Yeah awkward sentence really that one was to read.

Wow, grammar nazi, so what if he wrote us's instead of us'? You got the gist of it didn't you? Stop being an anal archie.

OP, I feel bad that your mom is ignorant to the courage of an American soldier, but at the same time, the soldier didn't need to respond that way. You said sorry he shouldn't have taken it out on you.

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Actually the soldier had every right to say that because there fighting for something that isn't there fault.

you're an idiot.

Hahaha, anal archie. I'm gonna have to use that one.

yeah you're mom's pretty messed up. the war is definitely stupid but the soldiers are brave. they deserve our respect. like the bumper sticker "i support the troops but not the war"

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the "bravery of an american soldier"? more like the "stupidity of an american soldier". And who says all of them are brave? some of them aren't in the slightest.

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he didnt have to choose to fight; thats his own fault.
he deserves it for thinking violence solves issues.

But that doesn't mean that none of them are. Sure, some of them are probably ignorant inbred pissants who worship the ground Gee Dub walked on and would gladly bear his demon-spawn children, but if you decided not to respect any of the soldiers based on this minority, you'd be almost as ignorant as they.

I don't agree with the war at all, but in no way would I take that out on the soldiers.

@166 - Soldiers don't choose what they get to do. When you're a member of the military, you're told what to do. There are soldiers who don't support the war but do it because that's what their orders call them to do. I'm in the Army and my job keeps me out of the real war. I didn't join because I think violence solves things, I joined because someone has to fight for this country.

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there are other ways to fight without using a military/violence. i feel bad for you that you thought adding to the war would help. it just makes the war drag on for more years, further propelling this country into debt. so thanks for adding to the debt!

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your alias is right, number 210. you do fail at life. you fucking idiot.

Oh so you'd prefer it if no one was part of the military?! It's people like these soldiers that saved you from being under German or Japanese control (I'm assuming you're American or British...even European). They don't deserve it. Most of them haven't joined up just to kill people.

Your username really suits your personality! You ignorant prick!

Oh, and I totally agree with anyone that says there are other ways to fight in the war. Doing any job that makes america a better place helps the effor. Having a gun does not making you the only person that is honestly doing something about the problems (and i have 5 friends in Iraq, praying for them everyday so don't think i do not respect them, i just don't think i need to tell them thank you)

look to all you assholes who say that the soldiers in iraq are 'stupid', if you arent willing to stand behind our troops, you are more than welcome to stand in FRONT of them!

people should notice how REPEATEDLY this website says, "please be respectful."

OP, i'm very sorry, that soldier shouldn't have said that.
but also, you must understand from his point of view how many people are saying how stupid they are.
read the comments from your post.
and i hate the person that called you an idiot, it's not your fault whatsoever that your mom said that.
people have the right to their own opinions, but they should think about others first.

i had eleven people die on 9/11, and i don't think one person here wouldn't try to fight back for that.
imagine if you lost everyone you ever loved in an instant.
i believe in peace, and i personally hate violence more than i hate anything else.
but when people risk everything i have, i'm not going to stand by and let that happen.
maybe you haven't noticed that these are real people, who don't like the fact that we're here, that we're in this situation.
we didn't ask for this.
no one did.
none of the people that day deserved to die.
my family and friends DID NOT deserve to die that day.
and i get personally offended when you say that these soldiers that risk their lives daily for you, and for your family, are stupid, and insult them.
they're trying to stop this from repeating again.

no one deserves this.

the soldier has every right to say that.... to the person who's being offensive. Which wasn't OP.

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..."us's" isn't a word, and neither is "us'". "Ours" would've been the right word.

That's not being a grammar nazi, it's legitimately complaining about someone using a non-existent word that makes you have to think about for a second in order to figure out what the person is trying to say.

Just because it's the internet doesn't mean people shouldn't attempt to use real words.

Are you people retarded? "The soldier at the vending machine near ours eyes met mine"? How the hell is that more correct?

No, the correct way to put it would have been to rearrange the sentence: "Standing at the vending machine near us, the soldier's eyes met mine", perhaps, or "The soldier, who was standing at the vending machine near us, met eyes with me".

No, us's isn't a word, but 'ours' in that sentence makes absolutely no sense. Before you criticize someone for having poor English, check your own.

Actually "ours" wouldn't have worked either. "The soldier at the vending machine near ours"?

OP should've just said "The eyes of the soldier at a nearby vending machine...".

"Just because it's the internet doesn't mean people shouldn't attempt to use real words."

The internet's 11-15 year olds would like to have a word with you.

us' isn't a word either :)

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Ya cause asking them nicley to please stop hurting our country and offering them tea and cookies is a great way to defend ourself!
no offense O.P. your mom is a dumb bitch get that straight now before someone hurts her.
seriously people like u
vbhfjdwbhkjl BLAH!
u suck
have a nice day :)

You wouldn't need to "fight for your country" if your country didn't cause all the shit in the first place.

clearly,you arent understanding what im saying.
im not saying that only america should not use violence.
NO COUNTRIES should have a military system. The pain and problems that stem from war are far worse than what the little issues start as.

Its like little kids throwing rocks at each other to solve something- a parent steps in and tells the children to talk it out.
world leaders need to do the same.

9/11 had nothing to do with Iraq.... but im sorry for your loss... what happened that day was truely awful and so is what happens in other countries on a daily basis... so sad ..the soldiers should not be blamed for their governments greed

well, u could just quit the army if u dont want to go to war...

There's a difference between there, they're and their.

@176 So what's the fucking point of fighting for a "free country" if the lady can't express her opinion without some little fuck like that soldier thinking he's all tough threating a lady like that?

I'm pretty sure "us" is a word...

Actually, saying, "Standing at the vending machine near us, the soldier's eyes met mine," would mean that the soldier's eyes were standing near the vending machine. I usually don't give a shit about grammar, but you'd have to admit that you're not right either.

lol " us' " is also incorrect.

Try OUR

So, how do you plan to implement this little idea of yours, failsatlife? Should America just dissolve its army, and wait for every other country to do the same? Do you think there might be some kind of flaw in that plan?

And before you respond with "You don't understand...", please keep in mind that you've been blaming the individual soldiers. You're putting blame on THEM. War is a necessary evil, so like it or not, the SOLDIERS are the reason you can sit around and trash-talk them without getting gunned down in the street like a dog.

I hope, in time, you'll realize what a fool you've been.

they all need to be dissolved at once. there is absolutely no need for soliders in any army, or for violence at all. it causes greater problems than any amount of good it does.

While I understand your point, you need to remember that saying they " don't support the war but do it because that's what their orders call them to do." is a line of reasoning that is still used today as a defense for Nazi war crimes. They didn't want to do it, they didn't agree with it, they were just following orders. Being ordered to do something which violates your principles does not have to come with assumptive clauses, and is not an automatic get out of jail free card.

I almost joined the military when I was in high school for financial and educational reasons (as a lot of kids that age are wont to do), but decided against it because I knew on the off chance a war were to actually break out (this was long before Iraq), I would never go, because killing for any reason is wholly against what I believe. Of course that does not mean there are not people who will join anyway, however the decision to do so does not mean they MUST still actually serve in the war if they truly are against the idea.

There *were* soldiers who refused to fight in Iraq, and I simply cannot agree with the concept of puppet soldiers who will do whatever they are ordered to do, regardless of what it is or if they believe it justified.

#39 thats because its not us' its 'ours'

you suck steve.

you suck steve.

Well, "you are the company you keep". Maybe the soldier thought that since their mother was like that, he was too. Assumptions are wrong, but everyone does it now and again.

Also, to the people who say whoever is fighting in the war is stupid, if you don't stand behind the soldiers in support, feel free to stand in front of them. They are fighting for this country, preserving freedom, and making sure we don't have to worry about a terrorist attack while we're asleep. I don't care if you think the war is stupid, soldiers fight for their beliefs and no one has the right to call them stupid.

OP: I'm sorry that happened to you because your mom was a little /too/ outspoken. He didn't have enough evidence to show you're like her, but hey. Assumptions happen.

the soldier, near the vending machine near our, eye's met mine? maybe that's what he meant??? maybe i think so. seriously delete this post people get to self righteous on here

@310 - You clearly have had a sheltered life. War is hell but it is one that is vital to the progression of mankind. War originates from conflicts - be they political, social, or even based on resources (food, water, trade, etc.) - and cannot be resolved from simple discussions. I'd say that the failure of the League of Nations and the ineffectiveness of the modern U.N. are perfects examples of that. And besides, look at the positives that have come from war - democracy, the end of the Holocaust, the spread of ideas that only occurs when two distant societies converge in time of war. Point is, talk is cheap and is, at best, only a stalling tactic when there is sufficient reason to go to war.

Actually war can boost an economy. It creates more jobs and provides revenue for the country that makes all the weaponry to be sold to the other countries. Have you never heard of war profiteering? Sadly, since the entire planet is having financial issues, the only war that would boost the world economy is a world war and nobody wants that. The country isn't in debt because of war. It's because the world is in debt with itself due to private international bankers having a pissing contest. Ah the follies of capitalism.

I'm pretty sure "us" is a word, but okay...

It's that persons choice to be in the army, no one is forcing them. So regardless if they're fighting a war that isn't their fault, saying, "you fucking better be" is not okay.

Lol 210, we dont need a war to increase debt, thats why we have Obama

Agreed that the mother was rude beyond measure; but, the soldier should have kept his/her head held high and said nothing. Instead, both mother and soldier demonstrated their immaturity.

it does solve issues retard

fuck you

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WOW are you serious? Okay, for all you assholes saying this war is useless, do you even know what it's about? Anyone that agrees with that bitch can go to hell because they are a bunch of ignorant pricks that don't know what the fuck is going on in this country. They should be thankful that those soldiers are fighting in Iraq because if they weren't the Al Queda would be fighting in OUR country. That soldier had the right to say that. He should have smacked that bitch across the face because what the fuck is wrong with her?

i agree 100%

even if it was possible for all armies to be dissolved, there would still be terrorists.

He might have had some friends that were killed. I'm not justifying it, but if someone called my dead friends stupid, I'd be pretty angry too.

You're a cock knocker. Don't ever call a soldier stupid for following orders. The soldiers don't choose to go to war, the president and congress do. If you wanna be mad at someone about the war, be mad at them, not at someone who's just doing their job.

On the contrary, he had NO right to say it.

The posters mother was merely expressing her opinion.

now, he IS fighting for something that's not his fault, however, it IS his fault that he's fighting

had he not joined the army, he'd not be in that position.

#500, are you serious? Do you really think that if the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan ended, the fight would start HERE? That's so ludicrous I don't even know how to rebut it. Quite possibly the stupidest thing I've ever heard. You must be completely insane.

Al Qaeda does NOT have a conventional army. Iraq did at the beginning of the war, I guess, but it was quickly destroyed. And even to begin with, they had no way of transporting their force en masse to our shores. What were they gonna do, hop on an Air Iraq flight out of Baghdad with their helmets and their rifles and show up at La Guardia? ROTFLMFAO. Both of their forces are designed only for immediate defensive purposes in their confined regions, nothing more.

In foreign policy, the best defense is a good offense philosophy is bullshit. It's unnecessary. I assure you, if America stopped trying to play world police and just kept within its own shores like a lot of countries do, Islamic terrorists would NOT be attacking it. Most of our enemies stem directly from our nosiness, and it would cease if we ever learn to mind our own business. And look, we've got the most powerful military on Earth. If we pulled them back, concentrated them on our soil...first, no one would want to attack us like I just mentioned, and even if some psychopath did, we would be the most well defended country on the planet. We don't need to have troops all over the world to uphold our defense. That only motivates hatred towards us.

Oh, and one last thing: Iraq and Al Qaeda, two SEPARATE entities, at least before we muddied everything with this pointless war. Iraq was secular and governmental. Al Qaeda is fanatically religious and takes root in areas that are weakly governed, if at all.

I'm sorry but your mom is an idiot. My father has been in the service since the day he graduated high school! i am personally offened by what your mother said. Every single soilder over seas is fighting for our country, for her. She should respect them. You dont have to agree with the war but never disrespect our men and women in the armed services. Your mother needs to open her friggin eyes.

67 - Oh my... It's not hard to grasp the concept of there/their/they're is it?

your an idiot.

wow. all of you that are giving the soldiers shit are selfless bitches. really? no, violence is not the answer, but it's what we're into thanks to previous presidents and threatening acts towards this entire country. they have chosen to do this so hopefully, the future will be for bright and promising than things are now. you should probably realize that they are only trying to make things better for scumbag like you.

#1, it's a clause, so the OP actually typed it correctly. The 's refers to the soldier, it just looks awkward because of the clause describing the soldier that comes between the noun and the noun's possessive.

OP: Your Mom has a point about how useless the war is but it's not cool to make fun of soldiers who bravely stick their necks on the line for something they believe in, no matter how useless we may believe it is. It was nice of you to mouth 'sorry' at least.

Thank you!

you can't just stop being in the military....you sign a contract...

@548 - One date: 9/11. As far as I know, we were minding our own business. And the term 'war' can be used to describe several forms of combat, not just all out fighting. Guerrilla warfare, for example. If the fighting stopped over in Iraq I'm not sure what would happen, I'm not a military expert. But I will say that terrorism can be considered a type of war, and that is a possible outcome. I doubt it will happen, considering the increased security after the Twin Towers incident, but its possible.

Also, if I remember right, in this particular case the Al Qaeda attacked us because they were outraged by what they considered the "suppression of Muslims in the US". This war was started because THEY were being nosy, not the US. Granted, this is one of the few cases that this has been true, but I personally feel that the other wars are irrelevant in this discussion. I don't think that this reasoning justifies the war in any way, and our nosiness HAS escalated the war, but it was not the reason the Al Qaeda attacked us, as you stated. We were responding to a completely unprovoked attack at first, and the world originally supported us in doing so. It was when we started messing with Iraqi politics and claiming that weapons of mass destruction were involved that the support started to dwindle.

I don't mean to insult you, and I agree with some of what you are saying, but you should really research the facts before you start arguing your side of things and calling someone else ignorant, stupid, or insane. It only makes you look bad, and it makes others who share your opinions seem invalid in their arguments because you will probably be clumped together with them by people who have an opposing opinion.

This seems to be where that thread of replies left off.

To the person whom i am replying to, thats a sad story and i offer my condolenses.

To the people who are saying bad things about the military, you really need to step in line here. Take a moment and look at what your saying. What do you do everyday that you couldn't do if you did not have freedom. Those soldiers out there fight for what they want to believe in, every person has different reasons. wether it be that they have family back home, family tradition, friends in the military that have died in service, or whatever. most don't fight because they think its fun. they fight because they believe that its there duty in order to help protect the ones they love.

As well, just because people can be diplomatic and talk there ways out of things, does not mean that everyone can do that. some people think that war is the only answer, that terrorism is the only way to prove there point. some people (from what i have heard) have been brought up with the view that violence is how it should be. for example, child soldiers in africa fighting the wars, they grow up in that environment and they eventually adopt those beliefs, because its the only thing they know. when that person grows up they spread the word and it grows as such.

There are 6 billion + people living in the world today, and it is impossible that every last one of them could have the same beliefs as you or i. our men and women in the military are the only reason that you or i can live the happy carefree life we currently live. they do that by preventing those military powers that have different views then ours from coming across our borders (i am canadian and i refer to the canadian and american borders) and changing that.

Just something to think about.

apparently i don't know how to work fml.

the person i was offering condolenses to was # 247. thats also where i thought my first post would be, just after her

braver than you that's for damn sure.

fuck you 125!!!

there doing more than you are lets see how brave you are if you get shot at

Agreed

There is a BIG difference between supporting the war and supporting our troops. Always support the troops, you don't have to support the war.

Well said #9!

that's kind of a stupid statement. if you don't support a war why would you value the human lives of your nation's soldiers over another. not that i don't feel anything when i see the death rate of a war like the one in iraq, but i don't have a reason to mourn for american lives harder than for iraqi civilians. that's both ignorant and selfish. just my $0.02, it's still dumb to rant about politics in public so FHL indeed.

Where did I say that I value one countries soldiers over anothers? Not only that but if you were actually educated about the war you'd know that we aren't fighting the Iraqi's but the Taliban guerrilla fighters.

I never said you should mourn the American Soldiers and not the Iraqi civilians.

Both of your posts are well stated and I agree 100%.

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God doesn't exist.

Ok, by supporting soldiers your supporting the government, who started the war. Thus, you are supporting the war. This is besides the point. Im replying to this because you are an idiot. If you are going to call someone out on being uneducated about something please try and educate yourself first. The Taliban are in Afganistan. Al-Qaida are in Iraq, just saying

wtf?

#3 — "God bless"? Is that a request?

Anyhow, I agree — regardless of how much you might not have support for the war, show respect to the people who serve for the country.

@#152 what the fuck are you on about? Support soldiers = supporting the government? Is that a joke? I really hope you're a troll or something. You might aswell say that if you support your troops you are okay with murder. I mean wtf?

And the Taliban (and Al-Qaida) are in BOTH Iraq and Afghanistan. Just sayin.

Danny, it was a supplication.

totally support the soldiers, against the war, but still.... the soldier really didnt need to be so rude the OP.... unless OP was agreeing with his mother, then why should he be threatened.....

#318

In other words... it was a request.

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Let me guess #4: your news sources are FOX and CNN?

#24, you don't have to support the war to support the troops, asshole.

#24, what do news stations have to do with anything? Bottom line is that the soldiers deserve respect from EVERYONE.

Thats the sweetest thing I've ever heard #4

#4, I do that too ;] in fact, I just saw a soldier in the grocery store the other day, and gave her a hug.

I especially love it when they look down or upset and you just walk up to them and say "Thank you!" and give them a massive hug. Since they always smile.

so i'm guessing you get your news from nbc and abc? cmon i have classmates form foreign countries and during the last election they knew tons of stuff about obama and barely had any idea who mccain was so that just goes to show you that those channels are biased beyond belief... no news source (republican or democratic) is without bias so instead of eating up every word they feed you gain a solid opinion on your own research.

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Look, I'm going to Basic on July 28th. By January 14th, I'll be an officer.

So listen to this. Don't fucking hug me, don't thank me, don't give me any of that shit. It's just a job and all your measly sympathies mean nothing to me. So save it. And you can bet your ass I'm not doing this for any of you. I don't even know you people. Risking my nuts on your behalf would be the stupid thing to do.

number 237, was it?
look, you don't even deserve to be in the service.
you make are country look like a piece of SHIT.
it's people like you, who make people not want to support the war.
for other people, they do want to fight for others.
they want to do this.
i'm sorry you only care about yourself, but i hope you get your nads shot off.

people like you make me absolutely disgusted.
you're sickening.

lol @ 237. no chance youre actually in the military.

Whether he is or not it doesn't matter. If you see a soldier, show them some respect. Because even though we don't want to fight in the war, the soldiers may not want to either but they are still defending our freedom and our way of life. They don't have to do this they choose to and for that all soldiers have my respect and they will continue to have my respect. This is why Pat Tillman is such a hero to me. He turned down all that money to fight for what he believed in: a Free Country.

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Sarahface, you're fuckin' retarded. Next time you speak to me, use proper English so your shit is at least readable.

I care about more than myself. I'm gonna do everything in my power to protect the lives of those serving with me. That's my number one goal, more than anything.

But the idea that I'll be at the supermarket buying ice cream someday, when some empty-headed bimbo comes running up to hug me because they feel I need some sort of psychological support from absolute strangers is terrifying. It's pampering, hinting that I wouldn't have the mental backbone to deal with the stresses of military life on my own. So don't do it. I don't want it. Keep all that shit to yourself and spare me the trouble.

Yeah it's pretty clear #237 is talking out his ass just to make soldiers look bad. What a pathetic human being.

I don't see how such talk would make soldiers look bad. In fact, I find my position admirable. I don't want praise, I don't want thanks, I don't want any of that. I don't need it. To me, being a soldier is just another job, albeit perhaps a more dangerous one than most. I want the ability to see my duties through and live my life in peace without being pampered or raised on some phony pedestal by the rest of the society. Just leave me alone.

@ 237: You're a fucking disgrace.

Oh why? Because I don't want your emotional blowjobs in return for my service? Why is this so hard for you to understand? Fuck off! I do not want your comfort and coddling. Do it to other soldiers, maybe it's their thing. But it ain't mine.

Coddling denotes pity which denotes feelings of superiority. So shove it.

#35, 68 and whoever else I didn't say I was going around disrespecting them, I think that would be awful. I'm completely neutral in relation to soldiers, I treat them like anyone else.

However, they choose to be soldiers. I find it amusing that someone would want to hug them for doing something they volunteered to do, for a cause that a lot of us are admitting we don't agree with. Of course we shouldn't disrespect them, their jobs are very dangerous. But instead of hugging them, I would rather wish for the opportunity to hug the people whose lives I feel they're unnecessarily disrupting. That's all. Way to jump up my ass.

To #309. You can't pretend to be a soldier, bitch about people supporting the real heroes, and then ask to be left alone on a heated topic. That shit just doesn't make sense buddy.

I'm not pretending to be anything. This is just my personal preference. Once I'm in the military, don't go acting like I'm a great person simply because of that. It'd be superficial to judge me on one simple thing. My point is, soldiers, myself included, are not automatically noble. They're just people, with flaws and plusses and everything. So unless you know me as a person, don't give me shit. Just let me be. I'm trying to make that point as best I can.

sarahface sucks.

You give soldiers a bad name. Not everyone is as close-minded as you. Some actually CARE about the citizens and country. Grow some balls.

237- may I mention that I have 14 member of my family, my father, brothers, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and husband in the armed services, either over seas, or in domestic services.
When I see a soldier, I'm going to see one of them, especially my brother. Two of my cousins have died in the line of fire.
And may I assure you, when you walk out in that uniform, every military mother will see her son, every sister will see her brother, and every daughter will see her father.
Please take the implications of your actions into account. If someone thanks you, say you are welcome. You have no idea who you remind them of. Same goes to all you people badmouthing grateful civilians.

once again, officerpat.

look, NO ONE WANTS YOU.
we want the soldiers who care.
you keep repeating this story of, oh i don't want your sympathy, your thanks.
what fucking thanks would anyone in their right mind give you?

look at yourself, take a good look at yourself.
you live your life not caring about anyone outside of your life, and that's absolutely pathetic.
especially for an American Soldier.
look at what people are saying about you, what a heartless disgrace you are.

soldiers care, my brother is in the marines, and he wants everyone in this country (including those he DOESN'T FUCKING KNOW) to be safe.

i don't give a fuck about you, and no one wants to hug you or give you thanks.
because your only doing it for yourself.
you only think of it as a job, not as a life.

you're a pathetic piece of shit, and you're always going to be a pathetic piece of shit.

maybe when you grow a pair, you can get back to me.
i want to talk to a real man, a real soldier.
not some guy with his head so far up his ass that he can't tell which ways up.

if you were a real soldier you wouldn't be such a dick you would take in those thanks and grace from all of the people because the troops protect us and are our idols and they pretty much do everything for us. God Bless America and fuck you soldier i will never thank you only the true soldiers i will thank.

why do you say i suck, and not give a reason?
if you look at some of the things i've said, you may agree with me.

he doesn't want to protect you.
he wants to protect himself and his money.
he thinks of it as a job, and he admitted that.

that's not what a soldier is, and that's not the kind of person i look up to.
that's not who i want to have protect us.

Alwaysalady, all due respect to you because you can state a point intelligently and precisely, and not like a moronic fifteen year old who was molested by her stepfather. That said, while people may see in me the soldier that is related to them, I am not that guy. I am officerpat, and if they don't know officerpat, they have nothing to do with me. Any sympathies and thanks they wish to bestow on me are simply unnecessary harassments.

Ok, sarahface55, you're fifteen. I'm not sure why I even waste time with you. I guess I find it amusing, and I enjoy reading your pre-pubescent, grammatically-atrocious rants. Please, continue entertaining me.

YOU want to give me hugs and thanks. You want to do it automatically simply because I am a soldier (or, will be one). Maybe your personal hatred for me should teach you something: Not all soldiers are people to admire! They're just fucking people. Get that through your thick skull and stop trying to blow all of us.

I don't know what you're rambling about me only caring about myself and my money. I love my family, I love my friends, I love my girlfriend. But sorry, I'm not going to lie and act like I truly care about every American. Do you realize how many stupid fucking people live in this country? Yourself, for one. The numerous stupid drivers I encounter on the road every single day, all the troglodytes I knew in high school and college, most of the people I find on the internet. Despicable human beings. None of my shed blood is on their behalf, at all.

The Army IS a job. It pays me to work. I'm going to make about $50,000 a year as an officer, some of which is untaxed. So, yeah, I like those benefits. You think everyone in the military is some jingo who wants to go out and shoot Arabs and so forth? No way. A lot of people are in to simply find a skill and some experience to further themselves in life. I'm in this category too because I think the military experience will provide a nice addition to my resume later on. That alternate motivation doesn't cheapen the service at all. In fact, I'd say that takes more balls than signing up on behalf of murderous nationalistic urges.

In short, I'm joining the Army for the paycheck. Call me a mercenary, I'll accept that title. I'm still going to serve, and I'm still going to do whatever it is that the Army wants me to do, just like I would any other job. But I'm not going to lie and say that my service is entirely dedicated to the well-being of a country that is incredibly flawed (healthcare, foreign policy, education, for starters). From a practical standpoint, and I'm a brutally practical man, service is service is service. Motivation means little.

Wow I actually signed up to fmylife.com just to post in this FML cos the comments are the best thing I've ever read on this site.

I don't think there's anything wrong with your viewpoint, officerpat. Personally, I'd love it if people came up to me and hugged me (aw i thought that was really sweet :D) and thought I was amazing just for being a soldier, but people are different. However, people honestly think they are helping the soldiers by hugging them and stuff. They're not trying to harass you or anything.
And sarahsface, you can't just have noble people who want to defend every single American citizen in the army. Most soldiers are probably huge douchebags, but as long as they're assisting with the current aims of the US military (whatever those are), even the biggest asshole of a soldier is still valuable.

Anyway, in response to the OP, that soldier at the vending machine is just a huge dickhead. He probably got offended when your mum was rude about what he does, but he shouldn't have been so horrible to you. Just ignore him.

And finally, I think war is just a huge waste. The only use it could have thesedays is population control, but of course war wastes LOADS of natural resources so there is still huge overpopulation in war zones. I don't support the war, and I don't really support the troops either, mainly because they signed up voluntarily. And anyway, each side believes their cause is correct. So the Taliban-supporters believe that the terrorists are the heroes; and the Westerners believe the US soldiers are the heroes. According to me, there are no heroes in war.

Great post, Divine. You can understand my viewpoint because you live in a practical world where honorable military service is honorable military service, regardless of the motivating factors. Sarahface, like many fifteen year olds, lives in a world with a romanticized notion of war, where all soldiers are patriotic and virtuous men. If you see the military as a job and not some knightly honor bestowed upon only society's best, then you are not deserving of being a member at all. It's hysterically idiotic worldview that could only be seriously accepted by someone not yet at puberty, which seems to be an apt description of most people in this thread.

Thanks, but I'm only 15 myself! Sarahsface is just upset that you don't want to accept the honour she wants to bestow on soldiers. A lot of people do revere the whole "dying for your country" thing. I'm a bit confused about why you don't want people thinking you're really noble and honourable, but whatever.

And I don't completely agree with you. Being in the army isn't really a typical career that you do to earn money- it's not quite THAT practical. I mean, you are putting your life on the line, so the army must be more to you than just a career, surely? I mean, it's not like it pays amazingly- $50,000 a year wasn't it? That's only £30,000, which is not exactly a lot, at least where I live. So you must have some other kind of motivation for being in the army, whatever it is.

and by the way, officerpat. (:
AIN'T,

ain't a word. (:

How many spelling mistakes can you make, you retarded bimbo? Feel free to point out any grammar mistake of mine. And don't include "ain't". That is intentionally-used slang on my part, not mental retardation as most of yours seem to be.

Divine, I don't want the honorable and noble praises because they're superficial. For someone to say, "there's a soldier, he must be an excellent human being, let's go hug him" is making a judgement about my entire persona based on one little thing. It overlooks the fact that I'm an irritable, hard-drinking and sometimes downright mean person. I'm not calling myself a terrible human being, not by any means, but to look at my uniform and think I'm automatically some savior of mankind ignores the idea that I have flaws, just like all people. It's no different a statement than, say, "That girl is hot, I want to marry her" or "That guy is black, I bet he steals cars". If you want to make judgments about me, get to know me first. If you can't be bothered to know who I truly am, then save the superficial and uneducated assumptions about me.

There is a little more than money. I need adventure in a job. I won't ever be able to sit at a desk and run home with a paycheck. Cubicles, death, Hell, all the same thing, and definitely not for me. So the Army struck me as one of the top sources of outright adventure. Next, my family has a long military tradition. I have no plans to change that in any way. And on top of that, I have some inexplicable compulsion driving me to the military. I don't know what it is, but it's there. It pushes me into this everyday. So yeah, there are some intangible factors beyond money and resume building.

As for the money part itself, at least for the time being, I'm single. In the married, not married sense. $50,000 is a good sum of money. Now, the military will set me up nicely for other government jobs I'd be interested in. Some fields in the military make other fields in government all but guaranteed. But I might be interested in furthering my education, which the military pays for. This would mean business school, leading to collaborations with friends who are looking into a more corporate lifestyle, and from there I would find the big, big bucks.

So it's a pretty complex thought process. There are a LOT of things factoring into my decision and making me realize that it is the right one. It's far too intricate for someone of scarface's diminished mental capacity to understand.

no just "us" I think

no. he was trying to say "the soldier's eyes" but there was that clause in the middle of the sentence that made it awkward.

wow. i just saw #7's comment. haha

if you think "us" should be replaced with "our" in that sentence your wrong

I love the way you just used the wrong "you're" while correcting someone's grammar...

I think it should be 'ours'.

As in "near our vending machine"

Beat me to it. It's an apostrophe of possession and legal in the grammatical sense!

So you think it would be more American if dissenting or unpopular view points were only voiced in the home? I don't agree with her, she sounds ignorant and desperate to feel superior to somebody, but ignorant people are allowed to have their opinions heard too.

Wow. Seriously, #12? You are a complete biatch. You don't deserve to have the soldiers protect you.

I agree

Lol look at their name. The personality kinda reflects the statement huh?

Yeah, you need to be pretty stupid to enlist during a war. Especially during an invasion of a far weaker country. They might be brainwashed into thinking that they are defending my freedom, but it was under no threat from any Iraqi.

If you're fighting a defensive war, I'll support you (and presumably join you). If you're killing more than a million civilians in my name, then fuck you.

I don't really agree with #12 but you're really delusional if you think the war in Iraq has made us any safer. They aren't protecting anything by being there.

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in a way they are because the taliban is now preoccupied with dealing with the american forces kicking down there doors that they probably aint planning major terrorist attacks like twin towers and they are showing that if u fuck with american u will burn

Yeah except they blend well with with the general population. If they didn't actively engage us there's not really much hindering them from still planning attacks here. Border control and domestic agencies do a lot more than our international efforts.

gah lets just get this friggen war over with and fire bomb the entire place who cares they just grow dope there anyway it will be good for the rest of the world

#177, when someone enlists in the armed forces, it is selfless and brave thing to do. The soldiers do not sign up with the intention of going off to war, but rather to protect this country in case anything ever does happen. They did not choose to go to Iraq; they went where they were ordered to. If you want to be mad at someone, be mad at the government, not the courageous men and women who are over there, fuckass.

you can't call the whole country stupid it's just certain people.

you're stupid. the country isn't stupid, it's the war

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AMEN.

No offense, OP, but your mother is a pathetic, ignorant woman. How dare she insult the extraordinarily brave men and women who are sacrificing their lives for our country! Sounds like your mother is the dumb one; not the soldiers. Poster #3 is right; we should send your mother over to Iraq.

the government is sending them because they VOLUNTEERED to go. its their fault if they get hurt.
violence solves nothing.

@ 169 - So would it still be their fault if the draft was reinstilled? Just because you volunteer to join the military doesn't mean you choose to go to war. More soldiers don't want to go to war, they do because it's part of their orders.

but the draft isnt reinstated...so they still chose to enlist

@ 192 - That doesn't mean they choose to go to war. When you're in the military, you get told what to do. The end. You don't exercise your rights, you fight for someone else's.

yes it would. if a draft ensues and you get a card, burn it. adding to the violence only makes it worse.

Not necessarily... sometimes people's life situations dictate that joining the military is the only escape. It's unfortunate, but there's a reason the vast majority of soldiers come from poorer, less educated backgrounds.

Yes, there is no draft, but that does not mean enlisting was completely voluntary.

war isnt the only option, and its dumb to say that it is someones only escape.

Keep in mind that there are still a lot of Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, Guardsmen and Seamen in service who joined the military well before 9/11, before anyone really saw the wars coming...they just saw the military as a source of guaranteed income on top of serving their country...so no, they did not choose to go to war.

If nobody had the balls to VOLUNTEER wed hold a draft, and your name just might be called, failsatlife

and guess what id do.






burn my draft card.

and if there was a draft and my name was pulled, id burn my draft card.
or letter.
or what ever they send that tells me that i must fight.
because violence is pointless and immature.
and i refuse to take any part in it.

Let's see now...

The soldier at the vending machine near ours eyes met mine.

No, that doesn't make much sense either. It was just awkward wording.

I say again, if you think "us" should be replaced with "ours", you are wrong

so who exactly is poccessing the vending machine that is near the OP.
the phrase is basically the soldier's eyes met ours
but for spatial location and identification we are told he is standing near a vending machine. (the soldier's) becomes the (soldier at the vending machine near us)'s, but s's turns into s'. so yeah....now you know

@ 23 - You have the right to freedom of speech because a soldier, at one point in history, fought for that right. It's called respect, learn it.

so, I could be wrong. But I'm pretty sure that there was no 'war on free speech' that soldiers fought for so we can now enjoy saying whatever we feel like saying. Ummm... there's this thing called the First Amendment (to the United States Constitution), and that's why we have freedom of speech. We did not have that right at one point. We went to court. We have it now.
I'm not saying soldiers aren't great and all that... I'm just saying that your statement that, "You have the right to freedom of speech because a soldier, at one point in history, fought for that right," is wrong.

Nice!!

Really?! Without soldiers your government would sanction civilians exercising their free speech - you believe this?

Typo -
Really?! Without soldiers your government would sanction civilians being shot for exercising free speech - you believe this?

I would assume so, because she said it. Stop being a bitch by attempting to make other people feel stupid through rhetorical questions that only restate precisely what was said. It is true, if there were no soldiers there would be no military, with no military America would be lost to a government that WOULD sanction the execution of outspoken citizens. The poster never said the current government would suddenly start taking on those policies, she warned that a take-over is possible without a military. So, I guess that makes you stupid because, honestly, do you really believe that asking about someone's belief just after they stated what they were makes /them/ sound stupid?

Ofcourse, if America stops wrongfully invading foreign countries the next logical step is that they will invade America. The best defense is a good ofense...These soldiers arent fighting for your freedom of speech, they are attempting to impose freedom of speech on a foreign country...and failing. Freedom comes from within, you cant force it on people. (this doesnt mean you can help when THEY ASK for it)

yeah, actually because if the soldiers went away, we'd be overrun by some communistic or dictated country, and then free speech would be gone.

You need a history lesson. America has not been under threat of occupation since 1812. Enough of this "without soldiers" argument. No one is suggesting that soldiers should not exist, simply that they are not the heroes they make themselves out to be. They are fighting an unpopular and unnecessary war, and if you think that that is going to earn them respect, then you are wrong.

yeahhh its pretty shameful actually
and extremly hypocritical
both my parents were in the marines so I was against it but I was under 18 so my opinion didnt have a voice.

You are very ignorant if you think the war has done almost nothing...

what has it done? now we have to find a way to get our troops out safely, w/out them coming after us. Great.

Umm, corrupt? Doubt it. 3/4ths of my family is in the military, along with my boyfriend and I can honestly say that they're far from corrupt. They're just doing what they think is right by protecting the citizens of their country - you included.

And they don't "follow" Bush. True, for 8 years, they had to follow his commands, but they don't necessarily agree with them, but they listened to him anyway because that is what they were trained to do. And, you really have no idea what the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are about, do you? They're not about "blowing up" Pakistan and Afghanistan, they're about setting up a Democracy in Iraq, and destroying the people that threaten the freedom of the US and other countries like the US. And, I fail to see how Bush made Al Qaeda into terrorists... they're a terrorist group who have been around a lot longer than Bush was in office.

Anyway, you have the right to your own opinion. And, I have the right to think that your opinion is stupid. Welcome to the wonderful world of politics.

Oh, and OP: FYL indeed.

Hey, go fuck yourself. I don't know where you come from or rightly care. I'm a US Marine and I am not a corrupt douche bag. There are people in Iraq and Afghanistan that would rape your wife and make you watch. So what's wrong with wanting to kill them? Is there anything wrong with wanting vindication for lives lost on September 11? No there isn't. Also, we wouldn't be in Iraq at all if Saddam Hussein had just let UN inspectors into the country in the first place, instead he said no and we waited an inordinate amount of time, allowing him the time he needed to remove/hide the weapons and make our entry into the country seem unwarranted. I hope you experience an incredibly unjust evil in your life, and when you seek retribution, everyone you know and love denounces your actions. Then you will know how it feels to be blamed for wanting justice in the world. But no, I'm not supposed to say anything like that am I? Because when I do, it makes us all seem like hateful bastards. Yet, if I say nothing at all to defend myself, then 'silence is consent' as they say. Honestly, I don't want that to happen to you. I just want you to open your mind and your eyes and see things from our point of view, the point of view of those of us willing to go to any country in need of help and fight and die for them when they are unable to. The extremists say they don't want us here, yet I've seen and heard civilians and government officials applaud our presence. Speak not, of what you do not know; lest you find yourself in our position one day.

ya they'r a load of douche bags 4 dying 4 ur srry ass when ur sitting here w/ ur nice little computer while theyr out on the battlefield dying-fuck u

Well said, inadvertant.

And, I thank you for your service.

Semper Fi.

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Nice choice of words. I'm a Marine in Iraq right now. And my computer isn't nice; it's a piece of shit. Hope someone invades you and nobody helps ^.^

I think the "nice little computer" comment was directed at #31

ya and i think some ppl read mine wrong-im talkin about #31 whos a complete douche bag not the troops i agree w/ inadvertant srry

crazy_vballr, that was my bad XD
statement retracted :P

Is there anything wrong with wanting vindication for lives lost on September 11?

Yes there is. Revenge is no real reason to kill. Because what happens when you kills someone's son? They they kill one of yours, you kill one of their's etc.. etc..
This kind of mentality is the path that will lead to humanities destruction.

If the only reason you joined the army was to get revenge on some ragheads for 9/11 then FYL.

Don't get me wrong. If someones shooting at you then headshot that motherfucker down! And if you joined the army for all the right reasons then good on you. You have my utmost respect.

Unfortunately not everyone has your morals and there are some out there who just want to kill and use 9/11 as an excuse. A poor excuse at that. Those people are the ones you need to watch out for. Because what happens when they return after getting a leg blown off and you piss them off for some or other reason?

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Thank you for everything you do. You are not unappreciated everywhere.

to #46,

you're an idiot. if you knew anything about history or the middle east, you'd know that saddam huissein had absolutely nothing to do with al quaeda. iraq had a secular dictatorship, the key word there being secular. islamic fundamentalists were their enemies. i have no problem with the mission in afghanistan, but the war in iraq destabilized a country which acted as a counterbalance to iran, which is radically islamic. the war in iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 you dipshit, you get that mixed up with afghanistan. none of the terrorists involved in that tragedy were iraqi, and if you took the time to look, you'd find a multitude of credible news sources to back that up. i hope you feel bad about the 50,000 iraqi civilians killed as a result of this unjust war. saddam was a bad man, he killed kurds , but he kept the religious tensions down. he was an evil in this world, but the lesser evil.

and you also think that saddam magically hid all his weapons where no one has been able to find them since? you're sounding more and more like a conspiracy nut. accept the fact that there were no weapons in the first place. the american government lied to us, and it's not the first time that's ever happened. it's a damn shame, but trying to justify it is worse.

and i sincerely feel sorry for you that you had to serve in such an unjust war. this sort of reminds me of a quote i like, "war is old men sending young men to die". it's not specific to this discussion, but i hope you think about it nonetheless. anyways, if you ever fight in a war i consider just, (i'm being self-referential here because "just" is so subjective), you'll have my sincere gratitude and respect.

yes cuz #46 is totally going 2 go fight in a war he knows nothing about-perfect sense. i think he knows wat hes doing. hes there 1st hand ur not.

You said: "Is there anything wrong with wanting vindication for lives lost on September 11? No there isn't".
Well actually there IS! Did the whole country of Iraq commit that act? No.... There are American soldiers that comitted some horrible acts towards innocent Iraqi people and according to your reasoning they could seek vindication from America? All I see is a vicious circle...

He didn't say anything about Iraq being linked to Al Quaeda dipstick.
And you can't say that there wasn't a chance of Saddam having nuclear weapons, you wouldn't know.
The odds of a sadist dictator in the middle east having some form of nuclear weapon? Very high.


The reason we're in Iraq is because Bush had bigger balls than the UN.

hey you fucking asshole. I would suggest knowing what youre talking about before you say something OK? bush really? did you watch or follow him or the news at all? lets see, 3 1/2 years bush was fine as president, he did a good job. Our economy was close to a high, it was not until the last 6 months of his presidency that our economy started falling. AND, are you really going to call our soldiers douches? why the fuck dont you go over to Iraq for months at a time. Why dont you go without seeing your family for months, maybe years. Why the fuck dont you go spend each day NOT KNOWING IF YOUR GOING TO WAKE UP THE FOLLOWING DAY. its people like you that fuck up this country.

So again please know what the fuck your talking about BEFORE you say something stupid like this again.

Get it? Got it. Good.

#46 fuck you!! you think because you serve you are better than other people? you say your arn't a dick but you are. is that why you joined? to be loved?

People not liking you is APART OF THE JOB. for someone so strong and brave you are a pussy. get over yourself. (pass that along to all your buddies)

??

When i first read this remark i knew it was you smykla...there are people in this country that would rape your wife and make you watch....the truth is unless you went in the beginning you don't know how bad they had it. I will not elaborate but damn it's good to know i can pick you out of hundreds of post. who says i don't know my troops...and most people on here don't have a clue, don't get mad, it's funny. i laugh my ass off....you are a crazy SOB though miss you guys..

#32 is right. I don't disagree with her opinion, but with such touchy subjects, you can't be talking about it in public places where there may be those people that you're talking about. I don't think she was being rude as it was a private conversation about her opinion, but some people would still be offended hearing it. She should have waited until they were somewhere else, alone.

However, I don't think people should be blaming the mom so much. Like no one else here has ever started talking about something/someone and later realized that there were people around it could offend? I doubt everyone blaming the mother looks around at all the people around them when they talk before saying anything that could be considered offensive. If anyone claims they do this every time, their egotistical.

no because then you learn nothing from the situation if you jus speak in reserves. If the OP's mother knew what happened then now she knows to watch her fuckin mouth.

Why on earth should she do that? She doesn't support the war nor did she enlist in the defense service!

That's kind of the point of the saying.

If you don't support/respect the troops, you should try living their life for a bit.

But they *chose* that life. She is not required to support them and her lack of support does not mean she is required to try their life. I don't think she doubts the decisions they have made means they have a hard life but they did make the decisions that led them there.

I HATE that saying. It indicates a serious lack of intelligence that anyone can sit here and talk about how the soldiers protect America's freedom and then, in the same breath, turn around and say some parochial bullshit like that. If you're going to talk about protecting freedom of speech, then you can't complain when someone voices their opinion, no matter how disgusting you find that opinion to be.

So you sympathize with soldiers who enlist before the war, but not the ones who enlist after. So the ones who enlisted before had NO IDEA that they could POSSIBLY EVER be sent to war and those poor poor darlings got tricked into it by Meanie Head Mr. Bush? Please. (And no I don't sympathize with Bush. I wasn't even old enough to vote during either Bush election, but you better believe I would have voted Democrat each time, and I certainly cast my vote for Obama with pride this time around.)

And using that logic, OK. Lets say NO ONE ELSE enlists from now on until the war is over. And lets say the war goes on for a VERY long time. What happens when the ones who are already enlisted die (God rest their souls), retire, or their contracts expire and they chose not to renew. What, we just don't have a military anymore because God forbid anyone enlist while a war is going on? We just give up on the whole military concept and let ourselves be taken over because no one should enlist after a war has already started. Good plan.

Oh and what about the people who have always wanted to serve, but just HAPPENED to turn 18 AFTER the war started? They're idiots too, for following through with their goals, huh?

And sweetie, let me tell you something. My boyfriend is one of those soldiers who enlisted AFTER the war started, and is now in Iraq. And trust me, he doesn't give a crap whether he gets "sympathy" from the likes of you or anyone who thinks like you. A little respect would be nice, but he doesn't expect or demand that either.

And as for "it's not because of the soldiers that we can do this or that"...ever heard of the Revolutionary War? If it wasn't for soldiers, we'd still be flying a British flag. When people say "we can do this or that" because of soldiers, they don't mean ONLY today, they mean throughout our military's history.

And no, I'm not some kind of war supporter that loves the fact that we're over there. Once again, I have a boyfriend over there and I want him home more than anyone. I just think it's disgusting for people to refer to him as "stupid" or anything else for doing something people like you WOULD NEVER DREAM OF DOING. Thank God for people like my bf, because if the country was full of people like you we'd have serious problems if we were ever attacked again...

Well done, #117.

I think you entirely missed the point. I apologize if i too have missed the point.

The war is internationally unlawful. America Started it for unjust reasons and now is forced to continue it because of the NEW enimies they have made, and the OLD enimies they have enraged. A person who has dreamed of being a soldier forever and turned 18 during the war should look at the situation and realize there is a stupid unjust war happening on foreign soil. maybe the thought "if i enlist now i will get shipped there and i might die for a reason I should not believe in". (and no the reason for the Iraq war is not protecting America... well it didnt use to be)
As for supporting soldiers now becuase soldiers in the revolution earned my free speech. WTF kind of logic is that. Yeah we owe a lot to military in general. doesnt mean what they are doing now is worthy of my respect.

and if people stop enlisting i can tell you the war will be over sooner than if people keep enlisting. once it is over and America is shamed again for fighting a war they should not have men can enlist again. Then the war is over and your Army can have honor again and be worthy of the respect that your bf doesn't demand or expect.
His point was not to give up on the whole military concept it was to give up on a military that is abusing power, much like a father abusing power, deal with the ones abusing, keep the father concept.

I'm a Canadian Soldier ha ha. But that still just makes this all the more infuriating. It doesn't matter why the soldiers enlisted, or when, but they're still soldier's. They're doing their job, fighting, while a lot of you here are busting their asses, safe at home on your computer. Shut Up.

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It's not for "next to no reason". We are here so that the people of Iraq may have a democratic government and be in charge of their own lives again; not having to live in fear of corrupt dictators and extremists. And please define "heaps of people", because last time I checked, many more lives were lost in a few days during WWII than here in Iraq. Oh, and FYI, more people die in car accidents each year than in Iraq. So, why don't you stop driving around? You see that statistics and think "Let's go for a drive?" No, not stupid at all.

No offense because I support the troups and all but Iraq was none of our business. It wasn't our job to decide that Iraq's government needed fixing. UrStoopid is right we didn't go to Iraq to protect us we wen't to meddle in what wasn't our business. Afghanistan, now that's where we need to focus our efforts, that's the country that hurt us.

Afghanistan didn't hurt us any more than Iraq did. A group of extremists possibly hiding in Afghanistan hurt us. There is a monumental difference.

We are in Iraq for oil. Nothing else. There are thousands of countries on the globe with terrible, oppressive governments, none of which the American government gives the slightest fuck about, because they have little to no oil to offer.

And personally, and I mean no offense by this as it is simply my opinion, I don't feel that blindly following orders and shooting in order to not be shot are actions that merit my respect. You enlisted and are required to do such things. If you do not agree with the war, which I do not, then you are not fighting for what you believe in, but simply because you are told to, and would be in danger if you did not. It takes more than that to earn my respect.

Al Qaeda and Taliban operatives were coming from Iraq to Afghanistan, and from other countries to Iraq. Them being there was our business.

Oh ok #59, next time I feel like getting into a car I'll just go to a warzone instead. Far safer.

In any case, I don't drive. Environment and all that.

yeahh. I think the internet has de-sensitised all of America

Agreed. It pains me greatly when I see people protesting the Beiruit memorial in North Carolina (some people claiming to be a Baptist Church did it twice) and protesting a funeral. It literally sickens me to know that those are some of the people I have given 90 percent of my rights to defend from all threats.

you are supported & appreciated=)

I thank you for your service. As #92 said, you're supported and appreciated.

Stay safe and come home soon.

Wow that last line kinda hit me there... that's a sad thought. :[
[The whole bombing in the middle of the night thing...]

I´m from Holland, and because of the `The Hague Act´we are next in line to be invaded by your fine military if, god forbid, Americans should ever have to answer for their war crimes.
I do not quite understand how someone who does a dangerous job has to be revered automatically, how invading an inferior country under false pretenses is protecting a way of life and why people automatically resort to bullying people into supporting the troops.
I understand that war, sometimes, can be the best option and I know that without the Allies all of us Dutchies would be speaking german :).
But bullying people into taking your position if they disagree with you, that doesn't look like defending democracy, in fact, quite the opposite. If you don't revere, or respect the millitary because you don't agree with the cause of the war, that's fine. If other people don't like that, there is always discussion.
And remember kids: Respect can never be demanded or claimed, it can only be earned.

Well said.

Same. His mother was pretty outright rude, but the OP definitely didn't deserve that.

It's an FML because the soldier overheard a woman who he was protecting by being in the service calling him a dumbass for being in the military.

You think soldiers are dumb? Try living their life.

Dude, that was uncalled for, u need to get a life and learn what the army is all about, who knows what kind of condition the US would be in

i think stupid people are dumb, and having to put up with the consequences of making stupid decisions is their problem, why would living their life change anything? oh now i see, this really was a stupid thing to do...so my statement is...uh....wait what was the point of doing this again?
dumbest fucking arguement ever. 'try living their life' fucking moron. try living the life of someone whos genuinely stupid, has a low iq, and several psychological disorders, pretty sure it wouldnt change the fact theyre stupid. except that wow, its hard being stupid. point? yeah. youve got nothing.

It's actually not "near ours"; the OP got the grammar correctly, although it sounds awkward. She referred to the soldier as "the soldier at the vending machine near us", and then she referred to his eyes, so she added "'s" to the last part (with it referring to the whole phrase about the soldier) . It's the same as saying "the soldier's eyes met mine" only she elaborated on the soldier's place.

The people and families that they are shooting at feel the same thing. Do you have a cute little fashion statement supporting them?

It's not a "cute little fashion statement", it's my opinion. Like I said, I don't agree with the war, but I do support those men & women over there, and I certainly don't agree with those who can't support our armed forces.

haha awesome reply!!

Most people here forget that most of OUR troops are ignorant, backward and bigoted individuals. Do you know how much racism, sexism, homophobia and bigotry there is in the army? A large percentage of the troops are not fighting for people like me - they're only fighting for white protestant men. Death only matters to them when it's one of them that dies - not when they're raping or murdering innocent brown men, women and children.

You say "He enlisted right before the war started, so he had no way of knowing this would have happened."
Perhaps he didn't know it would happen but he certainly knew it *could* happen. By joining the military you are agreeing to go to war if war happens while you are enlisted. It was his choice.

The mother in the FML said the were dumb for enlisting during the war, so the people she is talking about DID want to be there.

Lots of people have said that actually. I totally agree.

a lot of people have said that, the soldier said something wrong but so did her mother.

Hold up, you think that people are dumb for joining the service? Do you have any idea how fucked a country would be without a military? Soldiers are out there to protect their country and the people living in it.

You're a dumbass. Let me just get that out of the way. How dare you call our soldiers "dumb" just because they choose to defend this country. Excuse them for being considerate enough to protect your ungrateful ass. My dad was a marine for 20 years, so I'm very grateful to all of our troops. They aren't being dumb, they're being brave. Maybe you should come out of your cave and get some of that hot air out of your head, so you can realize that. =)

I in no way support or agree with the war, and I would personally never join the army, but I support the troops and the people over there, especially since I know people who are in or have been in the military.

And to all the people saying that anyone who joins the military is dumb, I'd like to hear you try to say that if we had no military or defense. We'd be pretty fucked.

you know something? screw you!
if it wasnt for them there would be no USA!
they keep us free and allow idiots like you to speak such crap.
now go work for the terrorists, will you?

you are ignorant. You obviously have no idea what its like. It's there job and they are keeping you alive.

But don't worry, they will still fight to keep you safe.

Costa Rica doesn't have a military, and it's a fine country. The issues that it does have certainly don't stem from a lack of an armed force. Just to show that a country is not fucked without a military, as one poster above thinks would be the case.

can i criticize your spelling, you dumb bitch

I commend you for your service #146. You and everyone else that is enlisted. Thank you, thank you.

thank you for the service that you are doing this country. you absolutely do not deserve hearing of someone being ignorant and saying that. my husband is fighting this war as well. God bless you and your family. Thank you for keeping me safe at night.

hell yea.

#157...read it.

#175, shut the fuck up. You have no idea what you're fucking talking about, and therefore, you should go ahead and sew your mouth shut and tie your hands behind your back so you can never say/type ignorant words like that again. Dumb bitch.

...because his mom said it. Not the OP.

Protip: those people getting rich would get rich anyway, doesn't matter what surrounds them, they'll do it.
Second, you're stupid, go tell your nutty professor who never leaves campus that the world doesn't like him, or his stupid conspiracy theory opinions.
Next you're going to tell us all that North Korea's government likes us.

When I first read this I got angry, but then I realized that slime like this will change their minds real fast when N. Korea finally gets their shit together and hits us with a nuke. Then I wonder how long it will take to drop to their knees and blow every servicemen that allow pussies like him to sleep safe at night. And plus this idiot thinks pearl harbor was just an excuse so we could get into WWII for money. Not giving a history lesson here educated people will know how that went down. We haven't seen barely any of the money we loaned out for that war.

#211 shut the fuck up, you're an idiot. I bet you're from Iran where you're allowed to buy your wife at age 12 and legally rape them every night. We're goin over to the MiddleEast to reastablish their government and make not only our homes safe, but their homes safe as well. Not only does the majority of America appreciate their troops, so does the majority of Iraqi familys who we've made living easier for. SEMPER FI

Haha I actually live in Canada and I can't stand the fact that we had to get involved with your shit, but speaking of buying wives aren't you the ones who have polygamous marriages and inbreeding, guess that would explain a lot. And American soldiers have been know to rape Middle Eastern girls so hows that for messed up..really very brave of them. Thanks soldiers!

So, Austria-Hungary killed Franz Ferdinand, We bombed our own ships at Pearl Harbor, and flew are own planes into the twin towers?

You sir, are and idiot.

Your a dumbass...I'd be ashamed to ever think like that...people are DYING for you, and your blowing that off..."it's not me, so why does it matter?"... It's pathetic Americans are thinking like this

9/11 was definately done by the U.S. gov seriously how could you believe that give me a shred of evidence. Also, If it wasnt for America your Canadian ass would be speaking either German, Japanese or Russian. Very soon without the U.S. you will be speaking Korean or Chinese... The US protects the West and Freedom not just America because they are the only ones with a spine.

As if that shit doesn't happen all over the world. At least polygamy is illegal in United States essentially forcing most of those freaks to cross the border into your shithole of a place. And if there's any of our soldiers raping MiddleEastern girls then sorry but you have a couple bad apples in every country's military, which i fuckin hate just as much. So if you want to bash anyone, go into politics and challenge the U.S. Governement, not the men and women who sacrifice their lives for their loved ones. The war in the Middle East may not be favored or liked by the soldiers and civilians of the United States, but we stand our ground for when shitheads like Hitler come around. Just be happy that when some asshole dictator comes around and trys occupying Canada, the United States has your back whether you like it or not.

...You are an ungrateful, ignorant, unsupportive dumbass. I wish I could send you to Iraq so you can see how our brave soldiers feel. Shut the hell up, you crazed conspiracy theorist. Yes, 9/11 was a set up, and the government is using an airborn bacteria that we breathe in so they can control our minds. Yup, that too....what a moron. @@

Support our troops!

HOORAAHH

Oh, I get it. You're one of these OMGOMGOMGOMG LOOSE CHANGE CHANGED MY LIFE people. Go to hell. As someone who was a scared 8th grader in the middle of MANHATTAN, NYC on September 11th, 2001; someone who for HOURS did not know where her own father was or even whether he'd come home (thank God he did, but all these years later I still mourn the ones who did not), it is beyond me how you can so nonchalantly make RIDICULOUS claims about that day. Don't even get me started on Pearl Harbor or WWI. Financial reasons? You do realize that the Iraq war and both World Wars caused our economy to LOSE money? You wanna talk about the world believing that Americans are morons? Well I don't blame them, because it's MORONS LIKE YOU WHO MAKE THE REST OF US LOOK BAD.

Canada is a lot like the spare change on the floor of your car: you know it's there, but it's never worth more than a glance . Canada- the aborted defecation of Communism.

Again, yes normal dumb American lost money but a select few other people were making it and its funny how no one in America actually gets how brain washed they are. Go anywhere else and you will see what kind of country you really are..cowards with no respect for anyone else because American's are so patriotic is pathetic. I wish we weren't tied to the States, heck Id rather go live in the Middle East then live in this North American shit hole. And if I was to live in the Middle East I would join their side not the States' side. American's are so idiotic and everyone pretty much hates them and the only people who are so desperate to get into the states is because they have no other choice and are falsely promised the "American dream" and all that bull. They blindly follow their government and believe that some "terrorists" were able to hijack planes and get all the way to the twin towers without fighter jets being able to get there in time. Please 9/11 was meant to happen and it serves the States right for all the times they killed innocent people. ONLY over 3,000 people died that day but all the hundred's of thousands lives that the States have taken apparently don't matter. Can't wait till North Korea nukes the states and everyone in it..the whole world would rejoice :D

No, they mistreat prisoners

Seeing all these replies from people who support the troops making bigoted statements just proves my point that you all are stupid, misinformed and ignorant.

North Korea is going to nuke no one. Stop watching Fox News. This is neo-Mccarthyism and all you Fox News watchers have been brainwashed by Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck.

And unlike you right-wingers (who claim to be Christians), I don't make bigoted statements about blacks, chinese people or middle easterners.

@ laterdays: Um...move? Seriously, all the war and stupid conspiracy theories and crap aside. If you honestly hate North America that much...move. It's really not that hard. I'm sure Canada isn't regulating who can leave their country...pack your stuff, book a flight, and go to the Middle East. Enjoy your new life. It always amazes me how people waste their time bitching about hating the place they live...then stay there. Simple logic, if you don't like a place, leave.

Thanks and I won't be looking back for sure.Way to assume you idiot, I am currently planning my move so good luck to you when North America becomes worse than it already is every single country turns on America. Hope another 9/11 happens so you can use that as an excuse to go into Iran so that Iran can crush you idiots.haha

lol omg you crack me up. I like most canadians, but you're startin to set a bad example for your own country. I've lived in many places throughout Europe for months on end. Belgium, France, Germany, Holland, Amsterdam, Switzerland, tons more to purposely become familiar with and respect their views. None of them have ever said stuff as assanine and ignorant as you. Try living in the United States for a bit and get to know the people before you take such an extreme and sharp angled view. Without multiple sources and experiences, you are the epitimy of brainwashed.

haha this is fun

I cant even think of something to say to you 211, you're just crazy conspiracy theorist nutjob who thinks hes enlightened

its interesting that when people don't have any backup argument they attack the person that at least educates themselves.Instead of calling me brainwashed or conspiracy theorist, why don't you counter argue what I say. I mean why get so defensive and angry if its not true....

Laterdays, no one can make an argument against you because you offer absolutely nothing of fact. Your entire posts are nothing more than hate-filled rants about how you despise the West and blah, blah, blah. You come off more like a pregnant woman on drugs than anything else. You are armed with nothing but your opinion, and while it might be incredibly stupid, no one can refute it factually. Give us some facts, and I have no doubt that you will be wrecked. Seriously, try me.

Also, I'm not some mindless American. This country has a shit-ton of problems and it's done a lot of fucked up things, from Iran-Contra to the current Iraq War to support given to thugs like Hussein and Pinochet. But that being said, I still think you come off as whiny and uninformed.

IT WAS THE TAX AND SPEND REPUBLICANS THAT GAVE US THE LARGEST DEBT IN THE WORLD'S HISTORY... THE LARGEST GROWTH IN FEDERAL GOVT ever!

I don't know quite how you could "love" her. I find that quite disrespectful. Whether you agree with the war or not, DO NOT (and i repeat) DO NOT disrepect a solder like that, in any way, shape, or form. She needs to learn some manners (and perhaps get out of this country if she doesn't support our soldiers who work hard to keep it "free" for her sorry, ungrateful, self).

None of those things are true. At all.

ahhhhh I love that. But you see, the other day i said i was techincally giving people the right to post things on here....Freedom of Speech, and I got bitched at, eh whatever.

Because THE CONSTITUTION gives people rights. Not soldiers, not politicians. If your name is not on that piece of paper, you have nothing to do with it.

Oh really? Then what is true? Cause I support that one hundred percent

and what happens when North Korea takes over... o ye the constitution means fuck all.

You mean the CONSTITUTION that only exists because your Fore Fathers fought the American Revolution to give you those rights? That's probably the same CONSTITUTION that was defended by soldiers when the British burned down your capital during the War of 1812.

While soldiers do not necessarily give you those rights, they are instrumental in allowing you to use them. It's the soldier, not the lawyer or the Supreme Court justice, that is going to protect you from the lunatics that want to subjugate you to their will. So show a little respect.

It is the soldier who rapes his prisoners
it is the soldier who fights for a cause even he doesn't believe in
it is the soldier who brings home the oil
it is the soldier who comes back and thinks he is the biggest shit around because he killed someone

#350

It is your ignorance that rapes the minds of our youth today, shoving what you believe down their throats.
It is your ignorance that fights those within our country, when the last thing we need to do is stand divided.
It is your ignorance that brings home your lack of knowledge and awareness, and spreads it like a disease.
It is your ignorance that still lets you walk around and spread foul words on people who do their job, and protect you and your rights to spread your said ignorance.

Iraq is a fight on my behalf? Really? I'm going into the military and I don't even believe that. I have my reasons for going in, but to fight for everyone here is not one of them. This isn't WWII or the Revolution. There is not currently any armed fight for the American people. The Iraq War, if anything, is a fight on behalf of Iraqis, and the same goes for Afghanistan. Don't trick yourself into thinking that troops currently in Iraq are directly protecting our freedoms or whatnot. That's simply not the case.

born free in gods eyes and natures eyes... not in Islams eyes nuff said.

Ahh, but you may not have been born free in Hitler's or Saddam Hussein's eyes, and THAT is why our soldiers continue to fight.

This FML is not a hypothetical situation, it is real, I wasn't born under the rule of Sadam or Hitler.
I am not at all religious, but i do believe all living things are entitled to freedom. War is not the only way to get to it. Brazil didn't get freedom from the Portuguese through war. I have family in the war, if they were to die, I would be proud of them because they died for what they believe for, not for what I believe. Like many people, I am planning to go join the military when i am old enough, just to get money.

Lots of people are courageous. Not all of them get the respect they deserve. Personally, it takes more than blindly following orders and shooting in order to not be shot to earn my respect. I mean no offense by that, it's simply my opinion that being in the military does not automatically make you any more of a hero than those you left behind, and until you do some truly outstanding deed, your service doesn't quite merit my respect. Appreciation, maybe. Respect, no.

I second this...lol very nicely said

No most people who join the military are stupid and brainwashed and don't know a thing about the constitution or the first amendment. So stop this BS about them wanting to protect you - no they were just too stupid to realize that Republican politicians will utilize them so that Dick Cheney and his gang can make as much money as possible.

In any other country one would be killed for being against the military? Really? I'd love to see some proof of this. Because I can think of dozens upon dozens of countries where that is NOT the case. In fact, I'm hard pressed to think of a country where anti-military citizens are executed. Maybe Iran in it's current chaotic state, but that's a rare exception.

This is getting to be a particularly tiresome concept. America is NOT the only free country on the planet. It's not the most liberty-laden country either. It simply shows America's special breed of arrogance for anyone to sit here and tout that it is. It's not 1650 anymore, folks. If you don't like America, you can go pretty much anywhere in Europe, nearly all of the Americas, Australia and then numerous random places around the rest of the globe. Liberty and human freedom is not very hard to come by anymore, and it's certainly not exclusive to this country, whether Americans think it is or not.

It's talking like that that makes us look bad, you haven't even gone to basic yet so don't try to be all Johnny Badass, there are more tactful ways to express what you just said. You'll learn that in OCS. Anyways, welcome to the club.

You're going to Basic, but becoming an Officer?

Learn how OCS/ROTC works before trying to spew some bullshit. Because that's not how it goes for them.

Ok. I didn't think I needed to explain it that much. On July 28th, I report to Basic Combat Training. On October 13th or so, I graduate BCT. As soon as I graduate, because I have a four year degree, I report to OCS. I will then graduate on January 14th, making myself a 2nd Lieutenant. Don't jump on my nuts; I know what I'm talking about.

Number 243, was it?

Don't worry, no one wants to fucking touch you.
It's people like you that make us look bad.
Believe it or not, their are good people out there that want to fight for others.
That want to fight for this country.
You don't even deserve to go be in the service.
I feel for anyone that has to work near you.

I hope you get your balls blown off.

Not even the Iraqis?

You remind people to please be respectful yet you say to another poster "I hope you get your balls blown off". Nice.

where were you the other day when i said that same exact thing!? hah i said if you can read this, thank a teacher. if you can read this in english, thank a soldier. and i was told i was ignorant =[! buttttttt yessss glad you put it

wait, shouldn't we be thanking the british colonizers who killed and ran out the native americans?

OP: I'm sorry your mom publicly embarrassed you. and that the soldier wasn't more gracious about it.

Hi, A Republican. Plz lrn2write in paragraphs. No one will read that huge block of text.

#271 — Not like anyone will want to read it separated into paragraphs anyway, as the bullshit would remain the same, albeit uncompressed.

You're an idiot.
If you're in the military, it just proves how the military is full of stupid, ignorant, backward, misguided idiots like you.

first, how is anything i said make me an idiot. everything i said is the truth. and second, i'm not in the military, but i am planning to go to the air force academy. their backward, misguided ways that protect you every day really appeal to me.

Too many negative votes, comment buried. Show the comment.

you know something? screw you!
if it wasnt for them there would be no USA!
they keep us free and allow idiots like you to speak such crap.
now go work for the terrorists, will you?

You say if people don't like the US government they should get out. Isn't a rather large point of having a democratic society that if you don't like your government you work and vote to change it?

actually, a lot of them joined for the college money and other perks. I'm not trying to be an asshole, but do you really think that every single soldier wanted to "fight for his country and for freedom." if that's what you think then I can tell you that you are wrong. not all soldiers are hero's, I don't know why everyone insists that they are.

That's sort of the point I'm trying to get across in comments 237/243. I'm getting berated for it, but I don't care. Judging from the response I'm getting, it's almost like people want to force soldiers to have some holier-than-thou perspective. I'm not trying to be like that. I want to do my job and be left alone.

Hell, even now, just telling people that I'm entering gets met with thanks and other pity cards. I was getting a lap dance from a stripper a few months ago and she asked what I was doing after college. When I told her, she started thanking me and talking about the bravery of soldiers. What a mood killer.

i hope you fucking burn in hell to asshole fuck you!!!!! fuck you fuck you fuck you u fucking cocking sucker!~

Wow, talk about being rude. And why exactly are you using an ampersand twice??