The U.S. Armed Forces: progressives, iconoclasts just don't get it

Q: "Okay, but why should I respect them, either? They signed up to do a job. They get paid, and nothing they do has any effect on my day-to-day life, nor my "freedom". They're mostly young kids who got hoodwinked into killing people and risked getting killed themselves. Why are we expected to treat vets like they're "heroes"? Why not teachers, social workers, volunteers or the millions of other people who do a shiatty job, but actually do something for America and Americans?"

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   A: Nationalism, simply put. If you care about our nation being able to kick the crap out of other nations, then this matters to you. If you don't care about our ability to kick the crap out of other nations, then this likely doesn't matter to you.
   HOWEVER;
   If you are an American Citizen (which I assume you are), then whether you like it or not, you have benefited indirectly from the use of the U.S. military as a means of international policy enforcement. We benefit from cheaper goods, cheaper labor, supportive (albeit corrupt) allies... etc etc etc. These people who are returning, like it or not, helped enforce that policy that you now enjoy the fringe benefits of. You don't owe them anything, but you should see that their role in conflicts contributed to your way of life, however minutely. Putting aside for a few minutes the larger political picture and saying "thank you" to them for their efforts is something important.
   Just try to have a measure of sympathy and pity for these returning soldiers, but the last thing they need is more scorn and animosity tossed their way. Casual indifference is what allowed them, as individuals, to sign up for a job that forces them to kill people. Casual indifference towards them is now what you seem to display. Casual indifference is a cancer in our society. I think you can do better then that, and I think EVERY human being deserves more then that. Don't celebrate what they did; celebrate that they don't have to do it anymore. Show them loving kindness, and hope that it helps them to see that not everyone in the world is an asshole who will as soon spit on you as shake your hand.
/Pro-Peace
// My sympathy goes out to those who served

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