Am I Over-Reacting?

Question

I was at a volleyball game and they said "please rise and face the flag for the national anthem." and I plan to get into the military and I show great respect for anyone that has served/serving for this country, and some of my friends screw around and one doesn’t even face the flag or stand up. I know they have their freedom but that just P!$$ES me off cause I see it as they are disrespecting the flag, their country, and the solders... do you think I should get mad about this or not?


When the recruiters come to the school people laugh at the navy calling them seamen and the National Guard, Air Force, and Army calling them pusses and that crap. These people are wanting to get into the Marines but the way I see it is that you still did an honorable thing and served for your country and deserve respect, how many people think this way?

Answer 1

Your a good man Jason , don't let them bother you its because of brave men in our armed forces that have shed their blood to give us the freedoms we have and continue to have today they have a right to express themselves like that but they don't realize in most countries they would be hung, shot , beheaded , or imprisoned for disrespecting their own country , just forget about them , God Bless you Jason and I hope you have a wonderful career serving our country ! Your a Great American !

Answer 2

Oh Sweetie, I understand how you feel! I'm a Military wife and American, so I have the up-most respect for our flag, our Country and our Armed Forces, but you really can't let this get to you, because you are ALWAYS going to come across people like this, even after you join the Military!
I have been on the base more then once while their doing morning colors, and it blows me away to watch Military Member's just walk on by while they are putting the flag up and everyone else standing at attention, or just standing there out of respect! This happened one morning when I was with my husband and we were going to the hospital on base, and this guy in a Navy uniform walks right on by while their putting the flag up, and then another US Navy Member walks away right after our National Anthem was played and our flag was in place, but then we the were playing the Italian Anthem, our host country, and raising their flag, and that is just a disrespectful when you're in someone else country to walk away from that! After it was all done, my husband, who's enlisted and is a Chief, and a Commander that was standing near us who also seen this happened, found these two in the hospital and just tore them apart. I doubt either one of those young men will ever move during colors again!
Don't let this get to you! Just continue to have the respect that you do for the flag and the Military! That's what really matters.

Answer 3

You raise several questions there. First of all I commend you for the respect you show the flag and what it represents. Unfortunately there are a lot of ignorant people in the world and especially during these times there are many that just don't understand what that flag symbolizes and what price others have paid for their "right" to act stupid. You are right to be bothered by this, but there is only so much you can do. Try to inform them, lead by your example, then ignore those who don't get it. Secondly it is totally wrong to show disrespect for any branch of service. The conduct you described is childishness and the Marine Corps has no room for children. Even some who have recently joined have the wrong idea about what devotion to the Corps means and get carried away. Real marines...those who've seen combat have learned the value of other branches of service, they understand the hard work they've done, and they show them respect. There is always a rivalry, but in the moment of truth they know that they are all Americans fighting for each other. You might tell some of these school kids that they need to learn a bit more and run their mouths a bit less. They may "think" they are going to be marines so they can talk trash but they would change their tune if they spent a day at army jump school. I've been in the service and I can give you a long list of reasons why I appreciate each branch.

Answer 4

As a veteran, it does offend me when I see someone disrespect the flag, the military or our country. I thought that went away after all the guys from 'Nam got home; guess I was wrong...buttheads still abound.

When I went tinto the service, I swore an oath to protect and to defend the Constitution of the United States, an oath I did and still do take to heart.

These people, as vile and as ignorant as they may seem, are protected under the Second Amendment's freedom of speech. That freedom doesn't mean freedom for all those who think alike or think like you and me. Their rights are protected, and that is how it should be. I served so that right could be maintained.

Try to be a little tolerant and look at the source; their upbringing. Unfortunately, there are no laws against raising ignorant and unappreciative children who are unaware of their history and culture and how it came to be their birthright. Soon, you said, you wanted to go into the military; good for you. You'll be around a lot of people who respect and honor the flag, their country and themselves. Take heart...they are out there!

Answer 5

Well, i can safely say its not only in your country that exhibits such disgraceful behavior. I come from a country that has a compulsory national service (Serving the army is compulsory for all male citizens), and many people say that its a waste of time, and with what a "global village", we don't need to serve and all that crap.

They don't understand, or appreciate what soldiers/civil servants have to sacrifice. They don't comprehend that what we are doing now, is to prevent another repeat of history. I am from Asia, what our country is doing, is because we never want to have our country invaded, and brutally dictated by the Japanese during WW2(No pun intended!).

Our armed forces makes it necessary for a small country like us to have a "civilian army". And yet, i have seen some people, mainly teenagers, punks and anything in between, showing no respect for the uniform, the flag, or the people who have given up their time, their sweat, their blood, indeed their very lives, just in prevention of something they never want to see occur.

So i most definately do not think that ANY armed forces personal are pusses and crap, they do their jobs, so stand tall, stand proud, and I salute you! And take heart in knowing, that at the end of the day, if you don't see your people oppressed and suffering, you have done your job well.

Answer 6

No many men and women have fought and died to defend these fools right to show no respect for the flag their country or the men and women of the Military. If you should do anything it is to pity them .

As to calling Military recruiters name and Insults that is just a sign of immaturity on their part. Unless they somehow learn how to respect the other members of different branches of the armed Forces. Their chances of even making it thru Marine boot camp are slim and if by some means they do make it thru Once they they get out into the Fleet they will learn it very quickly.

Answer 7

A lot of people died so that people would not be forced to "please rise and face the flag for the national anthem." This tradition was started in World War 2,after Pearl Harbor since the US Pacific Fleet was nearly rended ineffective. Over fifty of my relatives have served in almost of the five branches of the military and while they will agree with you,however,they will say they also for the rights of those that offend you of rising for the national anthem. Never forget their sacrifice.

Families and friends can be resentful of people like you.

Enough people NEVER want to hear that people died for their freedom and rights.

Forgive them as an American.

A US Army veteran has some unfriendly family and people at

Answer 8

Yes, you are right. It does make me mad. No it is not worth getting in a fight over, but it is does show that the young who have it so good, have no respect for those who came before them. You can get mad and I would get mad but I would be brave enough to stand my ground and not go along with some immature little minds that bite the hands, that lets them be free. Good for you for the way you feel about this country. Good for all the young adults that understand the life of freedom that they have does not come free. Someone before them had to serve, fight and die for all of us.

I commend you for your strength and courage and next time something like this happens understand you do make a difference on how others feel. So when in a group that disgraces the brave men that Serve, those and they have the right to disgrace them. Stand up and proudly display your allegiance to these find fighting hero's that of our armed forces. If not you then who will? As bravery is communical and others will follow your lead. As some peoples bravery needs help and encouragement for those who mock our military. God Bless You ...Good Luck.

Answer 9

It sounds like these people are punks. They aren't men enough to do it and put down the ones that are. I would say you definitely didn't overreact, I would have thought the same thing. People can call the military people anything they want, but these people don't get paid much, are gone from home for months on end, miss important firsts (births, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.) so idiots like this can act the way they do. These are the type of people I think should be at the top of the draft list if we ever have another one and watch them cry themselves to sleep wanting their mommies. They wouldn't last a minute over there, if the bad guys didn't get them, the good guys would.

Answer 10

I don't think they are disrespecting the soldiers, but they are disrespecting the flag, and our country... It is their right to do so. And it is your right to be upset... It's just not the presidents right to be upset :) I'm sure they don't hate the country, they just don't have respect for this government, which is A-OK, because that's what this country is all about. Hate your government, but love your country. As far as dissing the Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen... Servicemen do that... Even in Boot Camp we sing cadences that dis the other services.

You can't force people to respect the flag, and if you did, that would take away everything the flag stands for. And no matter which branch of the service you are in, it is an honorable thing....

Answer 11

Get mad patriot!!! It is despicable that children are growing up not respecting the flag and our anthem. They know nothing of what that flag and anthem stand for and it is EXTREMELY disrespectful to not even acknowledge it. Grrrr, it makes me mad too as I have served.

You are right in your second question as well. They all serve their country and when they get to boot camp and the Sergeant hears them talk like that, they will get a very rude awakening.