Remembrance and Veterans Nov 11th by DEVERSE

REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS

Remembrance and Veterans Nov 11th

POSTED BY: DEVERSE
UPDATED: Saturday, November 14, 2015 19:06
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Thursday, November 5, 2015 3:23 PM

Hey, Ive been in a firefight before! Well, I was in a fire. Actually, I was fired from a fry-cook opportunity.

As “that day” in November comes closer, I am a bit eager, but my anxiety increases as well. I don’t see or talk to those I look forward to meeting again on “that day”; only because our paths don’t cross all that often during the rest of the year. The depth of comradeship one feels in the company of brothers is a heady drug I do not like to miss. But, I also dread what the day will bring as I learn who is no longer present and more so why they are missing.

So I will shine my shoes, put on my best suit and carefully pin my ribbons and medals on and attend the ceremony of the day. Without fail, someone will tell me, “Thank you for your service”.

I will share an article I ran across recently that fully expresses how I feel when someone tells me, “Thank you for your service” and offer some advice on what one can and should do if they truly feel or have any concern for the welfare of service personnel and veterans.

When you thank me for my service, it disturbs me ... a lot. First off, it brings to mind my wasted youth and lost innocence, and the horrible and unnecessary deaths of good friends and comrades. Second, it reminds me of my responsibility and culpability for the pain and suffering I caused innocent people, again something I would rather forget, but cannot. Third, it reinforces my belief that you have absolutely no idea about the nature and reality of the wars in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, because if you did, you would understand that thanks are inappropriate. Fourth, it reminds me that many of those who feel the need to offer thanks were apathetic about - or even supportive of - the war, while they refuse to participate themselves or did little or nothing to end it. And lastly, I have to admit that I doubt the sincerity of these expressions of supposed gratitude, as "Thank you for your service" is just something to say not because you care about what I did or sacrificed, but only to demonstrate your supposed good character, or patriotism and/or "support" for members of the military and veterans.

If you truly want to demonstrate your good character, patriotism, and support for the troops and veterans, rather than merely mouth meaningless expressions of gratitude for something you don't truly understand or care much about, do something meaningful and real. Do what is truly in the interest of this nation and of those victimized by war.

Make some demands.

Demand, for example, an immediate end to the corporate takeover of our "democracy" and to the undue influence of the military-industrial-Congressional complex.

Demand sanity in Pentagon spending and a reallocation of finite resources to people-focused programs such as health care, education and jobs rather than to killing and destruction.

Demand an immediate end to wars for corporate profit, greed, power and hegemony.

Demand that we adhere to the Constitution and to international law.

Demand accountability for those who make war easily and care more for wealth, profit and power than for national interest or for the welfare of their fellow human beings.

And finally, demand the troops be brought home now, and that they be adequately treated and cared for when they return.

So, should we meet on the street one day, do say Hello, or Fine day, and as you talk to me about your efforts to make this country and the world a better and more peaceful place in which to live, I would be happy to thank you for your service.

- Camillo Mac Bica, USMC ret.

I know some will be offended by this post and that may be and there isn’t much I can do about that; I’m not going to apologize for how I feel.
What I won’t understand is how someone would be offended by this post and not by the number of veterans living in poverty, suffering debilitating health and medical conditions and the number of veteran suicides - all ignored by uncaring governments.

So, have a wonderful November 11th – I know many will have the day off – but maybe take a few minutes of that day to send a note to your Member of Parliament or Senator or Congressman and demand they show how they care with real action and not meaningless words.

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Saturday, November 7, 2015 3:00 AM

6IXSTRINGJACK

It's kind of sad that nobody here has anything to say about this post.

I neither support or abhor our troops. I feel sorry for anyone who willingly signs themselves up to be a mindless puppet of the government for 4 years, even those who signed up in peace time, but not nearly as sorry as all of those men who were drafted unwillingly in WWII and Vietnam.

I've seen movies and TV shows about it, but even the best acting and special effects I'm sure could never even hold a candle to what you may or may not have seen, and the people you may or may not have lost while you served.

I won't say "Thank you for your service". I won't ask if you joined, why you joined, or if you were drafted.

I'll just say, man... I'm sorry for all the shit you had to go through. I hope the rest of us who didn't go through it wake up and do something with the freedom you fought for. I'm glad whatever it is that you went through, you made it out in one piece.

For the record, I recently saw a video about "Stolen Valor" on a show called Tosh.0. I didn't know there was a term for it now, but even though I didn't ever serve one of my old buddies years back liked to dress up like he had been in the military to "pull chicks". It infuriated me and I stopped associating with him because he wouldn't stop doing it. I was happy to see that anyone caught doing it can be thrown in prison for up to a year.

Honestly, I think the guys and gals that served in peace time and never saw any battles shouldn't even be allowed to wear their Military uniforms in public. I think that right should be reserved ONLY for the ones unfortunate enough to have to relive those nightmares for the rest of their lives.

Anyways.....

Happy Veterans Day?????

Do Right, Be Right. :)

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Thursday, November 12, 2015 1:12 AM

6IXSTRINGJACK

However you chose to spend today DEVERSE, I hope you had a good Veterans Day.

It's a gorram travesty that a recent post about today originated by a non-vet got 23 or so replies while your honest post by an actual Vet on these boards only got 3 replies.

Then again, it's a lot easier for most people to speak in theoreticals than deal with the Real McCoy.

I thought long and hard about it, and I decided that I wanted to thank you for your service, even if you cringe when I did it.

I hope you know that at the very least I am capable of boatloads of empathy and although I may not have been there with you on those particular dark days that I have seen plenty of them in my own life.

Yours were at least for the "greater good", or at least that's what they tell us...

My sacrafices ultimately meant nothing.

The sacrafices of our American Soldiers, even those still alive dating back to WWII still have potential to mean something.

Consider me in the very small group that's not placating you, but is actually envious of what you stand for.

Happy Veteran's Day DEVERSE.

Thank You for your service to whatever is left of the American Dream. :)

Do Right, Be Right. :)

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Thursday, November 12, 2015 3:39 PM

1KIKI

Goodbye, kind world (George Monbiot) - In common with all those generations which have contemplated catastrophe, we appear to be incapable of understanding what confronts us.

I didn't post then because my life is busy - even on a holiday. Unfortunately I spent my time with a family member in the ER.

Except for the reunions, I think my dad would have agreed with your post. He spent the rest of his life wondering what it is in people that they won't let their neighbors live in peace. He didn't want a reprise, hoping it would turn out better the second time. He wanted it to have never been - and since that wasn't possible, to never be again.

SAGAN: We are releasing vast quantities of carbon dioxide, increasing the greenhouse effect. It may not take much to destabilize the Earth's climate, to convert this heaven, our only home in the cosmos, into a kind of hell.

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Thursday, November 12, 2015 10:23 PM

DEVERSE

Hey, Ive been in a firefight before! Well, I was in a fire. Actually, I was fired from a fry-cook opportunity.

Actually, the day went quite well. The ceremony was very good and stayed very traditional. The group at the Legion after were in good spirits, no one upset or in tears from the emotions of the day. A couple of Seaforth Highlanders were debating a few Saskatchewan Dragoons about the words to a song. I just happened to have it on my phone and played it to settle the discussion. It was pretty amazing to see a group of 80-90 year olds turn into 20 year olds singing Lily Marlene along with Marlene Dietrich. And yes, I did drink too much and have too good of a time.

I suppose I shouldn't have expected understanding of how I feel or maybe I didn't explain it very well - it doesn't matter much anyway. It isn't hard to tell who is sincere and who truly cares when they say "thank you for your service" and who is just mouthing words they feel are appropriate. It doesn't upset me or make me angry or sad or anything other than it brings back memories that sometimes keep me awake nights. And it isn't all that hard to be respectful to others and say "thanks" back, something I always do regardless of their motivation. I figure it's the best I can do as at least they don't spit on me and call me a baby killer like they did in the past.

Anyway, I hoped to stimulate some thought rather than debate and so I'm not upset at the lack of responses and do appreciate those of you who did respond. Thank you.

The only down side of the day was I didn't get to sit with my Dad and have a drink with him and watch him meet up with acquaintances from the St. Laurent and Ontario and swap stories. He died last year.

Oh let the sun beat down upon my face;
With stars to fill my dream;
I am a traveler of both time and space;
To be where I have been

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Friday, November 13, 2015 4:53 AM

SHINYGOODGUY

Honor and respect

SGG

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Saturday, November 14, 2015 7:06 PM

6IXSTRINGJACK

I'm sorry you weren't able to share it with your old man this year DEV, but I'm glad you were able to cut loose and have a good time. Don't judge yourself or your old vet buddies too harsh for doing a little impromptu karaoke on such a bitter-sweet day. That makes me smile to hear that.... It makes me remember my Grandpa humming old patriotic songs when I was just a little kid. I don't even know who "Lily Marlene along with Marlene Dietrich" was before reading your reply, but I'm a fan now :)

(I don't know if you even know what the "Fallout" games are, but ever since Fallout 3 they've used a lot of hits from the 30's, 40's and 50's and this one should definitely be on their playlist for the new Fallout 4)

For the most part at least, I know you guys weren't "Heroes". You guys certainly weren't "Baby Killers". You were just a bunch of young guys thrust into an impossible situation trying to make the best of it, obey your orders, and to come out in one piece... hopefully with your friends still by your side. Maybe I'm way off the reservation on this one, but I'm pretty tired of Hollywood and the Media always trying to put soldiers into one camp or the other in a situation so Dark that only those who lived it and breathed it were capable of separating the many shades of gray.

There is not one single man or woman under 50 years old today who could even pretend to know what it felt like. What it was to be you, or your friends, or your fellow soldiers, or the ones you never had the opportunity to meet.

Some people really mean it when they say "Thank You" though. Don't always dismiss that as some mindless rhetorical response we're all programmed to regurgitate whenever in the vicinity of somebody like you.

Thank You for doing years ago what I don't know if I would have ever had the power to have done myself. Thank You and your friends and fellow soldiers for creating an America that hasn't drafted young males against their will in 40 years. Thank You for helping make an America where the entire time I was of drafting age the army was volunteer.

Maybe I would have been something special if I was drafted at 18? Maybe I would have been dead 18 years ago if I was drafted? These are what-if scenarios that never happened because of what you and your generation did for us.

Thank You for allowing my own triumphs and failures to be entirely on my own merit. Win or Lose, my choices were all 50/50 and in the end I have nobody to celebrate or blame but myself.

I can only hope that when it's time to cash in all of my chips that I leave this world, in particular our country, having done at least a little more good than what I've taken away from it.

Allow me to show you a song now, called "Everybody's Free to Wear Sunscreen". It was the "parting words" written from some high school valedictorian from 1999 put to music.

It's a song that couldn't have ever been released to the public while you were all serving our country...

But I'm sure that you'll really like it today.

At least, I hope you do. :)

These simple things. This "normal" life. These things that so many from my generation and even more from the next just take for granted. These are the things you were fighting for.

This is the gift that your generation gave to us.

Happy Veterans Day, DEVERSE.

Do Right, Be Right. :)

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