what i want to know is... why do I keep on getting "memorial day mega sale" ads... I mean, this is not very respectful of the dead.

Because under the right guise and to the right person it can be seen as a patriotic salute in the form of savings for the consumer when in reality it's another excuse to suck the dollars out of each warm body that comes into the store. I used to be in advertising and stuff like this was just the tip of the filth ridden iceburg. It's a dirty, soulless business and things like this are why I left it to become a nurse.

Because there are some people that are bad in a group do you exectute the whole group? If not then please don't do the same with our military. If you want respect then give it. There are thousands upon thousands of honorable men and women that have died in the defense of the United States of America. Those of us who are actually from this country are greatful for their sacrafises to protect what we have today.

If you want to start your own anti-American or anti-military thread be my guest, however it's very disrespectful to do so here. If you want to start your own thread putting the US down or praising your own country's military, go for it. You comment is not only off topic but rude and disrespectful of the original post.

I made the assumption you aren't from the US because you commented that not everyone who comments here is American, if I was wrong in that assumption then excuse me.

This thread has become like wrestling with a pig...everyone gets dirty...but the pig LIKES it.

I get where you are coming from Mr Nephilim (interesting moniker, are you a Mormon?), but you are not telling enough about yourself to help us determine what you really are. I have spent the majority of my adult life with soldiers and one thing I have learned is this:  Do not underestimate the potential for cruelty and savagery of the nineteen year old American male.  If you equate the stupidity that you have linked for us with cruelty and sadism, you are truly naive.  I don't condone cruelty, don't encourage it, do not approve of it.  You show us some videos of soldiers doing dumb stunts in Iraq then start talking about enhanced interogation techniques as if the two are in the same league.  They don't even come close.  Yeah, those guys in the vids were meanies, so if they die we condemn them to hell because they were thoughtless and immature?  One thing they can say is that they ARE THERE.  They are drawing the perimeter of our national defenses way outside the tent.  Good for them.  And should they wind up being killed in their efforts, they will get my heartfelt salute...even if they were meanies. 

As to the rest of ya, thanks a lot and have a good holiday.

It's almost as if the potential for cruelty and sadism is amplified upon being given a gun and a position of power over civilians in a war-torn country! Those meanies! Laughing as children beg for clean water, but it's ok, OORAH it's for our national defense! Throwing dogs off cliffs! OORAH! Raping 14 year olds and killing her family! OORAH! Just a dumb stunt, man, I still salute those meanies for being there!

Not a mormon; atheist.

Currently a nursing student because I would serve mankind by healing the sick and comforting the dying. Also being told to eat shit and die and that I am a pig because I am outraged over cruelty and indecency towards human beings, especially children. OORAH *smashes beer can with forehead*

I'll tell you what then. You go track them down and have this out with them and leave us to go about our business.

Before I start a rant, let me get this strait... You expect a country that has had relatives, friend, and family members horrifically killed in 9-11 by people who would rather kill themselves than to see YOU alive and they're supposed to be "nice" to the ethnic/religious group that did this to us?  Is this what I'm hearing?  Because if it is, I just need one question answered before I start my rant, how many more times would you like to see the US Invaded and Attacked by terrorists before you say enough is enough or are you one yourself?  Oh, you're Atheist, that my friend is a lie, because if you seriously were Atheist and not using it as cover to mascurade as another religion you would be going on and on of how stupid a religion is to say its ok to commit mass genicide instead of a soldiers coping methods in a state of war -- I take it you've never seen bombs strapped to kids before just so a solider will get close to give a kid his canteen and then, Kaboom!  You see, they're being smart, instead of sobbing because they can't give the children water, they cope with it diffrently, as sobbing, is a pretty big sign of weakness and a huge morale dropper -- so, laughing fits.

I have spent the majority of my adult life with soldiers and one thing I have learned is this:  Do not underestimate the potential for cruelty and savagery of the nineteen year old American male.

I've been inactive since 2003, but I suggest a few movies for you to watch that are very descriptive (got them as recommendations from Soldier's Magizine), one is "In the Vally of Elah" and "Home of the Brave".  This is very descriptive of why US Soldiers have turned cruel during these times of war, its because it is the ONLY way they survive together.  Such as the youtube clip suggests, if any of those soldiers had half a heart they could have been Radical Islamic Hamburger.  But today's training teaches them not to have a heart, or at least how to turn it off and keep it off which is what you see, not the creulity of a 19y/o male -- even they die often from having compassion for children.

Regards,

Mike

US Army, Retired

not a mormon, a moron.

I don't know how you suddenly got from memorial day to a rant about how american soldiers are evil (they aren't) but its woefully inappropriate thing to do on a day for remembering our dead servicemen.

Even if it was any other day it would still be extremely stupid of you to make such assumptions. You think american soldiers laugh at children begging for clean water? you think we call that national defense? how far up your own ass must your head be to even contemplate such evil in everyone but yourself?

You are currently a nursing student because you are too stupid to be a doctor.

Since youtube is such a useful tool for deciding what really happens in Iraq (appearantly) here you go.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=child+suicide+bomber&aq=f

HAHAHAHA -- the tears.... Must stop.... LMAO!

That was good *the last part at least*

But you have to know he is kinda right on that the overall mindset of US servicemen has changed since WWII, they're not quite as helpful to civilians as we use to be.  We have the Vietnam war (children/women killing servicmen and playing on their sympothy's) and now the same with the War on Terrorisem.  The servicemen have realized that if they let any emotion drive them in a time of war and in hostile areas then their life is forfiet.  It is sad but it is absolutely nessary to prevent loss of more American Soldiers.

There is a big difference between being cautious about children because they might be suicide bombers, and abusing them for fun, WITH approval from the state for "national defense, OORAH".

No there is not, it is called copping with the situation but lets talk about this "true evil" you mention... Did it ever occure to you that the soldier's didn't have to drop the waterbottle at all and just be mean as hell? That is the raw fact of the matter, they did give the kids the water; I'll tell you what true evil is though, true evil is where a leader would occupy and horde all of the water in a country until the need for water would prompt a group of children to run clear across town just for a bottle, and it is definatly true evil that anyone would support such a leader and think we shouldn't have liberated a country in that kind of pickle.

Mmm yes differentiating between scumbags and decent people is a horrible, horrible thing.

don't worry guys people just get like this in war http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/05/08/kentucky.iraq.soldier.rape/

Only took three years for a verdict! What a shining squad of America's finest! Don't worry lads, if anybody cites you as an example of awful people who don't deserve respect as veterans, it's ok, that little girl was brown, just like the 9/11 hijackers! Sometimes four guys just need to cut loose

Also lol about your nursing ignorance. Call me dumb if you like, but we're more than just butt-wipers.

And at least I'm not raping 14 year olds.

so... a soldier rapes and murders, is convicted, and is expected to get the DEATH PENALTY for it and that somehow makes all soldiers rapists and murderers who do it with the "sanctioning of the government, hoora"?

Which part of him being convicted and getting the death penalty is an indication to you that this is somehow acceptable and widespread and encouraged?

And 3 years for a trial that ends with a death penalty is rather QUICK actually, it would have taken the same time or longer had he done the same to an american family (which, he most probably would have had he not been shipped overseas)

Which part of my earlier statement about some troops being very good people while some do not deserve to be honoured isn't getting through to you?

There are most certainly irresponsible or immoral people in every profession, and what I'm advocating is recognition of these faults rather than turning a blind eye to them. The problem is that blanket statements are what happens on holidays such as Memorial Day.

For what it's worth I am excellent friends with some US soldiers; one working as a technician, another two as standard infantry. To the best of my knowledge they've acted as decent human beings, and it's people like that who deserve honour; all three however have acknowledged that there are bad apples, they are more plentiful than some may care to know, and like any cruel person, should not be seen as heroes.