Do you think American soldiers are put on too high of a pedestal

[pocaracas]

That "Thank you for your service" thing was so odd to me, when I visited the US last summer.
Cashiers, waiters and other shop attendants would start off with that if they were facing some military person.
I was told it had to do with overcompensating for the carelessness offered to the folk that were in Vietnam... maybe...

We in Portugal had our own version of Nam, the colonial wars in Angola, Mozambique and Guiné Bissau... also around the same time as Nam, same gear (as Portugal bought most of that stuff from the US or the UK). So my dad was there for 2 years.... so what?!
He came back, got a job, worked as a normal person and raised 2 kids who now have their own jobs.
I never once heard anyone thanking him for any service and I'd never even think of that possibility.
It wasn't really voluntary, though. Almost every male from that generation went there. It was a stupid war. Then, in 1974, The dictatorship fell and the colonies were granted their independence. Good riddance for those "colonies". Let them rip themselves apart. And those stupid tribal gangs are still at it to this day.
Those countries have enough resources to be the richest in the world, if only they would spread the wealth reasonably among their population... but do they? NO! Idiots!

[Shell B]

Sometimes, sure.

The American government puts too much into more war and not enough into cleaning up after the war. That said, I've seen at least one soldier in particular get excused a whole heaping shitload of bad behavior by his coddling (but otherwise lovely) family because he was a soldier, ignoring the fact that he was also a spoiled, selfish shit and and a closet addict. These were people who would excuse a vet fucking anything. Oh, he's a cokehead? I don't blame him. Beats his wife? Must've been flashbacks. On the flip side, I see soldiers who take accountability for their actions. They are smart, hard-working, self-sacrificing and deserving of praise and a few breaks. I'd rather be wrong and accidentally coddle a shithead or two than not give credit where it's due, so I tend to be respectful of soldiers/vets.

[vorlon13]

[Minimalist]

I do think the word "hero" has been overused to the point where it has become meaningless.  Somebody who gets blown up by an IED while driving a truck is not a "hero."  He is the victim of some asshole politician/oil company executive with an agenda.

[vorlon13]

[Shell B]

I do think the word "hero" has been overused to the point where it has become meaningless.  Somebody who gets blown up by an IED while driving a truck is not a "hero."  He is the victim of some asshole politician/oil company executive with an agenda.

Yeah, it does get overused. There are definitely soldiers who are heroes, though. Michael P. Murphy comes to mind. There was also more than a few grenade huggers in the past few wars. Those kids were definitely heroes.

[Anomalocaris]

I do think the word "hero" has been overused to the point where it has become meaningless.  Somebody who gets blown up by an IED while driving a truck is not a "hero."  He is the victim of some asshole politician/oil company executive with an agenda.

Whether someone is a hero depends on whether he or she consciously chose to make some worthy selfless sacrifice. If the person did poorly in school, felt he had no future and military service might be a ticket out, and then got blown up for no other reason than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I am not seeing where is the heroism?

[Catholic_Lady]

"Do you think American soldiers are put on too high of a pedestal"

... Not in the least bit.

For people who's job requires them to move to a different location (not of their choosing) every few years, to get sent away from their wives and children for a year at a time to some of the worst parts of the world to risk their lives, and to be told to put their job above everything else.... for having to do all that, they get paid extremely shitty. That's pretty much the most demanding and dangerous job a person can have in this country. They should be getting paid much more for what they do. Their salary is an insult, really, considering what them and their families get put through. That's why it's called "service."

[pocaracas]

"Do you think American soldiers are put on too high of a pedestal"

... Not in the least bit.

For people who's job requires them to move to a different location (not of their choosing) every few years, to get sent away from their wives and children for a year at a time to some of the worst parts of the world to risk their lives, and to be told to put their job above everything else.... for having to do all that, they get paid extremely shitty. That's pretty much the most demanding and dangerous job a person can have in this country. They should be getting paid much more for what they do. Their salary is an insult, really, considering what them and their families get put through. That's why it's called "service."

Not biased... not biased at all

[Catholic_Lady]

"Do you think American soldiers are put on too high of a pedestal"

... Not in the least bit.

For people who's job requires them to move to a different location (not of their choosing) every few years, to get sent away from their wives and children for a year at a time to some of the worst parts of the world to risk their lives, and to be told to put their job above everything else.... for having to do all that, they get paid extremely shitty. That's pretty much the most demanding and dangerous job a person can have in this country. They should be getting paid much more for what they do. Their salary is an insult, really, considering what them and their families get put through. That's why it's called "service."

Not biased... not biased at all

Lol. More like personal experience.