What are your feelings about people that bad mouth the military (or government) that never served?

ARMY STRONG!

You know being in the Army for 15 years and the last 3 years as a recruiter hearing so called Americans bad mouth the military is like bad mouthing everyone who works at fast food joints and telling them "why are you working there?" I strongly feel that everyone should serve 2-3 years of military service or if they are so smart, be required to finish 2-4 years of college before they make all these millions of dollars.......If they do not complete the required 2-4 years of college, they would have to join a branch of service for 2-3 years.....plain a simple. I realize Freedom of Speech is what made America what it is today.........but stop and think about how we earned that right and THANK A SOLDIER everyday if you have to. Duty......Honor.......Country.............. Strong!

Thank you sir for your service and for the question.

Army Strong!

SSG Schramm
15 years US Army

paradigm_thinker

They have a right to their feelings and opinions.

I am a veteran also, but here is how I feel:
I don't have to listen. I don't even have to like it.

Thank you for your service, but because of that service, it does not give us the right to dictate how others enjoy their freedom.

schazjmd

I disagree. If someone is talking about things they know nothing about, such as what it's like being in the military when they haven't served, they lack credibility. But the purposes for which our military is used are a matter of concern to all citizens, veterans or not.

Dave D

Anyone can critisize their government or military. It's called democracy.

secretservice

it's their right

dell1980

I did 4 years in the Marine Corps, I don't think it is right for anyone to bad mouth service members because they are the reason we are able to have the many liberties, freedoms, and way of life that many people all around the world only dream about.

But I do think that every American has the right to and should question our government and their reasons for putting troops into harms way.

Being in the service for as many years as you were I'm sure you know the Government, or even your own hire ups don't always have your best welfare in mine. Mission accomplishment is always the first priority, troops are expendable.

Most of the politicians who make the decisions to enter into conflicts have never served in the Military them selves, so I think the average American defiantly has the right to question the government and military involvement, and I think this can be done with out bad mouthing the good service members who are doing their jobs.

moon_flower_unicorn_power

i don't have a problem with them...people who support "the war" but won't fight are the one's who need to STFU

oda315

I suspect there are many of us who have this thought from time-to-time, but it is best put aside. I know you need no reminding, but others who read these remarks and who have not served need to understand that we who do serve honor their right to comment even if it is unpalatable and offensive to some. The First Amendment grants all of us this right. Thus, there is no detrimental impact to their credibility.

Remember our oath, which says, in pertinent part: "...support and defend the constitution..." Thus, your (our) duty and honor is to defend the right of those who criticize and make some of us feel uncomfortable or perhaps do not appreciate a soldier's sacrifice. Such is the noblesse oblige you assumed.
Thank you for your question.
Regards.

P.S. Read Starship Troopers by Heinlein.

magnetic_azimuth

my service years are 73- to current, retiring in january 08

my girlfriend asks lot of questions about the service though she has been hanging with me for many years and I could not have made all these deployments without her unwavering support

Those who want to bad mouth us, (see godhatesamerica.com) are just people who are too simple to know that they are aliving and living as they are because of them with more wisdom than they have or will be capable of seeing while they embrace the philosophy they have.

they have a right to say they disagree. They do not have a right to oppose the actions of the nation apart from their vote.
to do so is criminal

for the cindy sheehan (sp?) types, they would be our enemy no matter what our cause, her type are a blight on the human race

obama is talking about attacking pakastan, they are working with us.... what is his deal

I can assure you of this, you need to vote as if each time it will be your last president, senator, congressman.....chose a man who knows the facts...

we will lose the war with the jihadist, of that I know. We are playing politics, they are playing war........not even on level playing feilds

lily

The biggest sacrifice of the military in a time of war would be their lives... no?

I completely understand that, and that would be why I don't support a bogus war in Iraq. These troops deserve to be at home with their families, not playing in our government's hidden-agenda chess game.

I don't need to serve in the military to see how much our government doesn't care for us.

tjmarsh1015

OK With all do respect to you and your service i have to disagree with you on this topic. I feel as a vet my self the defending the Constitution was the most important thing i have ever done in my life. Freedom of speech is not something that should have to be earned by no means sir. It is something that many and i mean many people have died for. If you truly believe that some of your basic rights as an American have to be earned i think you may have missed some of your message though your time in the service. I have never once been upset at a protest against soldiers or the war or anything i always felt that i was there to make sure that is the citizen of this great country wanted change and they felt strong enough about it to gather and petition that they should.

101st abn Ranger Qualified My duty my Honor but sir you forgot My country

And crackhead go F*** your self you little worm

Josh M

Most liberals don't bad mouth the military. In fact, they know far more than republicans what it means to serve (how many times has bushed served?) The liberals are trying to stop the war. They believe that those sacrifices should only be made if absolutely necessary. Unless you are trying to say those sacrifices are minor (in which case I'd have to strongly disagree), then you should be supporting our disapproval of the current government. We love the men and women who put their life on the line and can't thank them enough. Love them enough that we don't want them to die in vain. That's why we hate the people who lied to put them there. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3hRvj22RWs

Airdale

Military personnel and citizen soldiers of the past are the reasons why we have the freedoms and rights that ALL US citizens enjoy and exercise today.

How do I feel about them when talking to them face to face? I treat them like those that I talk to that â€˜neglectedâ€™ to vote in ANY election (local, state, federal). When they start complaining, I will cut them off and ask if they voted. If the answer is no, the conversation or monolog is over. If they complain about the military, the same thing.

Anyone speaking from knowledge would know that the military does NOT move without orders. To mobilize the military, those orders come from the desk of the Commander-In-Chiefâ€¦..the President. The military is only a multi-person messenger for the government. So, if they are pissed about what the military is doing, donâ€™t shoot the messenger!!! Focus your efforts and send your comments to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

It really is a lack of respect. Remember the Vietnam War? Different because of the draft, but the same because no one that has been to the desert, there now, or will deploy there came to an agreement amongst each other to pack up our gear and head East. Maybe people that have never served have heard the oath that each and every member of the military had to take, maybe then they would understand. We made a promise, signed a contract, and holding up our end of it. What would happen if everyone in the military that doesnâ€™t agree with what is going on decided to say â€˜Fâ€™ it and stayed home?

I have served 18 years and still serving in the Navy with 3deployments to desert. To past members of the military, thank you for your service. To present members, good serving with you ladies and gents.

linda

If you haven't served you have no right to criticize something you know nothing about.

fluke

they have freedom of speech.
nice hat, by the way.

lillycoo

Unfortunately...it is their right to do so...of course they do not care that the military has always given the ultimate sacrifice to allow them that right...God Bless and keep our beloved and valiant troops...i served in the nam..DaNang air base...fac pilot.

INNMorris

The military helps to protect our freedom; the freedom which allows us the choice to serve or not to serve.

My father served, my grandfather served, my uncles served and they all told me that if I'm smart enough to go to college and get a job where I don't have to break my back every day, then I should choose college and not the military. They fought or served for my right to do so.

I support our military. I want no harm to come to anyone that serves. And my thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those that have lost loved ones in out most recent mission.

However, just because I made a choice to not serve in the military doesn't mean that I can't voice my opinion on my governments actions. Nor should it lessen the validity of my thoughts or ideas.

niwriffej

Who criticizes the military? There's a big difference between not agreeing with what the government is doing and bad mouthing the armed forces. You can't just lump them together. People don't protest wars because they hate soldiers, they protest because they love the soldiers and don't want to see them hurt for the wrong reasons.

I don't understand why so many people fail to understand the difference, because it's critical. As far as this right to criticize thing you're talking about, do you really think that only soldiers have the right to criticize? What about the doctors that save American lives? Or the teachers that live in poverty so they can try to improve the lives of children? Or the plumbers and construction workers who keep our cities clean?

With all due respect, I think you have a very simplistic idea structure, and you should try to think this through a little bit further.

Thank YOU for being reasoned and balanced. Questions like these usually bring them all out of the woodwork, and it takes a lot to listen to opinions that differ from your own. I respect you for bringing more civility to the topic than is usually seen.

gina.alvarez1

i think its stupid that people try to say bad things when they have no idea what its like in the military and cant possibly understand that the soldier has a job an da duty to fulfill and the military doesnt take into consideration your personal feelings on anything. you go and do what you do because its your job. they dont understand the sacrifices, the hard work, and what it feels like to lose a friend, and to see your own family members and friends that did return and realize they will never be the same. if you want to speak oout about the government or the military, do something, join, make a difference, dont just sit around complaining about it all when you dont know the whole truth.

nadvanoot

Good for you and thank you for your service, and being involved with the people of this country that allows inconsiderate morons to be inconsiderate morons.
You don't want to get me started on this subject, becauise I'll never shut up.
In Israel, service in the military is mandatory. It should be in the U.S. too. But NOOOOO!!!
Those who have no sense of doing anything for others, are the ones who are running to and fro, whining about things they know absolutely nothing about.
We all know it is a drag to have to have a military, but it's an even bigger drag to listen daily to idiots who have no concept of reality.
Oh man......Nothing infuriates me more. I better stop.

Thank you for posting a very important issue. I can't wait to read the mindless opinions of the conscientious objectors. There's a contradiction of terminology if ever there was one.

Nad

Let me see if I have this straight....What ever the military or government does should be agreed with and supported...always....or shut up. Who needs checks and balances. Our government is infallible, and you would blindly follow anything they say without question. And if you had a question....tough, the government and military are above questioning.

tomjohn

i feel the same way about them as i do bush and clinton. both draft dodgers.

as far as saying something about our government, isn't that what you and all soldiers and veterans are serving or have served for?

this is a free country, last i checked.

66-73 us army 91b40

~*Jen Jen*~

I 100% totally agree with you. Although I've never served myself, I don't think others who have the same status as I do (not serving) have no right to bad mouth any part of it. Period. I saw this little "picture" thing one time that said "If you do not want to stand behind our troops in support, please feel free to stand in front of them" ... Thanks for serving when our Country needed you the most :)

Michael J

they should spend a month in Iraq.

je t'â™¥

they have the right to say it, but i wish they wouldn't. they don't know what they're talking about and it's really annoying. and thank you for serving!!!

marinesfiancee07

I agree with you. No one really understands the hardships that those men and women go through. My fiancÃ©e is in the Marines, and day by day I sit here and pray to god that he'll come home alive.

People who do nothing but bad mouth it and complain have no idea what it's like, kudos to those who have served and continue to serve to give those people who complain their rights for freedom.

While some people say it's just democracy and freedom of speech, do they remember who gave that to them? Who fought for them to have that?

just a girl

They obviously don't appreciate their freedom (or freedom of speech) that our service members have fought so hard for and laid down their lives to defend. It's easy for people to bad mouth something when they're not the one over there having missiles and bombs thrown their way, or seeing their buddies killed.

Jake

I agree with you..I enlisted in the marines from 1968 to 1972..my daughter is serving in Iraq as truck driver in the army and she has to go out on missions and has been shot at and they get hit by mortors everyday..these who talk negative about the military don't have a clue what our troops are going through..they are disrepectfull and I take it personnally..in my view if they can't say anything good about the military then they should say nothing at all

wiseolguy

I really ask if it is worth supporting them in wars that they disagree with or they agree with, I also served and was very proud to. USN 76 to 80

whcwarrior_10

Most of them are liberals, who never served and only parrot what they hear somone else say in the first place. Of course they have no credibility. I love it when they tell me how things are in Iraq, but have never been there.

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