Veteran says "Stop thanking me for my service" An interesting read

[Sean C]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Hear, hear!

It's high time we stopped seeing only our differences and started seeing what we have in common.

[Skybird]

Volltreffer! One even does not need to be American to understand and appreciate what the man says.

[Jimbuna]

Couldn't agree more.

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Sean C

Hear, hear!

It's high time we stopped seeing only our differences and started seeing what we have in common.

That was my favorite part too.



We seemed to have drifted away from being Americans.

[KaleunMarco]

Originally Posted by Sean C

Hear, hear!

It's high time we stopped seeing only our differences and started seeing what we have in common.

i find it disconcerting that there are so many Americans who despise not only their country but themselves as Americans and their fellow citizens and yet they do not take action to alleviate said hatred.

if i hated where i lived and what i represented that much, i would move to some place where i felt more comfortable with not only the place, but myself.

however, we do not see Americans streaming towards the exits, do we?

[vienna]

There are some vets, a now dwindling few, who still deserve a thanks: the vets of WWII. Years ago, I was sitting on a bus and, across from me, was an old guy wearing a VFW hat emblazoned with his WWII service; he was quite old and seemed a bit forlorn and lonely; my mind went to the people who were thanking the current vets (Gulf War and later) when there were guys like that old man withering away and fading away who had actually served in a conflict that had real worldwide consequences; on impulse, I spoke to him, excusing myself, and asked about his service; he was a bit taken aback, almost fearful of a stranger approaching him in that way, but he soon realized I meant no harm, I listened to him recount his service and, when he ended, I extended my hand, and thanked him for his service; the look of appreciation on his face was enough to almost drive me to tears; after that, I made a pint of particularly thanking any WWII vet I encountered in my activities; some of the have been a bit scared at first, being approached by a stranger, and some have been puzzled by the gesture, but all have expressed a certain joy and satisfaction at not being just ignored and forgotten; in the many years since that first encounter, the opportunities to thank a WWII vet personally have sadly decreased as time and age are depleting their rank; the last one was a couple of years ago or so I saw was at a bus stop in Hollywood, a dignified old gent who gave me the biggest smile I had seen in quite some time when I shook his hand...

If you get the chance to thank one of those old vets, I would suggest you take the opportunity; so many of them are fading away and they do really deserve being given one last appreciation of their sacrifices...







<O>

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by KaleunMarco

i find it disconcerting that there are so many Americans who despise not only their country but themselves as Americans and their fellow citizens and yet they do not take action to alleviate said hatred.

if i hated where i lived and what i represented that much, i would move to some place where i felt more comfortable with not only the place, but myself.

however, we do not see Americans streaming towards the exits, do we?

Perhaps it is better to work to fix the problem instead of running away?