Do US veterans deserve respect/donations? How do they "serve our country" or "defend our freedoms" exactly?

[Winston]

I don't get something. I thought everyone knew by now that the Iraq War, and Vietnam too, was a scam and all about corporate profit and US imperialism, and had NOTHING to do with defending freedom and democracy. Nothing could be more obvious.

So why then are all the TV and radio stations in America still saying that veterans returning home deserve respect and donations for "defending our freedoms" which is technically false and illogical, yet it's sputtered like a mantra that everyone goes along with just to get along?

Even Coast to Coast AM with George Noory is spouting this claim that "veterans defend our freedoms", as though it were Gospel truth and a given fact. Every time a veteran calls into the show, George Noory thanks them for serving and defending our freedom so that shows like Coast to Coast can be on the air. What a cliche! I thought Coast to Coast was supposed to be a show about truth and freethought? Why does it spout the standard lies that make no sense just because they're popular and politically correct? The show has virtually no critical thinking at all!

When I'm at a gas station pumping gas, I sometimes have veterans walk up to me and tell me that they served and ask if I could spare some cash.

I also get phone calls from people claiming to work for charities sponsored by the State Troopers Highway Patrol, asking for donations to help veterans. The last time they called, I was thinking of asking them this:

"First, I heard that most US charities are a scam. How do I know that you're not a scam too? Second, you do know that those veterans risked their lives for corporate profits, not to defend any freedoms right? That's common knowledge. Third, why don't you ask for donations from corporations like Halliburton, which made billions from the Iraq War and got rich from it? Surely they can afford to support our veterans can't they? Why are you asking the general public?"

But I didn't want to get on any "black list" for asking such dissenting questions. Better to just avoid them.

Do any of you get those calls too? Why are they asking the public for donations instead of Halliburton?

And why is the old "veterans fought to defend our freedoms" line being brought back when it was debunked ages ago? What's going on? Does anyone really still believe that? If so, why? On what basis?

Also, are those charities that claim to be sponsored by the State Troopers real or a scam? Aren't most charities in the US a scam? How do you tell a real charity from a scam?

[Jester]

You're right about the scams.

And no, they don't deserve anything except the VA medical etc. they signed up for.

There are exceptions, but most of them went in for the money/career opportunity, not to defend America.

The day of having to blindly pretend the Emperor is wearing clothes, is long gone.

[Cornfed]

Obviously Western ZOGs are the mortal enemies of the populations they are ruling and serving them in any capacity is a depraved act.

[HouseMD]

There was a good period after 9/11 where people were so blinded by patriotism and rage that they signed up for the whole "serve your country" bit. They were led astray- most minds are too weak to handle an event on the scale of 9/11 rationally. In their minds it was assumed they were going to prevent such an act from ever happening again when they were signing up. Then they were thrown into a massacre after being promised they would be heroes. They should be afforded some respect for serving, as Iraq and Afghanistan were not their choice.

They have been brainwashed by society, the media, and video games their whole lives. You can't blame them for not seeing through it any more than you can blame a North Korean for actually believing unicorns exist. It usually takes an adverse experience to wake someone up- an experience that, for many, the wars have provided. I don't know a single vet friend that doesn't feel completely f***ed by their own government (I am part of the generation that was enlisting directly after 9/11, before everything was so blatantly a lie).

The media side of things is part of the American myth- the hero soldier defending freedom is as ubiquitous as the hard working small farmer or America being the "land of the free" in our mythology. It isn't a truth at all, it is part of a narrative so deep and long-running that most people say it without ever thinking about it.

[Cornfed]

On a forum I used to post on, there were several members of the US military spouting super-patriotic gibberish who got very upset at my pointing out that they were fools and criminals. Now, a couple of years later they are all, without exception, saying exactly what I was saying. But then of course there are others who are planning to join the military. Stupid assholes. It is a pity people can't simply listen to the obvious and have to learn by bitter experience.

[Devil Dog]

On a forum I used to post on, there were several members of the US military spouting super-patriotic gibberish who got very upset at my pointing out that they were fools and criminals. Now, a couple of years later they are all, without exception, saying exactly what I was saying. But then of course there are others who are planning to join the military. Stupid assholes. It is a pity people can't simply listen to the obvious and have to learn by bitter experience.

lol. So now they are all saying that they are criminals. Your posts are ridiculous.

Look up the definition of hyperbole. Try to make posts which avoid it.

I am a veteran. You want to know how many of the hundreds of Marines who I served with over a period of 7 years I ever heard spouting patriotic bullshit? Zero. And yet you know "several" who were spouting patriotic gibberish and now proclaim that they are "criminals". You really get around, don't you?

Jester, you are somewhat correct about the money/career aspect of it (although the money aspect of it is not that wonderful), but I would add adventure/experience to that. Also, the typical veteran who didn't stay 20 years for retirement does not receive any government benefits of any kind. I don't, don't need them, don't want them, don't give a shit about them.

[Cornfed]

I am a veteran. You want to know how many of the hundreds of Marines who I served with over a period of 7 years I ever heard spouting patriotic bullshit? Zero. And yet you know "several" who were spouting patriotic gibberish and now proclaim that they are "criminals". You really get around, don't you?

To be honest, that is a point of difference in that they seem to consider themselves more victims than criminals. They do all seem to agree that the US military sucks and that the wars were bullshit for corporate profits. The logical upshot of this - that they are criminals who belong on the gallows - seems to be a bridge too far for them though. As to the difference between them and the ZOG killbots you know, perhaps younger people are a bit smarter and less wedded to the system. I'm pretty sure they also wouldn't consider it a success to surrender their daughters to corporate whoredom in the way you do either.

[zboy1]

On a forum I used to post on, there were several members of the US military spouting super-patriotic gibberish who got very upset at my pointing out that they were fools and criminals. Now, a couple of years later they are all, without exception, saying exactly what I was saying. But then of course there are others who are planning to join the military. Stupid assholes. It is a pity people can't simply listen to the obvious and have to learn by bitter experience.

lol. So now they are all saying that they are criminals. Your posts are ridiculous.

Look up the definition of hyperbole. Try to make posts which avoid it.

I am a veteran. You want to know how many of the hundreds of Marines who I served with over a period of 7 years I ever heard spouting patriotic bullshit? Zero. And yet you know "several" who were spouting patriotic gibberish and now proclaim that they are "criminals". You really get around, don't you?

Jester, you are somewhat correct about the money/career aspect of it (although the money aspect of it is not that wonderful), but I would add adventure/experience to that. Also, the typical veteran who didn't stay 20 years for retirement does not receive any government benefits of any kind. I don't, don't need them, don't want them, don't give a shit about them.

I would have to agree with DevilDog--as someone that served in the military for 4 years. Most soldiers were there for the travel, adventure, career and job-skills and the education benefits. Yeah, there were those "patriotic" America is #1 types (who I always despised), but they weren't the majority.

Of course, I served during the time before 9/11 and left shortly after--so, the situation was very different back then. After 9/11, the military did see a lot of the 'patriotic types' come in--because of the all brainwashing and propaganda in the media, so maybe it's all different now?

[Repatriate]

One of the biggest lies is the one told in the media about defending our "freedoms" around the world. This is regurgitated as gospel truth by Fox News disciples and dunce hat wearing locals in Bible Belt states. But the propaganda is really nationwide because even liberals buy into the nonsense. I don't find most Americans to be good at critical analysis especially when it comes to blindly obeying authority or following the status quo.

[Devil Dog]

[] I'm pretty sure they also wouldn't consider it a success to surrender their daughters to corporate whoredom in the way you do either.

lol. It really burns your ass that my daughter who is only a few months out of college is earning probably triple or quadruple what you are, doesn't it?

But the system is corrupt and unfair to free thinkers like you.

[momopi]

...before you donate:
http://www.charitynavigator.org/

The American Red Cross has overhead of 10% and delivers 90% of its money on programs that helps people:
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.c ... orgid=3277

Compared to the National Veterans Services Fund, with 81.6% overhead and delivers only 18.4% of its money to help Veterans:
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.c ... orgid=7591

That is, for every dollar donated to the National Veterans Services Fund, the Veterans only get 18.4 cents.

[HouseMD]

...before you donate:
http://www.charitynavigator.org/

The American Red Cross has overhead of 10% and delivers 90% of its money on programs that helps people:
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.c ... orgid=3277

Compared to the National Veterans Services Fund, with 81.6% overhead and delivers only 18.4% of its money to help Veterans:
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.c ... orgid=7591

That is, for every dollar donated to the National Veterans Services Fund, the Veterans only get 18.4 cents.

Here is a solid list of decent veteran charities along with their income and expenses for various activities:

http://www.publicintegrity.org/2013/09/ ... ad-instead

Charity is a wonderful thing so long as it is well spent. We wouldn't need socialist style programs if we were all generous and wise enough to put our money toward the appropriate charity services instead.

[tre]

I had a cousin that joined up in 2008 after the economic downturn. He was a plumber, was laid off and couldn't support his wife and 3 children. He can now support his family. The government uses economic hardship to recruit and destroy freedom just as they use "terrorist" attacks.

I had planned on joining the Air Force a few years after 911 so that I could afford to go to college. However, I got a DUI right before I could go in....and was disqualified. I am so grateful for that DUI now, it kept me from falling into a serious trap. I wasn't even a drinker really, but had one bad night which ended with a DUI that changed the course of my life. There is nothing I am more thankful for.

When I was young, I was never taught the truth, because my parents didn't know the truth. The media doesn't tell the truth...just the opposite. The internet has changed things and more and more people are waking up. Military back in the day couldn't know the truth as much as they could today. However, there are still so many brainwashed individuals thinking they are going to improve the world while improving their future...nothing could be further from the truth. Some get in and THEN realize that something isn't quite right. However, they have to finish doing "their time" so that they can do something else. In the meantime, they struggle to find SOMETHING that makes them THINK they are doing something worthwhile. That is the conclusion I've come to. I know a few in the Military looking forward to the day they can get out and do something else. The sad thing is that Military often destroys a man's chances of having a decent life. Military men often lack people skills and have a hard time adjusting. Many often end up going back in because they can't seem to do anything else successfully. Its a very sad cycle that I see all the time.

I'm very outspoken against ANYONE going in to the armed forces of the USA. There is no good reason to join....ZERO. Killing other people for a "career" is just insane. That is what is going on, WHILE freedoms are being destroyed by the real enemy....

[Cornfed]

[] I'm pretty sure they also wouldn't consider it a success to surrender their daughters to corporate whoredom in the way you do either.

lol. It really burns your a** that my daughter who is only a few months out of college is earning probably triple or quadruple what you are, doesn't it?

Lol, yeah I'm really jealous that I too can't be paid a fortune to turn up at an office wearing tight clothing, give out the odd blow job and be used as a cum dumpster at corporate functions, as has always been my ambition.

Actually, the situation does burn my ass, but not quite for the reason you seem to think.

[HouseMD]

[] I'm pretty sure they also wouldn't consider it a success to surrender their daughters to corporate whoredom in the way you do either.

lol. It really burns your a** that my daughter who is only a few months out of college is earning probably triple or quadruple what you are, doesn't it?

Lol, yeah I'm really jealous that I too can't be paid a fortune to turn up at an office wearing tight clothing, give out the odd blow job and be used as a cum dumpster at corporate functions, as has always been my ambition.

Actually, the situation does burn my a**, but not quite for the reason you seem to think.

I have a feeling your knowledge of the corporate environment is limited to television. These days sleeping with the boss isn't a fast track to promotions, it's career suicide. Usually only secretaries and interns are that dumb. Most corporate ladies actually have miserable sex lives due to a lack of partners that make more money than they do. Spinsterhood is more likely than whoredom.