Should We Not Be Proud?

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 00:25:22 -0400

I can't copy the link, but hopefully some of you have come across the same article I have.

To sum the article up, it mainly says today's veterans are too loud and proud of our military service.

Apparently the lovely and appreciative civilians this country has to offer, are tired of hearing our war stories and seeing our military service on the back of our vehicles.

Here's what I say to that: "Fuck you!" I have every right to let it be known I have served in a combat zone. That doesn't mean I'm going to talk about it with you though. I don't go around bragging of things I've done or places I've been; but, if someone asks me if I serve, I will gladly answer their question/s. There are some of us who tend to brag and talk up their deployment, even if it the things they say are far fetched or a flat out lie. John Doe doesn't can't pick them out like we can though.

I don't feel like we should change at all. I think we should be loud and proud of our service, to an extent. Just don't be "that guy," or girl mentioned earlier.

Here's what I want to know: What is the difference between a proud service member wearing a shirt saying U.S.Army and a proud civilian wearing a shirt depicting the college he or she attended? The answer: NOTHING! I college and university alumni wearing clothing from their school more than I see service members wearing clothing of their branch or even MOS.

If you want to wear clothing depicting your branch of service, MOS, deployment, etc. do it! If you want the military license plate, frame, or stickers, have them! Be loud and be the proud American Service Member you should be.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Mar 10 at 2015 12:28 AM

SSG Trevor S. — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 00:28:39 -0400

We can be annoying, but so can civilians. Even trade.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2015 2:28 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 02:28:33 -0400

I have heard this opinion that people are tired of hearing military people boasting and what not, but I think it's still a very small crowd comparatively speaking. Yes they have a loud voice because their opinion goes against the grain an touches in a very sensitive spot in our country.

That being said I think there is some merit to the situation and I have thought many days about this over the last couple years. I do believe this small crowd of individuals complaining about us proud military folk are getting their opinions from observing the annoying and loud vets. Yes, there are some very annoying and overly boastful vets and some take it so far I find it very disrespectful. I've witnessed a man demand a military discount from a Burger King that didn't offer the discount. He started becoming irate and yelling and held up the line for about 10 minutes in a busy airport, which made for a loooong line. I also witnessed a man try to cut in line and take way too many bags on a plane, saying he was in the marine corps and deserved the right to carry on as many bags as he wants and to board when he wants. He was very rude to the flight attendants. It's people like this that honestly make me embarrassed to associate with them. It's nice when companies offer us discounts or special service but is it a right we have earned? No! It's a privilege. And it's the mind set that we earned the right to be treated better that puts a bad image on the military. I'd even say that goes for people who have deployed to combat. I absolutely respect that you've done that for us SGT and it's something I dont have the balls for. However I believe a step in the right direction to making a better image of ourselves would be to say you have the privilege, (or just "ability" if privilege sounds too positive) to say you've served in combat, not the right. Entitlement will never look good to anyone, no matter what you've done.

Unfortunately that's the way people are raised these days too. You are entitled to your participation certificate in the sports tournament you sucked in. But hey, at least you get a certificate!

Response by SSG Eddye Royal made Mar 10 at 2015 2:34 AM

SSG Eddye Royal — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 02:34:38 -0400

Oh, yes even my family says quit talk about the shit, just because you got hurt and had a stroke. Get your dam ass a job!!

Response by CW2 Eric Scott made Mar 10 at 2015 3:10 AM

CW2 Eric Scott — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 03:10:40 -0400

America is about choice. If you're a Veteran and want to let everyone know you're a Veteran, cool and the gang. You earned it, do it and be proud. If you want to be quiet, again cool beans, do it and be proud.

Remember you personally have a right to feel how you feel. If you even give the time reading something called 'do we have the right to feel proud' you're selling yourself short.

Response by Cadet SFC Rev. David Doellinger made Nov 12 at 2017 3:20 PM

Cadet SFC Rev. David Doellinger — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 15:20:23 -0500

Pride comes before the fall. Or is it the other way around? Pride comes after the fall, the fall into sin that is. "Pride goes before destruction." (Prov. 16:18) Pride is a result of our sinfulness. Scripture repeatedly teaches us to be humble and warns against pride, but can pride ever be a good thing? Galatians 6:4 says each of us should "examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone." Rejoicing in yourself could be interpreted as "pride." We want our children to know we are proud of them. We want them to be proud of themselves and have self-confidence. We should not go so far as giving everyone a participation trophy and getting them puffed up like many Americans.
I am not proud of the sins of my past. I should not be proud of what I have accomplished by my own merit. However I can give thanks for what I have done with God's gifts. The Holy Spirit works through believers. Is it bad to look back and be proud of yourself? We should humble ourselves and God will exalt us.
I am proud that I volunteered to serve my country. I am proud that I took the oath to defend the constitution. I am proud that I earned my parachutist wings. I was discharged before I could fulfill my commitment. I was never commissioned. I struggle with calling myself a veteran. I don't feel worthy to stand up with World War II, Korean, Iraq, Afghanistan or veterans who served a tour of duty. I was never on active duty except for training, so according to the VA I am not a veteran. I am humbled before men and women who have been injured in battle or still carry some kind of scars. They gave more than most people have and we should be grateful. Part of me, maybe it is pride kicking in wants to stand up when they play the Army song. We can all become too proud.
Veterans are proud of their service, as they should be. Some T-Shirts say that 1% of our population has served in the recent wars. As humans we might compare ourselves to other people. I have a tendency to look down on those who have not served. I used to think that everyone of the “greatest generation” was in World War II but someone had to stay and farm the land so the world would have food. Someone had to build tanks and jeeps. God gives us all different callings.
I don't want to be proud in a sinful way, I don't want to steal valor that I did not earn. It wasn't my choice to leave the Army. Not a day goes by when I don't wish I could have stayed in longer. God had other plans for me though. His plan is different from ours. I need to humble myself before God and accept the calling He has given me. There is great gain in contentment. St. Paul learned to be content in every situation. I pray the Lord will give me that contentment. Perhaps part of being content is being proud. Should we rejoice in ourselves?