U.S. treatment of its KIAs/veterans puts UK to shame…
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Taking Chance
joestone99uk — 17 years ago(March 05, 2009 08:32 PM)
I'm from the UK, and this film brought tears to my eyes and a lot of envy and anger
Tears for all those soldiers who fall in a foreign field
Envy because Americans are "allowed" to be patriotic, to celebrate their flag and be proud about their country and traditions
and anger because in my country we are not allowed to be patriotic, to celebrate our flag, traditions etc. for fear of offending certainminoritiesand being labelled a "Nazi" or a "racist".
Some of our (British) injured veterans are berated (called baby killers), spat upon and abused in civilian hospitals (yes, our craven government just dumps them in a general hospital) by left-wing/muslim hospital workers and patients, with many people refusing to treat them because "they are against the war in Iraq/Afghanistan" Some sickos even laugh and jeer at fallen soldiers saying stuff like "serves 'em right for enrolling in the first place".
In some cases, hotel clerks have refused to allow serving soldiers/veterans to check in because "it might upset the other guests". In other cases, people have been told by the police and local councils to take down the Union flag or the Cross of St.George flag outside their houses "because it makes minorities feel threatened"! If you don't, they can fine you or either imprison you can you imagine Americans standing for that?
No-one (civilian) salutes or pays respect to the coffins here, no-one flashes their headlights out of respect, no-one looks at the flag with respect just glib, cynical one-liners and re-hashed left-wing cliches are the norm.
Why are Americans allowed to take pride in being American while we (white, indigenous Brits)are always having to tread on egg shells about the feelings of minorities and be basically ashamed at being white Anglos
If I wasn't so damn proud about being an Englishman and determined to GET MY COUNTRY BACK, I'd almost be tempted to apply for U.S. citizenship I'm that envious -
mbvh — 17 years ago(March 07, 2009 10:13 PM)
I'm very sorry things are that way in the UK. I have heard the soldiers just don't get the respect they deserve.
As for what you saw in the movie, that's the way it is over here. I have seen it time and time again. I have gone out to dinner with my family and a newly arrived soldier and his wife and kids are out at a family restaurant, he's still in his fatigues. He looks like he literally just got off the plane.
I thank him for his service as I pass him and he nearly tears up, as does his wife. As the night goes on, I see people pass by his table and shake his hand or come over and put their hand on his back and mouth the words "thank you" or "god bless".
It's very moving.
As for the movie, the part when the cars started to make a line with their lights on, I have seen stuff like that. I got really choked up when I saw that. Watching this film and seeing the everyday people and how they react made it feel like it was a documentary of real events. -
shannon-elements — 16 years ago(May 08, 2009 12:08 AM)
LOL, I actually hate that stuff. I mean, don't get me wrong, I appreciate and am touched by the notion, but it just isn't necessary. I signed up. I knew what I was getting myself into.
There have been several occasions where I was at the airport, waiting for my flight and grabbing a bite to eat, when I asked for my check and the server says "oh, that couple that was sitting behind you, yeah, they picked it up." I didn't even get a chance to say thanks. They just quietly payed for my meal and left. Made me feel kind of guilty, lol.
Then another time also at an airport, there was a whole bunch of us about to head to the Mid-East when the entire airport started cheering and clapping when we started walking(in a single-file line, mind you) to our plane. That's just beep embarassing! Haha. I never want to be subjected to that ever again! -
agrofelipe — 16 years ago(June 05, 2009 01:04 PM)
"There have been several occasions where I was at the airport, waiting for my flight and grabbing a bite to eat, when I asked for my check and the server says "oh, that couple that was sitting behind you, yeah, they picked it up." I didn't even get a chance to say thanks. They just quietly payed for my meal and left.
Then another time also at an airport, there was a whole bunch of us about to head to the Mid-East when the entire airport started cheering and clapping when we started walking(in a single-file line, mind you) to our plane."
Oh my god, that's great! -
debaryman101 — 16 years ago(August 01, 2009 01:10 PM)
You have got to be kidding me??? Your serious, YOU DONT LIKE IT?? what if I were to walk up to you and spit on you?? would you like that instead. I had that done to me. I fought in panama "a short-war"
I was wearing a jacket with my unit patch on it, supposedly all I did in panama was kill civilians according to the guy that spat on me. I can't believe it. I know when your in you don't expect it but when it happens accept it.
I don't believe it, someone who hates a little graditude. A THANK YOU
I thank you for your service but your an idiot for feeling that way
go look on you tube ok type in the name Sgt First Class John C. Beale
watch that video this man had to die to get a awesome thank you. Think about it!!!!!!
people pay for your meal and you feel guilty and people cheer for you because you help a country. -
nickm2 — 16 years ago(August 06, 2009 10:43 PM)
"To the original poster: Blind patriotism is just about the worst thing a person can be. Please don't envy the United States. It's disgusting and is setting our country back severely."
AND that smug superior attitude is even MORE disgusting in my personal point of viewwelcome to the 'ignore button'
NM -
joestone99uk — 17 years ago(March 09, 2009 05:17 AM)
Thanks for your replies. Yeah, I heard about the disgraceful treatment some Vietnam vets got in the USA in the 60s and 70s and it depresses me to tell you that is what many of our blokes are getting today from liberal activista bureaucratic types, muslims and holier-than-thou left-wing student types.
A lot of my anger is also directed at the government who have under-funded our military for years and not issued them with the best gear, etc. which HAS COST LIVES.
There's a civil war coming in the UK, mark my words we (the silent, moral majority of white indigenous workers) are sick of these un-patriotic groups and if the economy tanks then expect blood on the streets. Be sure of this:
I WILL FIGHT FOR MY ENGLAND TO THE DEATH! -
meyer_joseph — 17 years ago(March 09, 2009 11:34 PM)
I am deeply saddened by what has been going on in your country. I am so grateful for so many things we, as Americans, have inherited from British culture, and find it nothing less than tragic to see that culture in danger of replacement by that of a group of self-pitying bullies into whose language fewer books have been translated in its entire history than were into Spanish this year. I hope you Brits can, as a group, buck up and show the spirit you showed during WWII and repel the invader!
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peter-501 — 17 years ago(March 15, 2009 09:59 AM)
Not all our vets have it so easy. I have a friend who was in the First Gulf War and he had a reaction to the pills to help protect him from nerve gas. He is in his late 40s and must use a wheelchair now to get around. He had to fight every step of the way to get support from the government.
The U.S. will give nearly a billion dollars to rebuild Gaza - of course those extremists on both sides will eventually blow it up again - but we penny pinch when it comes to our injured and disabled vets. -
Tim851 — 16 years ago(April 16, 2009 08:42 PM)
If you'd exchange the word "UK" with the word "German Empire", your two postings, especially the second one with the "silent, moral majority of white indigenous workers", sounds like you copy & pasted it from "Mein Kampf". And I'm not even exaggerating.
It's curious how a lot (though surely not all) of the "I'm just a patriot"-crowd are racist militarists. There seems to be some sort of correlation -
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..