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I'm a veteran. Served time in Kabul in 2008/09 with the US Army. While I don't expect anyone to thank me for my service (tbh, it makes me uncomfortable), I'm o

by nhangen 15y ago

I'm a veteran. Served time in Kabul in 2008/09 with the US Army. While I don't expect anyone to thank me for my service (tbh, it makes me uncomfortable), I'm offended that you find it so easy to throw all Soldiers into a single bucket to be judged based on your own ethical standards. The fact of the matter is that we cannot choose our commander, or our mission, but we trust that our leaders do their best to do what's right...the same way we try to trust politicians to do their duties. While it might be true that there are many bad leaders, Soldiers, and politicians, that doesn't mean we're all as ignorant as you might think. What did I learn in life threatening situations? 1. If I can survive that, I can survive anything. 2. I am more confident in making immediate decisions. 3. I trust myself, and I trust the people around me. 4. Hard work and discipline goes a long way. While I have no interest in a lifetime of military service (I separated honorably in 2010), if it weren't for my time in the military I don't feel I would be nearly as willful, determined, and successful as I am today. Soldier != Servant

fauigerzigerk 15y ago
When it comes earning _my_ personal respect for (possibly) killing others and (possibly) getting killed, I can only apply my own personal ethical standards. I cannot possibly defer to the government to make that judgement for me.
samirageb 15y ago
It's interesting how the criticism of supporting those that serve usually come from people that have never enlisted. Anyone that has served in a war deserves total respect for the sacrifices & suffering they endured every day, regardless of the ethics of the cause. All war is bad, not just those we think are 'worth it', so either give soldiers the respect they deserve every day or be quiet, because many of the liberties we personally enjoy (not just in US, but every country) have come through countless lives, right or wrong. I realize it can make you uncomfortable, but I'll never stop thanking soldiers in uniform for standing in to defend our country so that I don't have to. Thank you.
- fauigerzigerk 15y ago
  Yes, many soldiers have given their lives to fight for the freedoms we enjoy and other soldiers have given their lives to take away those freedoms. That's exactly why I insist on making a distinction and pay respect only to some of them. For instance, I do respect nhangen for defending Kabul against the Taliban. I do not respect the Taliban soldiers for trying to enforce some weird version of sharia law in Kabul even though they are also suffering and dying in a war.

by nhangen 15y ago

fauigerzigerk 15y ago

When it comes earning _my_ personal respect for (possibly) killing others and (possibly) getting killed, I can only apply my own personal ethical standards. I cannot possibly defer to the government to make that judgement for me.

samirageb 15y ago

It's interesting how the criticism of supporting those that serve usually come from people that have never enlisted. Anyone that has served in a war deserves total respect for the sacrifices & suffering they endured every day, regardless of the ethics of the cause. All war is bad, not just those we think are 'worth it', so either give soldiers the respect they deserve every day or be quiet, because many of the liberties we personally enjoy (not just in US, but every country) have come through countless lives, right or wrong. I realize it can make you uncomfortable, but I'll never stop thanking soldiers in uniform for standing in to defend our country so that I don't have to. Thank you.

fauigerzigerk 15y ago
Yes, many soldiers have given their lives to fight for the freedoms we enjoy and other soldiers have given their lives to take away those freedoms. That's exactly why I insist on making a distinction and pay respect only to some of them. For instance, I do respect nhangen for defending Kabul against the Taliban. I do not respect the Taliban soldiers for trying to enforce some weird version of sharia law in Kabul even though they are also suffering and dying in a war.