how can people treat returning soldiers in this country with such contempt?

Question

i am sickened by reports of soldiers, who, after risking their lives to serve their country, are verbally abused by mindless yobs who have done nothing but take from society. often, i have heard my elders bemoan the state of society. i am now coming to understand what they mean. when these heros are routinely treated in this way.

thanx for all the replies. however, i must say that most of them seem to come from americans, i am english and i am talking about the abysmal reception that our returning soldiers are getting. it seems to me, that in america, you dont have this problem, i only wish that the public here, felt able to show their gratitude to their returning soldiers as do you

Answer 1

It is sad what you say. I haven't witnessed anything like that here and I live in Virginia Beach, VA. This is a major military city. We have the utmost respect for those who serve in the military.

For people who show contempt, they are just ignorant.

Answer 2

During World War One the soldiers were promised a bonus when the war was one. It never came. Over 100,000 vets marched in Washington DC right up to the Capital. It took that much pressure for what I think was a $200 bonus. There are only 3 WWI Veterans alive in the US and 3 alive in the UK.

After World War ll, there were signs in parks that said "Soldiers and Sailors Keep Off The Grass". In some towns across the country, Biloxi Mississippi for one, the stores had two sets of prices. One for the town folk and a higher one for the military. This practice continued until the early 60's.

After the Korean War, no one cared. There was nothing here for them. No parades, no thank yous, and no appreciation for the job the soldiers did.

During and after the Vietnam war the country was divided. One side worried about the domino effect. If Vietnam fell to Communism all of South East Asia would fall. One side wanted to know why we were fighting in some p*ss ant country half way around the world. There were those who wanted a win. There were those who wanted us to loose. There were those who wanted us home period, no win or lose. The Veteran was spit on, unmentional items were thrown on them, they were called baby killers, they were thrown off of college campuses. They were yelled at because they wore the uniform of a US Military Member. I remember when we had to fly in a commerical aircraft we were ordered to fly in civilian clothes to avoid confrontation.

After the First Gulf War everyone was glad we won, horray the heroes, and great job. Not an increase in Veteran's Administration funding was to be found.

Now in this war, all I hear is I support the soldiers but don't support the war. Bush Lied. It is all about the oil. Chaney needs the war to get richer. That is all BS. Our mission was to go to Iraq and stop Saddam from using WMD like he did against the Kurds and the American soldiers. NO ONE knew that he was putting on an act, that he had stopped his WMD program, because he kept implying he had them. Now Saddam is dead, the country is slowly becoming a democracy. This is a hard thing to do. Look up your history on Germany after World War ll. We are winning militarily and polictically. But spending at the VA is climbing very slowly. The disabled vet this year will be getting a 2.3% raise, Congress on the other hand gets a 5% raise.

All wars should be prevented at all most any cost. But when the other party will not reason with anothe party, war results. If you are willing to start a war, you should be willing to end the war when it is won and not one second before that.

Answer 3

I seriously doubt it is widespread, just one or two idiots who blame the soldiers for the immoral decisions of the politicians.

We would be stuffed if we were really in trouble and the soldiers weren't there.

However I'm not sure I would agree with the "risking their lives to serve our country". The current operations are not making anyone any safer, least of all anyone here. But it is not the soldiers fault and only a moron would blame an individual serviceman for the misjudgements of his superiors.

About the mindless individuals on the internet- the person is talking about people verbally abusing returning soliders. Talk on the internet is not a personal attack on servicemen, and neither is it "verbal abuse".

Answer 4

Do you know I am really proud at some of the replies to this question. My son is in the Army and has fought in Irac, Afganistan and two tours of Ireland etc. My son joined the Army and I was petrified that he would be killed. I have now come to terms with it as ultimately this was his choice of career. He has made some life long friends and he has lost a few along the way but I am totally disgusted with the attitude of these so called neighbours. However my son has decided to leave the Army in November he stated that he feels like a second class citizen. Low wages, Has to pay for accomodation whether there or not, accomodation is substandard and food in some Barracks disgusting and on top of this he has to provide quality kit and then put up with people spitting on him, calling him names yet their there to help and assist some one elses country and for what.....So thank god my son is coming home its the Army's loss but atleast he will be in one piece. The other frightening thing is how many ex military are living rough in London. There are thousands that we have no idea about. We then get told in the papers that we do not have enough services to protect our own country as there all abroad.....Well god help us as soldiers are leaving in droves. With escalating terrorism and kicking out 4 russian diplomats I think we as a nation are heading for trouble yet all those people that complained god help you if my son comes there because I will make sure I come and say 'Good Morning, did you sleep well in your bed'....

Answer 5

Good for you for beginning to understand what your elders are saying. This comes along with maturity. This means that just what some media person says is not the truth. You gain an appreciation for people and what america has.

There will always be the hippy, dippy people who really have no understanding. It is easy as most americans don't travel and there are 3000 miles of ocean each way. But what they don't realize is that there are many people who risk their lives or die even during peacetime.

Many people do care.

Answer 6

Because the war's a thousand miles away, doesn't affect people directly and they don't give a rats @rse anyway so long as it doesn't interfere in their personal little world of work & money.

If they had an RPG rammed up their rear regularly they would quickly change their attitude.

I did 15 years - my son's done 2 Iraq and on his second in Afghanistan and he can't even get a discount at the local swimming baths whilst the dossers and scroungers walk in for free.

I was in France yesterday and visited the WW1 graves at Dunkirk cemetery, paid my respects & left a poppy. One lad was 16 & another 17 when killed in action. Makes you wonder about todays teenage yobs doesn't it??

Answer 7

I'm sure that it happens, but like others have mentioned, I don't think it’s that widespread. I personally have never seen such a thing myself. Other than the funeral protests I've seen on TV, which by the way, make me want to vomit because it's so obscene and heartless that anyone would do that. What I do see is lots of support for our troops. I think the vast majority of the American people understand that supporting the war and supporting our troops can not be bulked together. We support our troops no matter what. And I, like most people, find it despicable when anyone, especially our troops, are treated badly. They deserve our respect. God bless them all.

Answer 8

I suppose the way the Bush Administration treats them is preferable. First they send young boys and girls to a country with no teachings on their culture or religion. They spend everyday in horrible conditions. When they get to come home there is no mental health support and the bare minimum of medical treatment. Maybe that's why 1 in 4 homeless Americans are veterans. But thoses darn liberals. They are baaaaad.

Answer 9

You are right the returning soldiers MUST be treated well, if not with respect. Dont bother about the mindless people , who abuses the returning heros.Just because they are fighting there we are peacefully living and carrying our routine work. Again i tell U those heros must be respected by all levels and means let us salute them

Answer 10

Perhaps you should take a look at how governments treat soldiers when they return...i think you will find it's far worse than any insults from 'mindless yobs'

more Vietnam vets committed suicide after they returned home to the U.S. than were killed in action in Vietnam

Once they have served their country they are left to rot on the streets! that's gratitude for ya!

Answer 11

Good point Sean C. Everyone here is bemoaning libs spitting on vets (while at the same time admitting that they haven't seen any reports of it actually happening) while it is these wackjob (not all cons are wackjobs) religious conservatives that are celebrating the deaths of our soldiers. Perhaps people need to look beyond the simpleton us vs them mindset.