military service is no "better" than any other service

I find it an interesting rationalization process a few individuals here have displayed and most likely will continue to do. A job they either don't qualify to perform, didn't think they could perform, were pressured by others not to perform, or just felt superior to those who do perform is labeled as a waste of time and energy. "Oh, it's nothing special. I'm not missing anything. Anyone could do that..." Just like Aesop's fox and the grapes. The fox couldn't reach the grapes so in frustration said to himself "they were probably sour anyway..."

Well, to many it's an honor and family tradition to serve your country, and those who raise that right hand and recite that oath & take it to heart are automatically expected to uphold the standards established over the past 230 years by those who marched, fought, and died before them.

It's no coincidence (but is a little known fact) that when a public transportation vehicle, (Bus, Plane, Train) breaks down the driver, pilot, or conductor is immediately notified if there are any Military Members aboard and informs the ranking individual they are to help keep things under control while repairs or replacement transportation) is secured.

For those who've served or are serving, the life changing decisions you've made are appreciated and will be rewarded. For those who belittle, mock, and put down those who serve I offer my condolences for you're truly an unfulfilled individual and will never know what real pride is.

 

I said "for all practical purposes

Danr I asked you nicely to edit this post, but you have chosen to ignore me so I will do it, I asked JW to do the same thing & he did.

 

Well, I guess that ends any hope of further intelligent discussion in this thread, so bye.

 

Yeah, and they're walking on it right now...!

 

USA military needs IED targets in Iraq. I think Danr make good one. Maybe Sunni Triangl his calling. He can be martyr.

 

I think you're putting your cart before your horse Hoss. I respect ether choice whether to serve or not to serve. It is a matter of personal choice and lifestyle these days not an obligation or a necessity. I respect if you've seved or if you didn't. I don't think I am better that you if I didn't serve and I don't think you are better than me if you did serve. But everytime I hear one or another of you say that I just ain't as good as you, I just ain't as patriotic as you, and I just can't understand foreign policy because I didn't serve in the miltary as anything from an enlisted grunt to a General, I have to scratch my head. Maybe some of you aren't intending to send that message but others are sending it loud and clear and they are just plain foolish.
I might believe you know your way around a military rifle, I might believe that you know how to shine your boots better, I might believe you can take orders better than I can but when it comes to politics, foreign policy, and social issues, you are in the same boat as the rest of us. Your military experience is no more valuable than a job with the peace corp or a policesmans experience. You know the types here that can only see the rest of us through military glasses. The military hierarchy does not apply to the pubic in general and to try and see it as if it does is simply a warped perspective.
I think if someone has a superiority complex here, it is those that see themselves as better Americans because they were in the military. I know they tell you it does in the military but you have to realize they were just telling this to motivate you. You really have to take a step back and think about why they told you this in the first place. It just may have been part of the indoctrination process, ya think?

 

^^^ You are the only fellow I know who can take one small (two sentence) paragraph and after dissecting it for you own self interpretation come up with three paragraphs and (eighteen lines) of more rationalizations...

 

military people might stick together and sound arrogant to non-military people...but that applies to any group. i would think the same of a group of frat guys, or a group of trekkie nerds, or a group of american tourists in hawaiian shirts in london.

i think it's normal for some servicemembers to think they're better than those who've never served in the military. some people who've gone to college think they're better than those who never went past high school. some who've graduated from ivy league schools think they're better than those who graduated from non-ivy schools. harvard better than yale. rich better than poor. public better than private. republican, democrat, black, white, christian, muslim, etc.- it doesn't end. whatever group someone belongs to, it will be better than everybody else's.

that's why the army is better than the navy.

 

BD you seem to like to play the victim here. No one is mocking military people, I am merely pointing out that there are many equally important ways to serve America.

 

Hardly the case, hardly. Yes, I interjected my personal observations in keeping with the tempo of the thread. I simply defended my "Brothers In Arms" as most any other former/active duty military member might do or wish they would do.

There have been over 3500 AD military members killed since the invasion of Iraq and (these numbers will shock you) close to 60,000 who have experienced a disability of 40% or more according the Veterans Administration. Now would you believe there haven't been that many Police, Fireman, Librarians, EMTs, Nurses, or Dog Catchers who've killed or disabled doing their jobs combined to the extent the Military have been exposed to danger.

Now, I'm not going to get into the war, if it's right or wrong, that's for another thread. But, this is about the honor, pride, dedication, and remorse associated with serving your country in it's Armed Forces. That will put a swager in anyones walk. Damn right we're proud. That's the biggest rush of all...

 

Statistically the military is a pretty safe job.
Here are the most dangerous jobs (in order) from CNN:
1 Fishers and fishing workers
2 Logging workers
3 Aircraft pilots
4 Structural iron and steel workers
5 Refuse and recyclable material collectors
6 Farmers and ranchers
7 Electrical power line installers/repairers
8 Driver/sales workers and truck drivers
9 Miscelleneous agricultural workers
10 Construction laborers

from Forbes:
Timber Cutters
Fishermen
Pilots
Structural Metal Workers
Extractive Occupations
Roofers
Construction Workers
Truck Drivers


the lists are a bit different but soldier does not appear on either. If you can find me a list that shows soldier in the top say 5 or 10 most dangerous jobs I will take a look at it.

 

Moen, I beg you! Please come and put a muzzle on your poodle.

 

I don't know where you can point out a rationalization in all eighteen lines because it is simply my opinion. Of course, this is probably just another case of you saying something that you can't substantiate in the very next post. I'm getting used to that from you.
I believe what I said and the arrogance of superiority, or belief in it anyway, is completely yours to own. While I express my opinions, you attack me and others for not serving in the military as if it was a prerequisite to know anything meaningful. Fine, you're entitled to believe what you want just don't expect the rest of us to buy into your fantasy and don't expect us to automatically defer to your "expertise".

 

Rationalization - When something happens that we find difficult to accept, then we will make up a logical reason why it has happened.
The target of rationalization is usually something that we have done, such as being unkind to another person. It may also be used when something happens independent of us which causes us discomfort, such as when a friend is unkind to us.
We rationalize to ourselves. We also find it very important to rationalize to other people, even those we do not know.
http://changingminds.org/explanations/behaviors/coping/rationalization.htm

Now, I'm sorry you feel inferior and obviously have a complex about it. There are many ways you can still serve your country if you'd like to. You can join the Disabled American Veterans. Try volunteering some time, anyone can toss in a couple of $bucks but to give your time I've found is the most fulfilling donation of all. You could be a driver, server, or Bingo caller, those positions don't require prior military service.

Ball is in your court and you know how OldDan, JWEVANS, Me, SanMiguel, CoinOK, etc., feel and we know how you feel.

Cheers
Ben

 

edited

 

edited

Aidan.

 

guys cool it with the insults, De Orc (moderator) wants us to keep it more civil than that.

 

Thanks for the cut-n-paste definition with link. When I really need to know what those big words are, it's nice to know that there is a place to go.

You have repeatedly told me that you think I am a know-it-all and now you tell me that I have an inferiority complex. At least you're consistant.

You evade and dance around any issue with poorly worded sarcasm and ill conceived attempts at humor. You really should get a writer.

I also love that you've defined your cohort for the rest of us.(in red above) Although SanMiguel is going to have to learn a lot of name calling, childish behavior, labeling, bigotry and stereotyping to fit in with the rest of you guys. And by the way, you forgot Midas, and Aiden. You should all get together over the summer and see who has the biggest rifle. Although rifle envy is sort of sad, but you're all pretty half-cocked anyway.

I've said nothing disparaging towards those that serve in the military here and yet you choose to see my comments in a negative light anyway. Perhaps you've just convinced yourself we are all against you to feed your own paranoia. Have fun with that and watch out for the guy under the bed. :goofer:

 

Haven't we been down this path before? Something about 7-11 being more dangerous than military service?

There was something wrong with your list. I can't remember whether it was that military jobs were not included or were lumped together with civilian jobs or what it was. I also remember doing the statistics that showed the military was indeed in the top 10 if you did the math from the military statistics. I think it was even top 5. I also remember pointing out that the military has equivalent jobs to many of those on the list. I am too lazy to look up the old thread though.

Like the TV, We must be in summer repeats.

 

OOOOHRAHHHH BONE And thanks for capping my screen-name.

Now twist blade in back...

SEMPER FI!!!