The Only Thing I do not like about the United States.

[DefensorFortis]

Guys, I'm a red blooded American to the core and I love this land like no other. But there is one thing about our country that I don't like: few people in this country genuinely support our heroes fighting on the front lines for liberty.

I'm afraid to say this but I actually envy the way other nations support their troops like Israel does on their memorial day:

"Yom Hazikaron

Observance


Yom Hazikron is the day on which Israel honors its war veterans. National memorial services are held in the presence of Israel's top leadership and military personnel. The day opens the preceding evening at 20:00 (8:00 pm), given that in the Hebrew calendar system days begin at sunset, with a siren. The siren is heard all over the country and lasts for one minute, during which Israelis stop everything (including driving, which stops highways) and stand in silence, commemorating the fallen and showing respect. Many national-religious Jews say prayers for the souls of the fallen soldiers at this time as well. The official ceremony to mark the opening of the day takes place at the Western Wall, at which time the flag of Israel is lowered to half staff.

A two-minute siren is heard the following morning, at 11:00, which marks the opening of the official memorial ceremonies and private remembrance gathering which are held at each cemetery where soldiers are buried. The day officially draws to a close between 19:00 and 20:00 (7–8:00 p.m.) in the official ceremony of Israel Independence Day on Mount Herzl, when the flag of Israel is returned to full staff.

Scheduling Yom Hazikaron right before Yom Ha-Atzma'ut is intended to remind people of the price paid for independence and of what was achieved with the soldiers' sacrifice. This transition shows the importance of this day among Israelis, most of whom have served in the armed forces or have a connection with people who were killed during their military service. To families of the fallen, however, this isn't always a welcomed transition as mourning while most Israelis plan their Yom Ha-Atzma'ut celebrations isn't simple."

People today take things for granted, they expect everything they request right now. They only care about what Snooki is doing, and all this "yes we can" bullshit. They burn American flags on the graves of veterans and they thank God for our fallen.

On the other hand, in other countries, they flock by the hundreds into the streets just so that they can touch the flag draped coffin of one of their fallen heroes. They sob when they hear about one of their soldiers dying, even if they don't know the soldier personally. During the 2007 North Lebanon war, civilians actually helped the soldiers fight Fatah al Islam insurgents, they helped carry away the wounded soldiers while risking their own lives.

Maybe the reason for all of this is because we haven't had a war on the soil of the continental U.S. for sometime. People only know that it's "over there" and not here so it doesn't matter shit to them. It doesn't matter shit to them that people several times younger then they are, who just came out of high school are out there climbing mountains day in and day out, getting shot at, getting wounded, being killed and sacrificing everything at the drop of a hat.
Even though it's "over there" it still matters to me, because there are people out there giving up the comforts of life to fight for the people they love and care about and all the people of this great nation, our freedom and our existence.

Whew, that was long! What's everyone's opinion on any of this?

[CrookedSmirk]

I agree with you bro. I see too many of my fellow Americans not supporting our troops and it makes me sick. I even see people saying that "kids just join the military to blow stuff up" which also makes me rage.

I ask you this, if Russia, China, or ANY country invaded US soil right now, who would be the ones fighting and dying for us, the civilian population? That's right, the US military. My opinion is, if you don't support our military, you don't fucking deserve it. They go through hell and back for us and they deserve respect and admiration.

[DefensorFortis]

I agree with you bro. I see too many of my fellow Americans not supporting our troops and it makes me sick. I even see people saying that "kids just join the military to blow stuff up" which also makes me rage.

I ask you this, if Russia, China, or ANY country invaded US soil right now, who would be the ones fighting and dying for us, the civilian population? That's right, the US military. My opinion is, if you don't support our military, you don't fucking deserve it. They go through hell and back for us and they deserve respect and admiration.

Nice to know that someone else has the right frame of mind. I can tell you right now, I didn't join the Army to "just blow stuff up". I joined because I want to do something important and productive with my life. I want to show people that I am more than meets the eye.

We only get one shot at life. When we close our eyes and our heart stops beating, that's it. I want the last thought that goes through my head to be "Damn, I had a good life. I did something important and I made sure that my loved ones could sleep peacefully in their beds at night without having to worry about some ass hat terrorist or a foreign army killing them in their sleep."

Better to die for something than live for nothing. It makes the thought of death more comfortable instead of living like some scumbag mother fucker off of "Jersey Shore" that does nothing but waste away life doing nothing important. It's those same scumbags that don't give two shits if thousands of soldiers had to spill their blood, give up their eyesight, their ability to walk or got their face burned off just so that the scumbags can keep being stupid and useless.

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS DAMMIT! THE NATION THAT FORGETS IT'S HEROES IS FORGOTTEN!

[MickDonalds]

@CrookedSmirk: Thank you. I appreciate your support.

I agree with both of you though. I consider myself a "Warrior American" because I'm doing something 99% of my countrymen won't do. Do I hold my service above those who contribute nothing to our country? You bet I do. They tell us in droves that they support us, but in my opinion, it's just "crocodile sympathy" or leftover guilt from the Vietnam veteran abuse fallout. If so many millions supported us, why did they ABANDON us in '06 and 07 in Iraq? I remember hearing main stream media boasting about how almost 70% of Americans were ready to throw in the towel in Iraq and quit. Many Americans wanted to rush for the exit. The same is happening in A'stan right now. The polls don't lie.

Since returning from my first tour in Iraq (2004) I've become more and more disassociative towards the "normals" that populate my air supply and share the same nationality with. I can't identify with people who haven't shared the same inhospitable, impoverished conditions as I have, and have seen similar things as me. When I'm standing in line at Wal Mart and I hear someone whine about how dreadful hot it is, and the temperature is 95 degrees, it disgusts me. It's becoming harder and harder for me to even want to identify with the "normals" because I see them as vastly inferior people.

*For the record: I define "Normals" as the people who chose not to join the military, and don't have a living relative serving, or choose NOT to go out of their way to contribute in some way, to the good of our nation. Basically, I'm summing up about 80% of our country. A mother supporting her son fighting in A'stan is more valuable as a person than some art gallery viewing faggot in downtown Chicago who comes from some priviledged background where NOBODY in his lineage has ever put on a uniform. They take and take and give nothing back*

[MickDonalds]

<<sorry for double posting, Mods. My fault>>




I ask you this, if Russia, China, or ANY country invaded US soil right now, who would be the ones fighting and dying for us, the civilian population? That's right, the US military. .

Agreed.

Yet, how many lying ass sacks of shit have you come across that say "Oh well I couldn't deal with someone being in my face and being told what to do, so I would never join the military, but rest assured, if we got invaded, I'd be laying in a ditch alongside you fighting against the enemy!!" :roleyes:

Yeah, I'm sure you would. I can count on two hands and feet the number of times I've heard that bullshit from people when I first meet them. It's as if they cook up this bovine fecal matter in their head as a way to "glaze me over" so that I wont think less of them. :roleyes: I actually called a guy out on the carpet for it back in March. I told him if he were that serious then he would have proved it by joining in the first place. I told him he was insincere and that I doubted him. It was one of my wife's friends' husbands. It didn't go over well.

[DefensorFortis]

To Mick, I sincerely thank you for your service. I hope no ass hats give you anymore troubles and respect you for who you are :) I'm just a future soldier, and I'm not going to basic until January, but I'm starting to think more like a soldier and I notice how disgusting the "normals" can be and I'm fed up with it all.

After having been on AC I've noticed my ideas are the same as a lot of other people. So I can safely say it was meant for me to be a soldier and that I will wear the uniform with pride and live up to a higher standard than lying sack of shit scumbugs that take up everyone's breathing air.

[MickDonalds]

To Mick, I sincerely thank you for your service. I hope no ass hats give you anymore troubles and respect you for who you are :) I'm just a future soldier, and I'm not going to basic until January, but I'm starting to think more like a soldier and I notice how disgusting the "normals" can be and I'm fed up with it all.

After having been on AC I've noticed my ideas are the same as a lot of other people. So I can safely say it was meant for me to be a soldier and that I will wear the uniform with pride and live up to a higher standard than lying sack of shit scumbugs that take up everyone's breathing air.
It'll really take effect after a few years time in, trust me. When you fly in uniform for example, and you are in the south, people will come up and thank you for your service. When you're in airports like OHaire (Chicago), JFK (NY) and Boston, people stare at you with those dull, pitying eyes; almost as if they're thinking "Oh that poor soldier. He's leaving for the meat grinder". The longer you serve, the more disconnected you feel from the "normal" public.

[ianstone]

Mick you are an outstanding human being and I for one am damned proud to know you, buddy.
Your replies to threads can often make my day. Don't you dare go anywhere.

[MickDonalds]

Thank you Ian.

I'm a bitter and cynical bastard, but I just want retribution and an apology from my own country for all the "Fuck You's" over the years. (regarding Iraq and now A'stan)

It took America a LONG time to come full circle and apologize to the Vietnam veterans for how they collectively shit all over them. As odd as it may sound, the first two Rambo films actually covered the US in a wave of guilt. People watched those movies, and even though they were somewhat sensational and obviously fictional, the overriding message of both of those movies was : Hey, this guy was just like every other guy who did what he had to do, and his own country pretty much left him out in the cold or told him to go fuck off. That message was correct, and Stallone did more for Vietnam Veterans than did the Ford and Carter administrations combined.

The Rambo tangent is only slightly related, but you can probably see my point. It will be movies and media that brings America to a state of apology, which us Iraq veterans deserve.

[DefensorFortis]

Thank you Ian.

I'm a bitter and cynical bastard, but I just want retribution and an apology from my own country for all the "Fuck You's" over the years. (regarding Iraq and now A'stan)

It took America a LONG time to come full circle and apologize to the Vietnam veterans for how they collectively shit all over them. As odd as it may sound, the first two Rambo films actually covered the US in a wave of guilt. People watched those movies, and even though they were somewhat sensational and obviously fictional, the overriding message of both of those movies was : Hey, this guy was just like every other guy who did what he had to do, and his own country pretty much left him out in the cold or told him to go fuck off. That message was correct, and Stallone did more for Vietnam Veterans than did the Ford and Carter administrations combined.

The Rambo tangent is only slightly related, but you can probably see my point. It will be movies and media that brings America to a state of apology, which us Iraq veterans deserve.

Good point you brought up mick. I've heard from Vietnam Veterans that Rambo was the first movie about Vietnam that they could actually relate to for once. Rambo showed finally showed Vietnam Vets that they are not the only ones thinking about why their country drafted them and sent them away, only to return home to a meat grinder worse than the one they just came back from.

Sadly, I don't think the media today will bring America to a state of apology for the GWOT veterans mostly because the media is only concerned about selling ratings and tickets. Besides the media is ruled by the liberal elite. So much for freedom of press.

[ianstone]

Mick the US and UK have their head up there own ass and at times I feel shame at both the US and UK. But it does not change the valuable service you are doing. Both countries are flippant and generally don't either care or understand. I know enough about you to know you are a true professional. However outside this you to some are a good serviceman. I learned too many years ago that you do what is right. You are a man with a future and will pass on your service career. All the Service personnel will understand you tale, but neither you nor i will change those who don't understand. But boy in my book, the boy done good. It is like Motorcycling, if you don't ride you wont understand, and it is the same with you. you did not sign up for recognition but to do your bit/ job as part of the team that defends your great nation. So Mick hold you head high, or I will get a flight and kick your ass, why because your damn Good serviceman. So Enough buddy, your ACE. There are an awful lot of US citizens that ARE proud of you.

[DefensorFortis]

I just watched Obama's speech about the end of the combat mission in Iraq. What I heard that made me cringe, is related to what we are talking about on this thread. He talked about his support for veterans and how he increased spending to take care of veterans. That's quite a lie there Mr. Obama.

Apparently drugging and throwing money at our veterans has become the new standard for taking care of veterans. When veterans seek help from the VA, or currently serving soldiers expect help from a mental health specialist, all they do for the two of them is give them government issued drugs which haven't been approved by the government and give them an extra pay check to distract them from the fact the government is screwing them over and drugging them.

I'm pissed off about this! I don't know what to do, and I want to do something to reverse this bullshit. Once I have myself settled down into the Army and if I ever have to deploy, and it drives me to the edge of insanity, I'm going to seek help from my fellow soldiers and my family. I wouldn't dare say to a mental health specialist I have issues just so they can force me to take drugs and force to live life with my head up my ass!

Mick, I've got to hand it to you, you are the embodiment of the American Warrior. God Bless you brother! Stay safe, keep on doing what you do best in life, and keep saying it like you mean it!