If there is absolutely one thing any military veteran is entitled to do without any question, much less censure, it’s to display that service in any way he (or she) wants from doing nothing at all to wearing all his medals on his suit coat as the Russians do. (Although it has never caught on, some years ago the latter was actually recommended for veterans to do on their day in November.)

I’m not particularly expressive about my Army experience most of the time, but I do have mementos to remind me of certain things on the walls in my home office, and last year I got Vietnam Veteran plates to go on my new car. Every time I get into it, they remind me of something I am proud of; what anyone else thinks matters far less than a bag of fries—wherever they might be.

Welcome home brothers.

Scout 2/2 Infantry 1st Infantry Division, Lai Khe
Scout 1/77 Armor, 1st Brigade 5th Infantry, Quang Tri

I was in Junior High School during Vietnam

My uncle was KIA.

I was 23 years in the Navy with eight cruises and over 10 years sea time.

And I am here to chew bubblegum and shove french fries up someone's ass, and I'm all out of bubblegum

In case the OP needs something to go with those ass fries...

I’ve typed many responses. Deleted all but one of them. That response lacked content.

1. If you’ve worked with all “tiers”. Which we refer to as “rank” (first flag). Then you would only have naturally come to this conclusion if you are the problem. “If everyone you meet is as asshole, then you’re the asshole” situation.

2. The military MAY be the same representation of shitheads as current modern society. However, the rest of modern society didnt choose to become less than 1% of the military force. So that decision alone should offer an amount of respect greater than, “bag those fries” or, “eat crayons”.

3. Other services are very respected. Especially by military. But I guarantee you, none of these other services, outside of DOD, spent 3 years OCONUS without being able to see their children.

You sound like a jealous little man, or woman, despite your years on the forum. You clearly don’t understand the respect and brotherhood that comes from serving your country. Especially when your country is this one. The best one.

If you had any idea the sacrifices made daily to protect you from attacks, DAILY, you’d definitely have a different opinion.

You don’t respect our service members if your response to their well earned respect is to tell them to eat crayons or bag fries. You’re a silly little man. Least I can say.

quote:

Originally posted by sooma:

quote:

Originally posted by sooma:

For the vast majority of vets I want to say: "thank you for your service, and put the fry's in the bag dude".

Zero grudge against vets, clearly stated. The issue is vets think that is the only form of service to this country that should count, therefore have exemptions.

You say you have zero grudge against vets but your bitch here is against vets?

My first reaction is I hope you don't hold things inside you and then blow a gasket. Is that how you act with people around you? That's not good for yourself. If a comment got to me in a particular thread, I would respond to that comment in that thread, not keep it inside me through "various threads."

I'm not much for veteran mystic since for a good number of us, it was just a job, a way to get training, kept us off the streets, and we were too dumb to know we actually were putting our ass on the line. (And for some sailors, that proved to be true).

I don't remember if I posted on that voting age thread, but I would be for either military service or civic service like the Peace Corps. The principle is about having skin in the game as qualification to have a voice in government, the ability to vote. This country came to be because people were willing to put skin in the game. The writers of the second amendment envisioned all able-bodied male to be part of the militia. What's so wrong about that idea?

You're conflating "serving this country" with "working an honest days work to earn a living for your family." If you're working to get paid, you're providing a service to your customer but, to use your example, flipping burgers at McDonalds isn't "serving your country."

Serving your country is the act of contributing your time, skills, or even your life to the well-being, security, and advancement of the nation. It does encompass military service because it requires a person to subordinate their individual freedoms and potentially their safety, to the needs of the nation.

It does also include public and civil service because these people work to keep society functioning such as firefighters, police officers, and EMTs who protect local communities. this also includes people working in healthcare, social services, etc.

Sooma, this is a very diverse group of people here from all walks of life. We are also a forgiving group when someone makes a mistake. So we really want you to understand that when we tell you to "stick the fries up your ass" we are really trying to tell you to stick the fries up your ass.

Everyone knows the trope

"If you know, you know"

People who have served in the military, know.
They know what is means to have not served, contrasted because they have served.

Those that have not served, can only imagine, and that simply falls short of actual "knowing".

Vets can see both sides of the coin without flipping it.

non-vets can never see both sides of the coin no matter how many times they flip it.

Vets understand this, even if they haven't "deep dived" the thought.

Vets try to grant some leniency for the person that cannot know what they don't know about serving vs not having served.

But push too hard and trying to hold that ground.

Realize you are dealing with "ground takers"...

Attack one vet, you have attacked all vets.

You really want that?

Better pay your tab...

quote:

Originally posted by Johnny 3eagles:

Sooma, this is a very diverse group of people here from all walks of life. We are also a forgiving group when someone makes a mistake. So we really want you to understand that when we tell you to "stick the fries up your ass" we are really trying to tell you to stick the fries up your ass.

Thank you.

I don't expect anything for serving and I certainly don't expect to be shit on for serving.

Sometimes you just monumentally misread the room. The OP appears to have slipped out undetected during the ensuing melee.

I have almost posted in this thread many times, but realized that a good number of vets have already spoken for me!! So I say.....thank you.

All for ONE, one for ALL.

quote:

Originally posted by sooma:
For the vast majority of vets I want to say: "thank you for your service, and put the fry's in the bag dude".

I tried that, but couldn't find a bag big enough for the whole store...

Seriously,Sooma....glad I know where you stand.

It's been a minute; just wanted to drop by and say "more fries s00ma?"

Man, Sooma sure lobbed that grenade into this thread and then disappeared

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
Man, Sooma sure lobbed that grenade into this thread and then disappeared

Which to me shows that the whole thing was mainly a bitch at vets. His days-long absence shows he lacks both the courage of his convictions (assuming they existed to begin with) and integrity as well.

As I said earlier, not all vets are good people. Soomaa reminds me that not all forum members are either.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:

Man, Sooma sure lobbed that grenade into this thread and then disappeared

He's sitting in the waiting room at the proctologist's office, with a lot of fries up his ass.