How do you express your thanks to our fighting men and women who are securing our freedom?

And to the Canadians fighting, too.

Canada Rocks!

I would be more than glad to express my gratitude to the men and woman serving in the armed forces, of course, but I would also like you to explain exactly what you mean when you say: “There are those in this country that show disrespect to those freedoms.” How and in what way are Americans (or Canadians) showing “disrespect” for their freedoms?

@lillycoyote If you don’t know, I sure won’t be able to tell you.

@Ben_Dover That’s not an answer. It’s a shame that you are either unwilling or unable to answer my question.

@lillycoyote It’s a shame that you are unaware that many persons in the US disparage our fighting men and women.

@Ben_Dover

I don’t think that’s what @lillycoyote is unaware of.

@Ben_Dover The question I asked wasn’t about whether or not people in the U.S. “disparage” people serving in the military. You said “There are those in this country that show disrespect to those freedoms.” I asked you “How and in what way are Americans (or Canadians) showing “disrespect” for their freedoms?” That is the question.

@lillycoyote
There are many people who are whittling away the freedoms many have fought and died for in the US. The Bill of Rights, The contract between America and her citizens guaranteeing certain individual freedoms is being ravaged by the Supreme Court and the Homeland Security people.
Rights people have fought and died for are being deleted with no thought to those who died for them.
So the disrespect being shown for our freedoms is being done by the money elite and politicians who are bought and paid for by said elite to turn us back into slaves.

Sorry about the misunderstanding.

@Ben_Dover

The Supreme Court has done as much, if not more, to protect our freedoms than the military (as an organization).

I am more than willing to express gratitude for individuals who are willing to give their life for the good of the country.

However, I don’t think I can point to a military action that has occurred in the past almost 70 years taken to protect the rights of the American people (the presence in Afghanistan is the most arguably appropriate action). Ironically, it’s just as arguable that every one of them over the past 70 years has been taken in order to protect the money of the American people. And the military, which consists of a statistically higher amount of minorities than it should, an organization where you can be fired outright for being a homosexual and lose the benefits you fought for, and has a recruiting focus in low-income areas looking for people with a limited prospect of advancement in the private sector, is more blatantly pushing the most underprivileged part of our population into slavery.

I wish that our service men and women were utilized for solely just and honorable causes. I wish that were the case…I think we’d be stronger as a nation for it.

@iamthemob

WWII wasn’t to protect the rights of the US citizens? Oh my!

The service men and women don’t have a say as to how they are utilized, and in their minds they are fighting for our freedom.
Aren’t we in Iraq (no longer) and Afghanistan to thwart the terrorists who flew jets into our
Twin Towers? And who would blow us up on planes as we fly around the world?

if that isn’t fighting for our freedom, what is?

@Ben_Dover

WWII ended in 1945. That was nearly 70 years ago (WWII was actually the last that I would point to). Are you saying that it wasn’t? Then I’ll have to disagree.

We are not in Iraq because of 9/11. The terrorist attacks had nothing to do with Iraq. The major public reason for the Iraqi invasion was the threat of WMDs. We were told that the government knew that Iraq had them. That was a lie.

And as I also stated, the presence in Afghanistan is the closest thing to protecting our people. Bin Laden, however, is a Saudi. Why didn’t we invade there to look for him too?

But then we have to accept the actions of the DHS as part of that mission, which you seem against. This is despite the fact that underground terrorist cells don’t need to work out of a single country. That’s the strength of their organizational “structure.” If we concentrate on our security here, we can better protect our citizens right?

Unfortunately, that would mean diminishing the individual liberties of which you speak, which is exactly the type of activity you seem to be criticizing the DHS for.

I have a group that meets at myhouse monthly and we write letters to service persons who receive little or no mail. Every three months we do gift boxes which include calling cards, socks, and other small items. I have been doing this since Vietnam

Diminishing our civil liberties is victory for terrorists. @iamthemob

@mollydrew That is truly wonderful!

@mollydrew

That’s amazing!

@Ben_Dover

The price of our liberties is reduced security. We should not be allowed to shift the cost of diminished liberties and loss of life overseas if we wish to hold onto them. The spoils of the military-industrial complex go, not to the people or the soldiers, but to the wealthy elite, the oil field owners of the Middle East, and the politicians.

I have a stepdaughter and a stepson in the Navy. I am very grateful for what they do, My husband is a vet .So we are very patriotic. We actually have our flag flying at all times. Donate money as well to vets.

The topic has changed, which I hadn’t noticed – so I participated (and continue to participate) in a grassroots call campaign to contact state representatives to voice support for the removal of requirements under the DADT policy. I love me some Gillebrand.

edited by me

I think one of the best ways is to make it personal—that is, to say thank you every time you run into him or her. I try to do that.

I have thanked my father,my friends who have and are serving presently and soon to be serving nephew.As for strangers,I can’t say I charge them like a bull to say that,but if the opportunity arises,then I will do just that.

I thank the soldiers that I meet. I send care packages twice a month. I send the care packages to my husband and he gives stuff to other soldiers at his location. I help other spouses that are home alone while their soldier is away to the best of my ability (because less stress at home is less stress on the soldier away). That’s all in addition to the things I do to thank my husband for his service to our country and our family.

@Ben_Dover, I think that we should respect soldiers, provided they don’t commit atrocities or break the rules of warfare.

However, I think it’s nonsense to say that soldiers today are fighting to “secure our freedom.” Killing Taliban fighters in Afghanistan does absolutely nothing to secure our freedom. However, it (arguably) helps Afghans live in a better society. So we should thank them for that. Or at least trying. I’m sure most soldiers do want to help Afghans and Iraqis.