Please Don't Thank me....

Sorry about the OP. Here is a link to the article I was trying to display. I completely understand this guys opinion on the matter and how he lost enthusiasm and now just wants to live his normal life.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/please-don’t-thank-me-for-my-service/ar-BBhPFEn?srcref=rss

Push Hard, Press Forward
I can understand trying to "get on with your life", and I can understand feeling a little at a loss for how to respond (how about responding :"thank you for recognizing it"). but I think these two guys views are pretty uncharitable toward people who for the most part mean just what they are saying. (That is a charitable way of describing what I think is churlish behavior). The people who are saying this in 2015 for the most part really do mean "thank you", so if you don't want to be thanked- then don't let them know you were in. This guy isn't wearing a uniform and doesn't look like he is frequently mistaken for a Soldier out uniform so if people are thanking him it's because he is going out of his way to let them know that he is a vet- or else he is taking advantage of a deal somewhere . And in a volunteer Army it's pretty arrogant of this former SF guy to blather about the Civilians saying thank you out of guilt. This guy's skin is in the game because he put it in the game. What I read in the is that he wants to subtly trumpet his service while disparaging anyone who actually has the temerity to intrude on "his" war?
 
I bristled at the article as well. I have always felt that the post 9-11 and "modern" patriotism and pro-serviceman atmosphere in the US is, in no small way, a pendulum swing from the anti-serviceman/ anti-military attitude of the Vietnam era. Perhaps its my generation or the people I interact with, but I sense there is a concerted effort to recognize our servicemen, their sacrifices, their families etc regardless of someone's view on the military and/ or politics. I have been thanked countless times for my service (and I don't have any wartime conflicts under my belt) and it feels genuine to me. I believe people today are honestly appreciative of someone willing to serve in the military (or as first responders). This is good. The alternative (seen 40 years ago during the Vietnam era) was not.

Move on? Certainly. Hide your military experience if you wish. But if people find out by your admission or some other reason, humbly accept their offer of thanks and find a way to respond positively.
 
I'm glad the World War II veterans I encounter at my local retirement home aren't this ungracious and resentful when I thank them for their service. I genuinely appreciate everything they did and there is a reason they are called the "Greatest Generation."
 
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The brave men and women who have voluntarily put themselves in harm's way so that my family can sleep safe and warm in their beds at night will simply have to endure yet another sacrifice... my appreciation. Sorry.
 
Today I went into my local donut shop and the lady there asked me if I was a vet. I said sure and she said that today all coffee and donuts were on the house for all vets. Then she thanked me for my service and I said "You are most certainly welcome and thank you for this chocolate covered heart attack." She laughed and handed me my donut........Boy, I enjoyed every bite. I think the author of the article is a little touchy.
 
This guy isn't wearing a uniform and doesn't look like he is frequently mistaken for a Soldier out uniform so if people are thanking him it's because he is going out of his way to let them know that he is a vet- or else he is taking advantage of a deal somewhere .

I think you are assuming too much. No proof that he is letting people know that he is a vet or something else.

My car has a military affiliation tag since 2002 and small round sticker "IRQ." So am I advertising that I am a vet or taking advantage of a deal somewhere? I don't think so. After my daughter's sports game, I drove to a Panera. A mini-van was behind me. Call it my military training or whatever, but recognized the driver as inside the Panera as he passed me telling me "Thank You for your service." I was in my civilian clothes.
 
This guy isn't wearing a uniform and doesn't look like he is frequently mistaken for a Soldier out uniform so if people are thanking him it's because he is going out of his way to let them know that he is a vet- or else he is taking advantage of a deal somewhere .

I think you are assuming too much. No proof that he is letting people know that he is a vet or something else.

My car has a military affiliation tag since 2002 and small round sticker "IRQ." So am I advertising that I am a vet or taking advantage of a deal somewhere? I don't think so. After my daughter's sports game, I drove to a Panera. A mini-van was behind me. Call it my military training or whatever, but recognized the driver as inside the Panera as he passed me telling me "Thank You for your service." I was in my civilian clothes.
Well If you have an oval Sticker that says: "Iraq" and a military affiliation sticker, then yes you are in fact telling people that you are a vet- why else woud anyone have those stickers on there? I stand by my thoughts when I first ready this lame story- the 2 guys interviewed in this story are ill mannered jerks who would complain if given a free Sundae because the glass it was served in was the wrong shape. If they don't want to be thanked for their service- then it is easy to avoid that: DON"T tell people that they were in the service. And should people somehow divine that they once served- then thank them for their courtesy when they say something like "Thank you for your service".
 
Well If you have an oval Sticker that says: "Iraq" and a military affiliation sticker, then yes you are in fact telling people that you are a vet- why else woud anyone have those stickers on there? I stand by my thoughts when I first ready this lame story- the 2 guys interviewed in this story are ill mannered jerks who would complain if given a free Sundae because the glass it was served in was the wrong shape. If they don't want to be thanked for their service- then it is easy to avoid that: DON"T tell people that they were in the service. And should people somehow divine that they once served- then thank them for their courtesy when they say something like "Thank you for your service".

What is more important - a veteran's right to be not "bothered" or someone else's right to be express their opinion? How much do I have to limit my first amendment rights for some else's first amendment right.? If it's okay for someone to express their opinion about someone's service, it's okay for someone else to express their opinion. If I have to limit my first amendment rights (I have a military affiliation vehicle tag and "IRQ" sticker to remind folks about we still have military, not to advertise my veteran status. I also don't assume that a driver of vehicle with military stuff is automatically a veteran), other folks should limit their rights to express themselves ("thank you for your service").
 
You get to say what you want- in interviews or when trying to be polite. That doesn't mean that there isn't a difference between a curmudgeon and trying to be thoughtful. I had some young woman swear at me a few months ago in Albany because I held the door for her as we exited a restaurant - as I do for anyone who walks in or out of a restaurant immediately after me. I'm sure she was offended - I'm also sure that I could not know that my polite action would offend her, and I'm also sure that her reaction was not shared by the majority of people for whom I hold the door. So should I stop being polite because of that crank? Maybe in 2004 it was over the top but now I'm pretty certain that Americans say thank you after 13+ years of war mostly because they appreciate the sacrifice they believe the Vet has made with his service. And the guy who had the nerve to spount off that most civilians do this out of guilt- what arrogant nonsense- it is a back handed way of pumping himself up..
 
So should I stop being polite because of that crank?

Of course not. But we shouldn't pass judgement without all the facts. I remember someone telling me that replying to a poster that the information is on the West Point website and perhaps questioning his or her competency was being harsh (or something close to it). I took that point very seriously as that was along the forum rules (or close to it).
 
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