A soldier was playing adult coed softball with his church when entering the game the umpire noticed that the soldier had on his dog tags and rudely told him to remove them. Without any conflict the soldier removed them and ran to take his place on the field. While running out, the women working in the booth said something to the umpire about how he handled the situation with the soldier and the umpire responded by saying something along the lines of ‘I don’t care- he isn’t at war.’ This conversation occured, unbeknownst to the umpire, right in front of the soldiers wife. The soldiers wife was very hurt because her husband has sacrificed a lot to wear those dog tags but said nothing. After the game the soldier had a few CHOICE WORDS with the umpire after speaking to his wife about why she was upset and now his integrity as a person and a Christian is in question.
2007-09-28 17:29:47 · 12 answers · asked by FutureFirstLady 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
I guess I left out some useful info, and let me reiterate the umpire was extremely rude in his request for the soldier to take off his dog tags, and when called out on his rudeness he replied " I dont care he isnt at war" basically saying he isnt at war and doesnt need to wear them. This soldier is one of only 20 men left behind out of a very large unit that is deployed to Iraq and is not handling not being with his brothers very well. He hsa a much harder job of being home and having to wait to see if any of those dreaded phone calls come simply because the military has chosen him as an officer candidate. This soldier feels insulted by the comment about not being in war because he has volunteered to go to war unlike the umpire who insulted him. His christianity is being questioned because of who he was representing on the softblall team and how he reacted.
2007-09-28 17:43:05 · update #1
His reaction was perfect. He removed them without argument, did not cause a conflict nor did he make a scene. Necklaces are often removed in sports because they can cause injuries. Also, who says the umpire said it rudely? Was it an opinion that it was rude, or was he really being rude? That changes the whole perspective. And you are not supposed to wear dog tags for recreation anyway. So the comment that "he's not at war" is correct even tho insensitive.
Also, sacrifice is not needed to wear dog tags. They are given to you in basic training before they even decide to call you anything more than mud. When you do sacrifice, you are given medals and awards. Army gives combat stripes for the sleeves of Class A's, Air Force gets campaign medals, etc. That is what you get for sacrifice. Anyone can get themselves a set of dog tags - I see them in stores all the time.
In the end, it was no big deal but since his wife was upset, he talked to the ump later. Apparently the ump was ignorant to the soldier's situation. That's no excuse, I know. The main thing is that the soldier didn't start swinging at the ump, didn't do some crazed wrestler routine, etc, he didn't make a scene - he was as professional as the moment allowed him to be even faced with the stupidity of the ump. And exactly what is integrity as a Christian? Integrity is a core value of all the armed forces. We value it highly. Many get the definition wrong, so I'm not sure it's even a question here. It really means: "Do the right thing even when no one's watching because it is the right thing." Did he? Yes, he did. He kept his cool - he did the right thing. I would question Christianity since I see the preachers on TV all the time condemning Muslim religion for its enforcement of Jihad, yet the "Holy Wars" were ok because they were in the name of Jesus. It's all hipocracy, nothing more... Do as I say not as I do? How about we all adopt a policy of setting a good example and lead from the front!
2007-09-28 17:55:10 · answer #1 · answered by ms_chick22 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Hello Darcymc, it's obvious that the ump was, for some reason, very hostile about the fact that this man was a soldier. The soldier wasn't upset about being asked to remove the tags, however rudely. He was upset that his wife was upset - any real man would be. The wife was upset because she saw/heard the hostility from the ump. She clearly loves and respects her man for his sacrifices. In this day and age there are people who are anti-military, I'm sure this umpire wasn't the first. And yes, the soldier was turning the other cheek, when he didn't respond to the initial rudeness of the umpire. He only became hostile himself when he felt his wife was being hurt.
Ok, that was Human Nature 101. What this has to do with Christianity, I also have no clue!
2007-09-28 18:38:02 · answer #2 · answered by MJ's Girl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what was the soldier upset about? i am confused...the umpire didnt say anything bad about the wife or the husband he just told him to take the dog tags off..not sure why he was insulted or wife was hurt and what the heck does any of it have to do with Christianity? besides the soldier not turning the other cheek ....think the whole group of people need to get real and get a life
edited to add
and how did the umpire see them? what the heck was the guy wearing that his dog tags were showing or did he have out like a necklace. and let me add some detail the umpire was not rude to the wife or the solider so the solider needs to take the chip off his shoulder
2007-09-28 17:35:43 · answer #3 · answered by darcymc 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think the umpire should have told him to take it off or tuck it under his shirt. JUST because he is not at war doesnt mean he can't wear them. My man wears his everywhere, work, shopping etc. It doesnt matter what your doing just because your not at your unit, or not in war or in uniform doesnt mean you cant wear them. The umpire was rude to say that in front of a crowd what a loser....I dont understand how you people think he should only be wearing them when in uniform or whatever....They earned the right to wear them whenever they feel like it GROW UP!
2007-09-29 04:36:08 · answer #4 · answered by ciji0630 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The umpire deserved those few choice words and any so called Christian that is calling his chritianity into question is not much of a Christian in my opinion. The umpire is the one that people should be calling to task, not the soldier and his wife.
2007-09-28 17:40:03 · answer #5 · answered by ? 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I personally would have cited the regulation requiring me to have my identification tags on my person at all times.
I personally wouldn't have cursed out the umpire at the behest of a loved one, but I don't see how his integrity as a Christian comes into question. I don't recall the part in the Bible that says not to say choice words. I'm pretty sure it also says something about to err being human.
2007-09-28 17:40:09 · answer #6 · answered by DOOM 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
A fact of life: people are not going to be given the respect they deserve - whether it is a soldier who has made sacrifices for his/her country, a doctor or scientist who studied for many years on student income, or someone who made an effort to save another's life. I am in two of those categories, and on this I will say no more. And respect is often lacking for the ordinary person who works hard and supports his/her family.
People are too caught up in their everyday affairs to acknowledge the contribution of others or even the worth of another person. It is very easy to lash out when frustrated or pissed off. I do that often enough.
Get some love and compassion and caring from your friends, lovers, partners and families, as best you can. And, if you believe, from your God.
Here endeth the sermon.
2007-09-28 17:56:53 · answer #7 · answered by mr_fartson 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
As a soldier you have to get used to ignorant comments from people who think they know it all.
I was born in England, my Mother was English my father was Irish aged 10 I moved to live in Ireland, at 17 I joined the Irish Army and served over 21 years and 147 days, I was known as the "B r i t B a s t a r d" at first the insult hurt but later I wore it with pride.
2007-09-28 18:57:40 · answer #8 · answered by conranger1 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
i just had an assignment in my U.S. Government class about a thing similar to this. It's freedom of speech and expression. The soldier is allowed to where things as he pleases, as long as he doesn't hurt anyone. The umpire's action(s) were in appropriate.
^^mostly my opinion
2007-09-28 17:34:49 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Unless the umpire told everyone wearing something around their neck, necklaces, etc., to take it off, it is the umpire who's integrity should be in question for singling out the soldier.
Were there other people wearing chains, necklaces, etc. around their necks who weren't told to take them off?
2007-09-28 17:44:16 · answer #10 · answered by Gray Wanderer 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋