EDGY.

11/11/2009 10:07:03 AM

THEY FOUGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT TO LISTEN TO THE MOST GOD AWFUL TECHNO BULLSHIT EVER

11/11/2009 10:21:36 AM

LAME!

11/11/2009 10:21:47 AM

I often wonder why we don't have a "Policeman's Day." After all, we sleep peaceably in our beds because police officers are out there dying for our freedom to walk safe on our streets.

Why not celebrate them with the same blind loyalty?

After all, I'm much more likely to be killed by a thug down the street than some terrorist in a cave in Pakistan. Shouldn't they actually receive more praise for protecting my life?

11/11/2009 10:22:09 AM

http://www.wral.com/news/strange/story/6393731/

11/11/2009 10:22:13 AM

last time i checked veterans didnt beat the shit out of anyone but each other. at bars.

policeman beat me long time

11/11/2009 10:25:54 AM

Quote :

"I'm much more likely to be killed by a thug down the street than some terrorist in a cave in Pakistan."

not when that cave comes to your street

I'M A BIG OL CAVE AND I'M GONNA EAT YOU

11/11/2009 10:26:37 AM

because you're a simpering pussy who wants everything done for him and you'd be choking on mucus and wishing for death in a WV saltmine without them maybe
just thank one to be safe

11/11/2009 10:44:16 AM

heh, what?

11/11/2009 10:50:11 AM

he said that you're a simpering pussy who wants everything done for him

11/11/2009 10:51:16 AM

Oh, yeah that's true. I was referring to "you'd be choking on mucus and wishing for death in a WV saltmine without them maybe just thank one to be safe."

11/11/2009 10:52:38 AM

^^ Made me lol. This is why I still <3 TWW.

[Edited on November 11, 2009 at 10:53 AM. Reason : l]

11/11/2009 10:53:15 AM

oh I don't know.

I think that guy has a random word generator and knows how to use copy and paste.

11/11/2009 10:53:16 AM

It is only right to give thanks a praise to those who sacrifice their lives to protect your right to be edgy.

11/11/2009 11:01:55 AM

Quote :

"I often wonder why we don't have a "Policeman's Day." After all, we sleep peaceably in our beds because police officers are out there dying for our freedom to walk safe on our streets. Why not celebrate them with the same blind loyalty? After all, I'm much more likely to be killed by a thug down the street than some terrorist in a cave in Pakistan. Shouldn't they actually receive more praise for protecting my life? "

May 15th.

11/11/2009 11:30:37 AM

To play devil's advocate, some of us really don't deserve anything. I've been in a year and haven't done jack shit. You're in more risk going to work every day than I am.

11/11/2009 1:13:08 PM

as a veteran, i don't expect anyone to thank me for anything... i was in Iraq for a year and the only thanks i would want would be for people to do something nice for the troops that our out there right now

11/11/2009 1:15:54 PM

but have you thanked a veterinarian?

11/11/2009 1:25:47 PM

Quote :

"as a veteran, i don't expect anyone to thank me for anything... i was in Iraq for a year and the only thanks i would want would be for people to do something nice for the troops that our out there right now "

11/11/2009 3:04:01 PM

^

11/11/2009 3:24:43 PM

I am not a veteran, but I hope to be one soon.

That being said, veterans - past and present - fought for your right to complain about why you should thank them to begin with. Also, most of them don't even expect you to, they just believe in America and all of it's greatness.

I don't know if you made this thread for effect or controversy, but I feel like you should at least think about the way things would be had veterans never fought to keep this country alive.

11/11/2009 3:32:19 PM

Maybe like 60 years ago...

11/11/2009 3:32:59 PM

do you actually have to be out of the armed service to be a veteran. or are you a veteran right after you sign up? or is there some deployment clause

11/11/2009 4:16:35 PM

The only military personnel that protect Americans are the Coast Guard, and even they are mostly just the drug police these days.

The military is protecting civilians in the Middle East. And a fine thing that is. But it's silly to say they're protecting Americans. The overall benefit is negligible at best, and more than likely is just stirring shit up.

There was a photo a few years back: "The Marine Corps is at war. America is at the mall." What do you expect America to do? They don't care about those shithole countries, at least not any more than all the other shitholes filled with brutal assholes around the world. You can't kill all the assholes in the world. Well, I guess you can try. I'd probably even congratulate you if you succeed. But don't claim to be protecting me while you do it.

Nobel intentions and brave actions aside, it's just another government job with limited domestic benefit to taxpayers. If the military is intent on waging perpetual war, they should be ready to counter these sentiments in public opinion, because I'm certain I'm not the only one that feels this way.

11/11/2009 4:24:57 PM

yeah i think the military is worthless too..... except for my favorite one

11/11/2009 4:26:39 PM

I'm more of a 'hey, that's pretty cool that you find satisfaction in a tough job and don't expect a lot in return.' Never liked people coming up to me and doing the whole hand-shaky thing. Might be because I've yet to go to the sandbox, though.

11/11/2009 4:28:23 PM

^^^ The military is neither intent on waging perpetual war, nor overly interested in countering any public misperceptions, nor looking for any thanks, nor even, for the most part, claiming to be protecting Americans (at least in the Iraq/Afghanistan wars. Protecting the American way of life, maybe). The military is carrying out America's foreign policies, as dictated by civilian authorities in Washington D.C., who are elected, I might add.

I, for one, don't feel like I've done anything to deserve any thanks or admiration. All I really ask is that you politely shut the fuck up when it comes to trying to pin your disagreement with American foreign policy on either servicemen or the military as an institution, because the individual serviceman has nothing to do with it (assuming he isn't at the O-9/O-10 level), and the military as an institution has little to do with it. I feel fairly confident that I speak for the overwhelming majority of servicemen, as well.

[Edited on November 11, 2009 at 4:37 PM. Reason : ]

[Edited on November 11, 2009 at 4:37 PM. Reason : ^]

11/11/2009 4:36:28 PM

I feel like there ought to be a FroshKiller thread for this.

11/11/2009 4:37:47 PM

^

11/11/2009 4:38:01 PM

Quote :

"All I really ask is that you politely shut the fuck up when it comes to trying to pin your disagreement with American foreign policy on either servicemen or the military as an institution."

No one's doing that.

But do you guys ever get annoyed with this "BUT THEY'RE FIGHTIN FOR OUR FREEDOMS!" and "THE TROOPS THIS AND THAT" stuff everywhere, where people are using you as a political tool?

Because, like, the opposite happens. If you disagree with American foreign policy, your disagreements are pinned as an attack on the servicemen. You're accused of "denigrating the men who fight for our freedoms" and whatnot.

[Edited on November 11, 2009 at 4:43 PM. Reason : ]

11/11/2009 4:40:39 PM

so i shouldnt come up to you and tell you how much i think it sucks you killing innocents and all

11/11/2009 4:41:54 PM

^^I wouldn't say "annoyed". 99% of it is well-intentioned with no real ulterior motive. I appreciate it, but sometimes it makes me a little uncomfortable. Maybe that's not the right word, exactly, but I can't quite think of exactly how to convey it.

[Edited on November 11, 2009 at 4:45 PM. Reason : ^^]

[Edited on November 11, 2009 at 4:46 PM. Reason : ^^ Really? Re-read his post, just as one example.]

11/11/2009 4:45:28 PM

the typical veteran doesn't enlist out of selflessness or to kill babies, towelheads, or terrorists; he does it for his own self-interests--the same reason most people do most things they do

11/11/2009 4:46:35 PM

those people annoy me, and im not in the service

11/11/2009 4:46:49 PM

If they sign the contract they know what they're getting into. Every cog is part of the machine.

As helpful as the mental strategy might be, "just following orders" doesn't cut it from a moral perspective and you've made a conscious decision to be part of it, for better or worse.

Many German soldiers that tried to immigrate to America after the war were wary of taking another loyalty oath. They'd already seen where that road can lead.

To me this sort of "all in, no thinking about it anymore" commitment is what is most impressive about military service.

Yes, many do join out of economic necessity. I hope they see the benefits, I truly do. But the ultimate goal of the military is to kill people...or keep the peace by killing people...or directly support those that are killing people. Hopefully those people deserve killing. Sure they may deliver humanitarian from time to time, but if they want to help people, they can join the peace corp. They joined the military to kill, whether they dare to say that reason out loud or not.

[Edited on November 11, 2009 at 4:53 PM. Reason : .]

11/11/2009 4:48:08 PM

^^^ I joined mostly to kill bad guys (this was before OEF and OIF...I thought maybe I could go to Africa and kill some warlords, or go to Europe and kill some genocidal bastards). Part of that was a desire to have a positive impact on the world...part of it was a self-interest in the satisfaction of killing people who totally deserved it.

The other reason I joined was just because I wanted an exciting job. Adventure, travel, that sort of stuff.


(of course, then they made me a Prowler ECMO...adventurous at times, but not a ton of killing in my job...and then generally only conventional military forces, who are probably conscripted and just doing a job like me).

[Edited on November 11, 2009 at 4:54 PM. Reason : ^ You have no duty to follow unlawful orders, such as killing innocents.]

[Edited on November 11, 2009 at 4:54 PM. Reason : ^ Additionally, at any time, you can become a conscientious objector. ]

11/11/2009 4:53:07 PM

theDuke866 is a fucking psychopath

and I mean that in the best way I possibly can

11/11/2009 4:54:40 PM

I think we just said the same thing. You joined with a clear head and no delusions about the job. I find that extremely respectable.

11/11/2009 4:56:13 PM

Yeah, I was just saying that there's no requirement for blind loyalty in the sense that I feel like you are describing--not in a situation where it would be contrary to ethical behavior. Secondary to that is the requirement to obey orders from those senior to you.

Quote :

"For decades, Saddam Hussein has tortured, imprisoned, raped, and murdered the Iraqi people; invaded neighboring countries without provocation; and threatened the world with weapons of mass destruction. The time has come to end his reign of terror. On your young shoulders rest the hopes of mankind. When I give you the word, together we will cross the Line of Departure, close with those forces that choose to fight, and destroy them. Our fight is not with the Iraqi people, nor is it with members of the Iraqi army who choose to surrender. While we will move swiftly and aggressively against those who resist, we will treat all others with decency, demonstrating chivalry and soldierly compassion for people who have endured a lifetime under Saddam's oppression. Chemical attack, treachery, and use of the innocent as human shields can be expected, as can other unethical tactics. Take it all in stride. Be the hunter, not the hunted: Never allow your unit to be caught with its guard down. Use good judgment and act in the best interests of our nation. You are part of the world's most feared and trusted force. Engage your brain before you engage your weapon. Share your courage with each other as we enter the uncertain terrain north of the Line of Departure. Keep faith in your comrades on your left and right and Marine Air overhead. Fight with a happy heart and strong spirit. For the mission's sake, our country's sake, and the sake of the men who carried the Division's colors in past battles--who fought for life and never lost their nerve--carry out your mission and keep your honor clean. Demonstrate to the world there is "No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy" than a U.S. Marine. "

This was what General Mattis said to his troops just before the Iraq war started. (General Mattis is the guy who got a bunch of bad press for saying something like "It's a helluva lot of fun to kill certain people." Rumor has it that he killed a couple of Viet-Cong with an E-tool back in the day. He's a hard old bastard.

Quote :

" Mattis told his Marines, “Whenever you show anger or disgust toward civilians, it's a victory for Al Qaeda and other insurgents.” Reflecting an understanding of the need for restraint in war, restraint that is a key to defeating an insurgency, he added that, "Every time you wave at an Iraqi civilian, Al Qaeda rolls over in its grave."

and then my favorite quote of his--not really central to this discussion, but I always grin when I read it:

Quote :

"I come in peace, I didn't bring artillery. But I am pleading with you with tears in my eyes: If you fuck with me, I'll kill you all."

[Edited on November 11, 2009 at 5:16 PM. Reason : ]

11/11/2009 5:01:18 PM