05/26/2014 8:18:48 AM PDT by Bryanw92 (Sic semper tyranni)
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To: US Navy Vet

We have an all-volunteer military force. That is exceedingly rare.

To think that in the US we actually get to choose whether to serve is amazing and wonderful.

Being thanked is just a ‘symptom’ of that phenomenon.

I think it a blessing for the country that we get to choose, and get to thank those that served.


35 posted on 05/26/2014 8:19:28 AM PDT by RinaseaofDs (.)
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To: US Navy Vet

No. I think its fine. What does irk me is that people say they owe their rights to vets.

When I’m on the checkout line and I’m getting dissed by everyone clamoring to serve some guy whose foreign credit card won’t work and my family waits without a wave off - nothing - and I get a bit ticked and start speaking my mind and all the citizens around me give me the evil eye The rule is, we kiss butt on these people and also the store managers. When I’m thinking the store mgr works for me

People depend too much on people in uniform to maintain their rights when it’s the opposite. Back home it’s the civilians’ responsibility. And it’s their responsibility to take care of vets as in the hospital The press is so confused over the hospital deal. Vets don’t pay people to fight for their rights against the government and citizens who won’t take care of them medically They don’t take it personally. They know that civilians’ make the choice on how they treat the military.

A schoolboy can’t threaten a bully. The only ones who are allowed to fight are soldiers in uniform on foreign soil. A guy can’t tell his neighbor to get his dogs in the house at midnight, they’re barking All the other neighbors whistle and look at the sky next day. The code is ‘don’t fight’. NOT ‘don’t disturb the peace’.

It’s getting wearisome


36 posted on 05/26/2014 8:21:10 AM PDT by stanne
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To: PubliusMM

I also was RA 1968-71.
This should be a non-issue. Everyone has their own reasons for what they do.
Navy Vet: Don’t be so sensitive.


37 posted on 05/26/2014 8:22:03 AM PDT by ndafill
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To: US Navy Vet

Not a vet here.

When someone thanks a person in uniform for their service, exactly how does the person in uniform know the person thanking them didn’t serve as well?

In life, take thanks for what it is. In this instance:

It is one human being building up the courage to address another person they do not know in public, to thank them.

I’m not sure how any aspect of that is worthy of judgment.

The person saying thank you is expressing a love of nation, a love of it’s defense, and a great deal of respect for the person in uniform.


38 posted on 05/26/2014 8:22:42 AM PDT by DoughtyOne
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To: 5Madman2

Nice comment and one that pretty much sums up my service time too.


39 posted on 05/26/2014 8:22:50 AM PDT by Mouton (The insurrection laws perpetuate what we have for a government now.)
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To: US Navy Vet

The few times I’ve been thanked for my military service I knew it was a sincere gesture. My MOM always told me to accept a compliment with kindness and humility without attribution of motive.


40 posted on 05/26/2014 8:23:42 AM PDT by lakecumberlandvet (Appeasement never works.)
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