You don’t protect my freedom: Our childish insistence on calling soldiers heroes deadens real...

No one in the military is a "hero". We're all a bunch of misguided assholes who realized that there is something bigger than ourselves. We have a higher belief system than the average civilian (damn near all of them really), and when the shit really hits he fan, I KNOW I can look to my left and right regardless of MOS or branch and believe we'll make it. It's not about some Hooah Hooah Rah Rah shit. Stuff that back in your pocket. Every branch has a creed, code, or a system of values they believe in. If you don't then you need to exit stage right. As far as a "justified" war, while all of us are entitled to our opinions, you do not make the decision (that is the most important part of it). You have two choices; deploy, or deploy your ass back to the house with nothing but a discharge that strips everything you ever wanted to do in life away.
No one owes me shit. If I worked for it, put some skin in the game, then give me only what I'm due. There are people who I owe, and some have passed, and others are still serving. I owe it to them to pay it forward and explain to them that while I'm retired, it's the same ol shit, just a different day. I know what you're going through. Here's how not to fuck up your career and your life.
Bottom line is NO we do NOT need to get rid of anything. If "military worship" is bad, then you looking for a high paying job to afford a "better lifestyle" is equally bad if not worse. You're now worshiping "the dollar". Somehow I think revering the military is a much better and patriotic option. If you don't want to say the pledge, fine, sing the Army song, fine, sing the national anthem...fine again. 1A allows for that. 1A also allows for those kids to be able to look up at something that doesn't play a sport, drive a car, or is a drug dealer or pimp and say to themselves "I want to be like him or her". Looking at us and admiring us tells that child you can make a goal, shoot for the stars and get it. I wanted to be an astronaut, a firefighter, a cop, a college graduate, but it was my memories of my father and grandfather in uniform early in life that laid the foundation for the moment it really hit me while driving on Ft. Belvior that being a Soldier is what I want to be.

Sorry PFC Harry Leuchen this is not about what is a hero, or what isn't a hero. This is drivel designed to work the rift. It is written in a way to entice an emotional response. An emotional response for or against. An emotional response that makes those who agree lash out with hatred toward the military and first responders. It is designed to get those who disagree to lash out with hatred toward those who would degrade military and first responder service. It is pure and simple designed to put a wedge between people. Divided people are easier to manipulate. Easier to control. The simplest way to combat this is to treat everyone with the human decency. We have a volunteer military and police force. That means that yes, those who serve are protecting their freedoms. Unless that person is willing to stand up and take an oath, put on a uniform, and serve, then yes that person is relying on others to protect their freedoms, and uphold the laws of the land. Civilians determine how the military is employed. It is up to the military to carry out the missions assigned. Agree or disagree, doesn't matter. The missions are assigned and carried out. Those in front line service don't do so for heroism, they serve for the person next to them. It is about keeping each other as safe as possible while carrying out the assigned mission. In reality if you ask any service member, "Would you like to be wounded in combat?" the answer will be no. Nobody wants to die for their country. Nobody wants to be maimed, wounded, or otherwise scarred by the horror that is war. It is service to the nation, and sadly it involves sending those who are well trained, well equipped, and (hopefully) well armed into harms way. Some service members will go their entire career without sending a round down range, firing a single missile, launching a single torpedo, or having the same fired at them. Others will pay the ultimate price. That is not by choice. It is by the military deciding where a person is the most useful. So for some person who doesn't have a clue to state that they know what is and isn't heroic in military service is naive. To write a piece like this to divide people makes him part of the problem.