Veterans Agree - A Surly Attitude is Empowering

[SoDesuKa]

I compared notes with buddies of mine who are also veterans, and we agree: a surly attitude after the military is life-affirming. One former combat medic said that developing a piss-poor attitude helped him overcome thoughts of suicide. Another veteran, formerly s combat infantryman, is planning to attend a celebration in honor of veterans at the college he attended after the military, but says he hopes nobody thanks him for his service. Still another veteran refers to the people who sent him overseas as "criminals."

This is a tiny sample of the veteran population. However, I was encouraged that I'm not alone in thinking that civilians should keep their crumbs of gratitude to themselves. A free meal once a year at Applebee's is not what veterans consider "giving back." Many veterans feel that they were swindled - that military service was not at all what they expected it to be, and that people they'd trusted weren't straight with them.

Our society has not addressed the alarming number of veterans who are so despairing that they take their own lives. We don't try to understand why veterans might feel put upon. Our ongoing refusal to consider the real reasons veterans feel despondent confirms to them what they know is true - that nobody gives a shit about them.



Dustoff Chopper

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

1. Surly, ok, but I'm still going for a free lunch Friday

Some of the restaurants around here (SE Mich), like Applebee's and maybe Hooters, provide a free lunch to veterans on 11/11. Also, some car wash places offer a free wash.

I will go for the lunch, and will enjoy it. But I will surely be surly, maybe growl at it a little.

Then I'll try to get out of there as quickly as possible while running a gauntlet of waitstaff thanking me for my service. Hey, don't thank me, thank LBJ and the draft board.

:hi:

[Skittles]

2. aw HELL yes

yes INDEED

[TacticalPeek]

3. FTA

:hippie:

[tech3149]

4. Hell YES Remember the words of Smedley Butler

War is a Racket.

[Ezlivin]

5. Remember: Marijuana is free to ALL veterans

That's what I tell my dealer all the time.

[MindPilot]

8. Actually my local dispensary does give a 15% for vets collecting disability

Unfortunately I am currently studying for the test in anticipation of a new and better job.

[SoDesuKa]

9. I'm Thinking of Filing a Claim

I'm thinking of filing a claim to get reimbursed for the booze I drank when I was self-medicating. They say that if you get turned down the first time, try again. You might get a different judge next time.

[swilton]

6. Priceless

Totally agree! I would add that people live in a video world and if they haven't seen it in the movies they don't understand it.

[MindPilot]

7. fuckin' ay tweety motherfucker!

I mean, yes, I do agree with you. "Thank you for your service" 30 or 40 years after the fact rings a bit hollow. Especially when it comes from my 20-something righty supervisor who says "I would have joined after 9-11, but I'd just landed this cool job".

It is tough keeping it inside.