D. Armenta
PlagmanThis SEPO says: ENOUGH!!!
RE: The U.S., Australia, war, and McDonald's:
I am a veteran of the Gulf war. I speak for no one but my own badass self.
Unless you have been in active service in the military during wartime, please don't try to be my mouthpiece.
Having relatives, siblings or friends that have been doesn't count.
Neither does having been in a civilian home force after wartime, i.e. the National Guard after
Vietnam. (Like the current U.S. president. See, he's trying to be a mouthpiece for U.S. veterans too, but I wish he'd stop. He's not one.)
Unless you know me personally, please don't make generalizations or assumptions about me as a veteran, my attitudes toward war,why I went, who I am, what my level of education is, or whether or not I'm an arrogant bastard because I happen to be American.
Just ask!
I've kept my mouth shut up until now, but I grow weary of all of this speculation being thrown
around regarding those human beings who have served in the military by those who never
have.
If you would like the opinion of someone who has served during wartime--about war, the
Allied forces and how we all worked together, past wartime history, or the mean education
level of the people I served with, please don't hesitate to ask me.
I would like to reiterate that any answers you get from me reflect my opinions only, and do
not represent the opinions of any others who are American or who have served in the military anywhere.
And by the way--McDonald's sucks.
In my opinion.
I am a veteran of the Gulf war. I speak for no one but my own badass self.
Unless you have been in active service in the military during wartime, please don't try to be my mouthpiece.
Having relatives, siblings or friends that have been doesn't count.
Neither does having been in a civilian home force after wartime, i.e. the National Guard after
Vietnam. (Like the current U.S. president. See, he's trying to be a mouthpiece for U.S. veterans too, but I wish he'd stop. He's not one.)
Unless you know me personally, please don't make generalizations or assumptions about me as a veteran, my attitudes toward war,why I went, who I am, what my level of education is, or whether or not I'm an arrogant bastard because I happen to be American.
Just ask!
I've kept my mouth shut up until now, but I grow weary of all of this speculation being thrown
around regarding those human beings who have served in the military by those who never
have.
If you would like the opinion of someone who has served during wartime--about war, the
Allied forces and how we all worked together, past wartime history, or the mean education
level of the people I served with, please don't hesitate to ask me.
I would like to reiterate that any answers you get from me reflect my opinions only, and do
not represent the opinions of any others who are American or who have served in the military anywhere.
And by the way--McDonald's sucks.
In my opinion.
youranter
Opinions
opinionatedranter
Tales From The Green Lantern
Thank you from this outsider, from the bottom of my heart.
Thanks for this bit of common sense.
It has been a very amuzing few days.
Film & TV on DVD
Ive met soldiers who loved combat and crave more. Others are institutionalized for the emotional damage it caused and may never recover from the psychological scars...everyone is different and I don't think anything to do with the troops experience can be a blanket statement.
Still this has been a great week for Orble conflict and the entertainment seems to still be coming
Good work.
randomthoughts
Phil's Wellness Tips
Great post
thank you
PS Now i feel sorry for ronald McDonald and the Burgler.....
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
I vote the U.N. should congregate in McDonald's from now on.
Thanks everyone!
Mum's Word
But, since you brought it up...I'm asking. Did you feel you were doing "something"?
I have a friend who is in the army and he was dying for years to put his training into action. Well he got his chance and went to Iraq last year. Came back very disillusioned and doesn't want to talk about it much, so it's kind of hard to get first hand info.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
Rugby World Cup 2007
D...I salute you Woman.
I have utmost respect for the Men and Women who choose to serve and protect their nation.
I have utmost sympathy for those Men and Women who have no choice.
...it can't be an easy decision to send the people of your country to war. Even if it's for the 'wrong' reasons.
In my own trivial way I can relate...it's akin to spectators/fans who have never played Rugby whinging about what they could have done better than the players.
Yes I used to play Rugby...which gives me whinging rights!
That's it. I'm going to start a conflict of interests.
Celebrity Obsession
Great post!!!!!!
It irritates me when people presume to speak for an entire group when they have no concept of what that group have experienced.
You go girl!!!
Kylie
Great post.
I must ask a question about this comment.
'Having relatives, siblings or friends that have been doesn't count.'
Where else can the majority of us get our information from? As a member of the Canadian Legion and the British Legion before that, I got to talk to a lot of veterans over the years. I also got a lot of information from my father about WW11, and this war in Iraq now from my Son and my Nephew.
I would like to hear about your years in the military.
I think you have my email address, if not you know who to pm.
Have a great day
feisty.
Consumption Malfunction
Equal and Opposite
Arses and Elbows
Footy Power
it makes a lot of sense to talk knowingly only of what you know of.
Guessing.
Norm
Flick Wit
On another note: very interesting post. I am LOVING all this conflict.
Michaelie
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
To answer your last would probably take a really long post. I'll try and edit it all down, though;
Can't speak for your friend, but I don't discuss it much because it's hard to describe if you haven't been there. Too many mixed feelings, too.
As a jaded and world-weary 24-year old, I surprised myself by being moved to tears when I raised my hand and swore to uphold and defend the constitution of the United States.
This was rather quickly dispelled by the cold-shower realisation that certain nefarious types in government and the mass media exploit one's love of country for reasons other than what is hyped.
I can't think of anyone that wouldn't react badly to being played for a sucker through their emotions. To add further insult, this hype has become baldly patronising lately.
On the other hand, my time in the U.S. Navy from 1984 (the Cold War) to 1994 (the Gulf War) taught me so many invaluable lessons that I really don't regret my time in. Personal responsibility, accountability for one's actions, working as a team, not making sweeping generalisations about people or places, seeing both sides of things, and taking no one's word as gospel are some of the many good lessons I took away from that experience.
Being played for a fool through false pretences, being at the mercy of whatever the media chose to report about us while overseas (95% bullshit, by the way) being used as a figurehead for a cause that waved the flag and shouted of bravery with one hand and lined its pockets with the other (the worst insult of all)those were the bad lessons. But they were still valuable.
Being depicted as a knuckle-dragging moron with an American flag tattoed on my forehead and a big Mac in my blood-stained fist also rankles. Lots of us (me included) built schools, gave blood, performed rescue missions, taught English to those who requested it, helped needy families and kids, and gave personal aid, food and built shelters for those who needed them during natural disasters in many countries overseas.
Like every other country, race, creed, religion and gender group in the world, we have a fair smattering of assholes amongst us...doesn't make us all assholes.
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
Lilla, thank you for visiting..I can relate.
Dusk, brilliant analogy! Armchair players abound everywhere...
Ranter, Damo, JD... thank you. That's all I was trying to say, too.
Louie, you are a true diplomat! he best kind, too..pragmatic and with a sense of humor!
Kylie--dead on there.
Feisty--I was trying to say, having siblings relatives or friends that served during combat doesn't qualify anyone to speak on behalf of those who have actually been there--even if they think they are defending those who were. That usually results in half-truths and one-sided opinions. I know some Vietnam vets who to this day call Vietnamese people "Gooks" and nurse a hatred for them. I also know Vietnam vets who say, "What else were they supposed to do? I'd have done the same thing if they'd come stomping into my backyard during a civil war!"
See what I mean? Too many perceptions to form one catchall opinion.
That's why I'd rather not have someone saying, for instance, "You'd all be speaking German if it weren't for us!!" --who wasn't there in the first place. American vets, who are taught military history, know that statement to be total bullshit. Unfortunately, once one person takes it upon themselves to represent an entire group--and writes about it--then that opinion is forever after pasted on the individual faces of all American veterans, making us all look like one huge horse's ass.
Agghh! I did it again..sorry! I'm not here to preach, just set a few records straight...honest!
Norm-- I know.
Michaelie--thank you. Yes, it's been a very interesting week.
I still want to know what the fuss between David and Brenton was about, tho...
Thanks for visiting, everyone.
You're not preaching, we asked.
Thank you.
Mum's Word
Thank you so much for your candour. It feels like the first real answer I've gotten in a long time.
Love & stuff
Mrs M