Should you show all US soldiers respect and pride, even if you know one who doesn't deserve it?

Question

My cousin is in the Marines. I hardly know this cousin, as we are different in age and I hardly saw him growing up. He was nothing but a smart mouth, lazy person before he entered the Marines, and I wouldn't be surprised if he entered it think it would be an easy paycheck. He met a young 18 yr. old girl after bootcamp, got her pregnant and they got married. I heard from relatives all the hateful, nasty things he was saying about his pregnant wife, including how he was going to find him another woman. He was at a family reunion recently, and considering that I personally have always thought he was a punk, I didn't have much to do with him. He was heard by my aunt saying that he was being sent to Iraq, and how he couldn't wait to get over there and kill some people without getting in trouble. My family was disgusted that he was saying this. I got an email from him afterwards, cusing me out for not showing him love or concern that he was going to Iraq. What kind of soldier is this?

I just really feel that with the kind of attitude and personality that this cousin has always had, any time I have been around him or heard anything about him from his mother, that he isn't the type of soldier to be proud of. He is going to end up doing something stupid and get a good soldier killed, someone who is someones husband, father or son.

Answer 1

That's a good question. If this man is really as terrible as you explain him to be, no, he doesn't deserve respect. He's probably just going to Iraq to come back and say," Hey, I fought in Iraq", so everyone can just start praising him for being so brave and patriotic. Not everyone who becomes a soldier is a good person, therefore they shouldn't be treated like one.

Answer 2

I'm sorry that your family has to put up with that. As someone living the military life, I'm disgraced that he wears the uniform. If you are that worried about his attitude toward going to Iraq, you could voice your opinions to his parents. They in turn can contact a commanding officer and voice their concern about their son's mental state. Any good commander will take that to heart b/c, like you said, it would be a terrible thing if an innocent soldier takes the fall for his behavior (or whatever it is that is happening within him). I would seriously voice my concern... our men and women in Iraq are in enough danger as it is... they don't need any added stressor on within their ranks.

But to answer your original question... yes, support all US soldiers. By voicing your feelings on your cousin you are showing your care and concern for all other soldiers in the service. The overwhelming majority of the soldiers are doing their duty out of respect and pride for their country and the safety of all Americans. It is a very noble thing to do to lay your life on the line for people you don't know or will never meet.

Thank you, and Bless you.

Answer 3

Most of the times this type of person falls into one of two areas. The first area is where they are assigned to a "non-combat" job and need to blow their own ego up. Combat Cooks, Combat Typists and the like.

The second area is where they have suffered a head wound either when dropped or thrown on the floor by their mothers. This infant trauma is just now showing up.

PS Only "like 6%" of troops in Iraq are having contact with the enemy. The remainder are support troops.

Answer 4

Rangers are seen a easy infantry in the specific operations community. they'll habit the two standard and specific operation missions, so as that they are extra powerful knowledgeable than an trouble-loose USMC infantry. even with the shown fact that, there are specific ops instruments interior the Marine Corps who get merely as lots training if no extra advantageous than a Ranger. even with the shown fact that no remember if or not one or the others get much less casualties be counted on the character of the wrestle. Your 0.33 question strictly opinion based. in elementary terms a man or woman who has serve in the two the USMC and us of a (US military) could comprehend.

Answer 5

You can't choose your relatives! ;) Nevertheless he sounds like he really needs your prayers and concerns even more than a cousin you like! Sometimes people who spout off like this are very insecure and actually very frightened of what might happen and it's their way of coping. Does that make it right? Uh No not in the least. However that doesn't mean you shouldn't respect others who serve.

Answer 6

There are no professions free of an occasional jerk in their midst. The military is certainly no exception. But that doesn't mean you throw out the proverbial baby with the bathwater. You can respect the uniform, if not the man inside, because the vast majority of military are good, honest people doing what the rest of us can't (or won't) do.

Answer 7

Soldiers are just people like you and me. Treat them the way you think they should be treated. It's baloney to show respect to all soldiers . The whole fighting-for-democracy-in-Irag thing is a illusion anyways. There are good and bad people on both sides. That's a hard thing to grasp, isn't it.

Do you praise Christianity completely or will you admit that Christians at times throughout history have done horrible things to non-Christians.

If paying respect to all soldiers is right then people shouldn't get upset about people paying respect to german soldiers under Nazis or when the Japanese Prime Minister pays respect to Japanese soldiers in WW2.

The world isn't black and white.

Answer 8

Maybe he's found his calling. Sometimes good soldiers don't make good civilians. A lot of soldiers seem to enjoy killing people and don't mind saying so. You see it a lot on footage of soldiers in the news coverage of the war. As sick as that sounds (and I think people who enjoy killing other people are mentally ill) who else is going to volunteer to fight wars for you, fight your enemies and keep your county safe so the rest of us can stay home and get on with our civilian lives?

He may yet turn out to be a good soldier.

Answer 9

someone should slap you cousins face. he sounds like a total jackass i hate it when people join anything just thinking about pay this guy should not be in the marines as for his wife i feel sorry for her. and i don't care if his in the military if he was my cousin i won't even turn to look at him

Answer 10

Your cousin's a dick. You don't have to give him any special treatment. He is not entitled to your love or concern just because he took on a job that requires him to go to Iraq. Save that love and concern for a soldier who actually deserves it.