Internet Smackdown Aftermath

[gall]

Exactly, I have to help pay for your pay, and benefits, and equipment, whether I like it or not. I wouldn't call it presumptuous to say that, I would call it generous to state it as such, especially that I don't go around telling servicemen that I have no choice but to pay for their equipment and their payment and their benefits. Hell, you had to remind me of that before I said it.

And my point was to address Captain's. I don't mind soldiers remaining in country. Not because they're "self employed" but because it means they're not having to risk their damn lives, most likely for a conflict or war that doesn't serve the American people for shit.

But when they're deployed overseas, it's not in my interests, and most likely, it's not in the interests of the vast majority of Americans, either. I get that a lot of soldiers take pride in that they are SERVICEmembers, and I respect them for that, too, but I can't give respect to certain claims they make when they are, unfortunately, patently false, or presumptuous.

There's a fine line between respecting soldiers, and condescending them. I'm happy to say I respect them, and I don't condescend.

You don't pay a soldier respect just for the title do you?

Personally people in my life earn respect just as I have had to with every person I have ever met.

As a body of "soldiers" I do not see them as an individual and I pay not institution respect. No god, religion, creed, political body. They are all of people and I can choose to or not choose to respect the individual and that is as far as it goes. Your actions earn respect or disrespect not your "station" in life. Many people have station they do not deserve and get paid much respect for something they never earned.

Gratitude yes for the service...respect if they earn it. Simple service is not enough. I sure won't be paying homage to the guy signing the request forms or cleaning bathrooms in kansas on base. Sorry but if I do that I would have to do so for anyone driving a bus or a cab or most other service jobs...hell I work in a service job but I can promise when you work in IT even your actions get you no respect no matter how many problems you solve a day for your coworkers that allow them to actually do their jobs. Earned not just given.