U.S. treatment of its KIAs/veterans puts UK to shame…
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lisaen — 16 years ago(January 30, 2010 10:56 AM)
You are exactly right, ptb-2, and that is exactly what was going through my mind as I was reading the original post. My first husband was a decorated Marine who served two tours in Vietnamhe was at Khe Sonh during Tet in '68, and came back alive. We were married for quite a few years before he was able to tell me about some of his experiences in-country, but the hardest for me to hear was the story of his arriving at San Francisco Int'l Airport at the end of his second tour, when anti-Vietnam sentiments here were at a fever pitch. He was in uniform, of course, and what he told me he experienced was shameful and cruel. I was just in grade school around that timehe was 15 years older than Iso I don't have much recollection of the war, but my father, who served in the Army in the South Pacific in WW II and retired as a COL in 1974, was glued to the CBS Evening News every night as soon as he got home from work. Hopefully, the American public has figured out how to separate contempt for the civilian idiots who get us into these conflicts from respect for the uniformed men and women who are actually sent into harm's way on the orders of those idiots. This is one more reason I'm happy that I live in the U.S. and why, even with all of its faults and problems, I would never live anywhere else.
"If you can't say anything nice, come sit by me!" -
TenPart — 16 years ago(April 11, 2009 05:41 PM)
joestone99uk
I too am a proud Englishman. I love my country well LOVED my country. It's sickening to see her being raped by liberals with "human rights, pro global warming" nut jobs at the helm.
I recall in the news recently that our brave men and woman returning to what should be a proud country, but instead, greeted by Muslims protesting them and shouting horrible thing. Too think that they are free to do that too that is do unacceptable!
I envy the American's be being able to be so patriotic so freely with no worries of a self-righteous jerk telling you to remove your flag because it might upset some, some ass that shouldn't be in this country anyway!
Argh! It really angers me but this isn't the place to chat about that!
On a lighter note to a poster saying something about seeing a serving man in a restaurant, when I was heading to see the girlfriend at the times family in SC. I saw a few serving recruits still in their fatigues. I felt so compelled to thank them. When I did they were so great full and we chatted till they had to get their plane.
In short I love America. Someday I will live there and be as proud to live there and I was once here. -
QinetiQ — 16 years ago(April 12, 2009 07:20 PM)
Ok, I am all up for patriotism and being proud on a country etc, I am sure most people are. But I dont see why I should thank a soldier whenever I see one. I'm from Holland, but basicly that doesnt matter. Dutch troops are fighting in Afghanistan aside of Uk and US troops. So why should I thank a soldier when I pass one? Here it's all volunteerly, as in, there's no law saying you have to serve (sure they get paid). Second, they get send whereever the government wants them to go.
I dont support the Bushwars , nor do I fail to see how it is 'defending your country'. I have nothing against US, or any country really, the Dutch government simply had it's head up..well, you know.
Now, if there was a war, like WW2 and the like THEN I see the use and need to thank any soldier fighting, simply because then I have something to thank them for in stead of having them throw away their live for politics. Maybe it's my idea that when I thank someone I actually need something real to thank them for (Like where I live we still honor the Canadians who liberated our town).
I fail to see why I should honor someone in a military uniform like the people in this movie do (and in real life do). I dont see them honor a nurse who is doing just as much (or sometimes even more) remarkable work and thanking her for her efforts.
As for the government not honoring their casualties enough, thats a real shame. Afterall, it's always there fault if a soldier dies since they made the decisions. If it goes in US as portraited in this movie, then hats off for that.
Just my thoughts. -
TenPart — 16 years ago(April 13, 2009 03:39 AM)
"I don't see them honour a nurse" a nurse doesn't protect your freedom, nor does h/she die in the line of duty. If people didn't sign up to the army we'd have no defence. So your answer to why do people thank them.. is Its a thankless job were your putting your life on the line to protect peoples freedom and give them a safe place to live.
While you get the liberal fags that are all peace and love shovelling hate speech towards the very people that give them the choice to protest. -
QinetiQ — 16 years ago(April 13, 2009 05:44 AM)
I get your point, but they get paid well (at least here they are) and they signed up, no one forced them (again, thats how it is here). Once again, I understand the part of "protect people's freedom" and such, and then I agree 100%, but they are just puppets for the goverment, fighting in battles that have little to no defensive use. One can say "that's not the soldiers fault" and surely it's not, but it doesnt mean I have to thank him? To me it is just a job with risks. Now dont think I dispise them or so, not at all, I cringe at the thought of what happened to the Vietnam vet's for example, who were insulted by many ani-war hippie's. No one can blame a soldier for such a thing. It's all different if they are called in for duty (or how you say it), then they are forced to go in battle. But as it is here, they sign up volunteerly and get paid well, it's just a job they chose.
I liked the movie though heh..
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MysteryReaderReturns — 16 years ago(April 18, 2009 08:53 AM)
What he said was true though & if those non-White Brits were patriots, perhaps they wouldn't care that he took a little pride in himself & his nation as well.
http://dearsuicide.blogspot.com/
Where
DEATH
is still celebrated -
Son_of_Elvis — 16 years ago(September 03, 2009 04:28 PM)
The OP has somewhat exaggerated the abuse that some of our wounded troops received in a public hospital here. The Daily Mail reported 1 or 2 incidents some years ago in a hospital in Birmingham where Muslims that call themselves British had spat at wounded troops, but the abuse is not widespread. As for the posters asking why we don't honour our other 'services', about 15 years ago I managed a cab company in Coventry, and although it certainly wasn't a company rule, I can't think of a single taxi driver out of 170 that ever charged a nurse or doctor to take them to work (I only found out when a nurse rang us to thank us for our little 'tribute' one Christmas).
As for what the US military provide for their troops in death, we cannot match that simply because our Government have ruined our economy and cut back defence spending to the point that our troops go into battle with sub-standard equipment, but if you want to see how the REAL British people feel about their troops, I will provide a link to counter the distorted view the OP gave you.
://video.google.co.uk/videosearch?hl=en&ned=uk&tab=nv&q=wootton bassett#
The people of Wootton Bassett do this for every KIA trooper that comes through, which is all of them on the UK side. I have no doubt that if it was any other English/British village, the reaction would be the same. I would partially agree with the overly-nationalistic OP though, if the KIA had to come through Bradford or Leicester for instance, the attitude would be VERY different.
Leave the gun. Take the cannoli -
oldsalt61 — 16 years ago(October 17, 2009 02:27 PM)
QinetiQ I'm hope you are appreciative of the freedoms you enjoy because your military is willing to protect them for you. Yes, people from other professions do important work that should be appreciated; but it usually isn't performed while away from home and family for extended periods of time and while getting shot at! I'll keep thanking the prior service and active duty folks when I cross paths with them. In my opinion they've earned it!
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QinetiQ — 16 years ago(February 05, 2010 11:02 AM)
You see, I just dont see it that simple.
Sure I appreciate my freedom and like I said in my previous posts, I still go out and honor the soldiers of WW2 who liberated my country. And well, thats exactly my point. My country is not being liberated from anything, no one is planning to invade it and the ONLY thing that is of a threat is where the politicians are sending them now, Iraq, Afghanistan etc. I know a lot of soldiers here and they had a quiet, routine life and suddenly when they get called for duty to Afghanistan, they start protesting. I mean, wtf, why did you join the army? You know when you sign up that theres a risk you get send to a war somewhere. So no, I dont thank them, it's a risky job for sure, but there are a lot of risky jobs. -
thoth-ibis-1 — 16 years ago(September 08, 2009 03:57 PM)
The UK should be proud of their military. Those who spit on the military there should read up on the second world war! The Battle of Britain produced some the greatest heroes the world has ever known. While posted in England I marched in Battle of Britain remembrance parade. The older people would stop and applaud the parade. Younger ones seemed indifferent.
History should also recall Dunkirk and Rummel's problems in North Africa with the ever formidable Montgomery. Who sank the Bismark?
It's a fact in my book, that had it not been for the British military World War II would not have ended favorably for freedom. Through-out human history the Union Jack has flown over much that is great. The English, the Scots, Welsh, Irish are all great peoples with great ideals & ideas.
While there are plenty of good Americans we have our fools as well. -
Son_of_Elvis — 16 years ago(September 14, 2009 06:34 PM)
Yes Thoth, no Hollywood movie could ever really capture the spirit of men like Sir Douglas Bader and Johnson Beharry, or anyone that has ever won the VC for example. In fact, I would remortgage my house to bet that most Americans wouldn't know their names. If anyone who reads this does not know their names, you should look them up if you want a real history lesson (especially Bader).
My mother cared for the widow of Rear Admiral Basil Place VC, CB, CVO, DSC, who was a truly great man and accomplished things the rest of us could only dream of, including being awarded the Victoria Cross at the age of 22 (if you don't know that the VC is, it's the highest award for valour possible when facing the enemy, and the chances are if you are awarded one, you don't live to receive it yourself). I have visited his home and it is a humbling experience, just to see how brave one man could be on so many occasions. You could serve in the armed forces for a thousand years and never hope to achieve anything near what people like Admiral Place and his equals have done, never mind the people like myself who have never served.
Leave the gun. Take the cannoli. -
dlbkr2 — 16 years ago(December 08, 2009 02:42 PM)
Other things that are hinted on this movie is that it is not only KIA or Injured service members that have a treatment such as this. Flying on passenger planes in the US, many pilots will allow service members to deplane at their destination before other passengers as a show of respect for returning service members. This is usually notified when the plane is taxing to the jetway after landing and the service members is recognized over the intercom.
Many service members are also allowed to pre-board on civilian flights when returning from service. Organizations such as the USO usually have rooms in the major airports to provide a bed/shower/changing area for service members that are traveling to new duty stations so they can change into or out of uniforms, or can get a free night's sleep without having to pay money for a hotel room during a layover.
And even though we periodically display our flags on our property, or put ribbons on our trees in the front yard, respect for service members has become a place where the public has bit their tongue with opposing opinions. I would expect it is because of our all volunteer military, but incidences of people expressing hatred towards the military in public is few and far between. -
hobihors — 16 years ago(April 02, 2010 04:31 PM)
It seems to me that the OP is talking about visible representations of support rather than support itself, and further, he is mistaking the lack of the former for the lack of latter.
It also seems to me that he/she is missing a movie made about soldiers, similar to "taking Chance", much more than actually thinking through about all the other ways a society honors its' soldiers, and without questioning if superficial and subjective appearances really do represent reality.
Maybe you just do not know ways in which soldiers are helped and respected, and its just easier for you to fuel your own fire of anger. How is that honoring the soldiers anyway? -
dagaul101 — 14 years ago(November 16, 2011 04:38 AM)
I have to say that the treatment and dignity for the returning soldiers was what made the movie special, regardless of your thoughts about the war or lack of justification for it
Source:Movie Reviews - Taking Chance
http://moviereviews.noskram.com/2009/09/movie-reviews-for-taking-chanc e