Category: Safe Haven
Hi there you guys. I am a bugler for military honor guards, and a volunteer at the veterans hospital here in my area. I am also majoring in social work to help veterans. I have had a really big problem here on this site with people making fun of my career, and I think it's because I serve my country and they don't like our current president (USA that is). They call me bad things, and it almost makes me never want to come to this site again.
Well, it depens on your own attitude largely. I don't mean to criticize you (well, I do in a sense, but not unjustly I think). Your posts on here seem to indicate we should practically worship you for playing a wind instrument and helping the U.S. army, an institution that used to stnd for something good but now is, sadly, used to obtain the financial or even private goals of the upper ranks of the political structure. Volunteering for what you believe in is fine, be it red cross or whatever, but some of your posts here sometimes seem as radical as you would expect of a suicide bomber for Palestine. They, too, believe in what they're doing and think it's the most honorable thing in the world. If you're at least open to criticism, want to discuss the fact and became a person first, serving in the army second, I'd feel very different. For you, judging from your posts (it's the only thing we can do) it seems it's more of an obsession, you drop out of university (which, excuse me, is one of the stupidest things one can do, at least for the reasons you supplied) to play in some marching band, whereas you could surely continue your education, work hard, and serve the military in your spare time. With a university degree you can be free to do whatever you do for them fulltime and also have a degree to help advancing your personal life, you can make money and pay taxes that, yes, support the U.S. army (heck, I must've given them tens of thousands of dollars, in some cases against my will). And, most importantly, playing some wind instrument for reitred soldiers who got hurt killing innocent civilians does not give you the right to think you're always right and others are always wrong, that's what gets to people on this site, I think.
It's ok, but then you have to be thick skinned enough to see why that may be considered unpopular.
So, do whatever you do, if you feel serving your country is the most important thing you can do, hey, it's your life, no one should stop you, you could be doing a lot of things that are way worse, but don't expect everyone to share your views and enthusaism for it, may be try to be open to other people's points of view more. That's the problem with the U.S. they may have the nuclear weapons, guns that fire a million rounds per minute, missles and a huge army, but it doesn't make the morally superior, they're not the greatest nation on earth, they're very good, may be the best (in some areas they are) but not superior to others. I support the U.S. in many ways, I care for the country, but I can't stand the arrogance I keep seeing in itspeople's attitude and that your board posts have frequently and very clearly demonstrated.
ake this as an offense or advice, it's meant as the latter, good luck with whatever you do. I'm not saying calling you names in public is true, deserved or fair, it's none of those things and not to the credit of peoploe who do so.
cheers
-B
I agree wholeheartedly Wildebrew, and thanks for the comments about Americans. They made me smile and are mostly true. I mean, I'm a patriot, but that's not all I am. I have many different interests, and I'm certainly willing to debate with people, to admit when I'm wrong, or just agree to disagree. I also graduated from college, and though I must admit that I'm not doing anything with that education at the moment, I do have opportunities that are not open to those who couldn't or who didn't go to college. I think it's great to serve your country. Hell, I'd serve the one I love if I could. But over the last few days especially, you seem to be totally obsessed with it, and this is coming from someone who can be pretty overwhelming and who can get pretty carried away with herself, so I know what it's like. I think both of us need to calm down, find other distractions and relax. I mean, it's in your name that you're in the honor guard, so you don't need to impress that on anyone.
HGB, I think it is very good that you know what is important to you, many people your age change directions every time the wind blows. There is nothing wrong with being proud of your country, and wanting to serve is an important quality. The argument that you shouldn’t be proud just because you were born in a particular country doesn’t hold water to me, because so many people who are serving here in the military are from other countries, and willingly choose to be here.
Sorry Wildebrew, but I think we are going to disagree again. Toward the end of your post, you tell HGB that she should be open to other people’s points of view, but spent the entire post criticizing her point of view and the decisions she has made.
Your description of America and Americans seems to be pretty negative, despite your saying you support the country. I still don’t understand if we’re so bad, why so many other countries seek our assistance, and so many people seek to live here, both legally and illegally.
Also, your remark about killing innocent civilians I think needs a little clarification. Do you honestly believe the military sets out to kill civilians? Unfortunately, civilian casualties are part of war, that is unavoidable. However, let’s look at who is to blame, in my opinion, for most of the civilian deaths in Iraq, since that is where the war is.
Iraq held a democratic election, but there are people who are trying to, and do, disrupt the government. We call these people terrorists, though you may not. The car bombs, suicide bombs, and shootings committed by these people kill far more civilians than the United States’ military. Where do these terrorists hide? That’s right, in mosques, in innocent neighborhoods, and anywhere else they are shielded by non-combatants. They are responsible for far more deaths. Just watch the news and see how many civilians are killed in the next car bomb blast.
I’m not saying the U.S. is perfect, nor that it doesn’t make mistakes, but the good it does far out weighs the bad. It’s interesting to me that so many people pile on the U.S., but overlook the transgressions of so many other countries. Don’t hear anyone hear talking about the way the government of China treats its people, for example. Are we held to a higher standard than other places? Sure seems that way.
Thank you for that comment about not having to be born somewhere to be proud of it! I know it wasn't meant for me, but it makes me feel very good. As for holding america to high standards, I think you hold yourselves to it and try to have the appearance that you deserve it. then, when others question you on it, you don't understand why people think of American in that way. As for refugees etc, while it's certainly true that America is better than alot of other countries, I think some of the immigration is because of myths, closeness to the country (Mexico for example), and immigration policies.