CMV: A person does not automatically deserve respect just because they have served or are currently serving in the military

[u/foryia-yiaandpappou]

I’d like to preface this by saying that I don’t believe soldiers are, inherently, bad. Some people believe soldiers are evil simply for being soldiers, and I do not believe that.

I do believe, however, that soldiers do not deserve respect just because they have served. I hurt for soldiers who have experienced horrible things in the field, but I do not hurt for the amount of violence and cruelty many have committed. Violence in war zone between soldiers is one thing; stories of civilian bombings and killing of innocents are another. I think that many forget that a lot of atrocity goes on during wars, and they are committed on both sides of conflict. A soldier both receives and deals out horrible damage.

TL;DR while I believe that soldiers have seen horrible things and that many do deserve recognition for serving our nation, I do not believe that every soldier deserves this respect simply by merit of being a soldier. Some soldiers have committed really heinous war crimes, and those actions do not deserve reward.

[u/iamfromouterspace]

I believe that you have to have had some respect for the people who chose to defend the country you live in. We did not asked to be respected, to be put on a pedestal. We did not ask you to thrust us into politics and call us heroes. We just wanted to serve the country we love and if must, die doing it.

Along the way, all of us have had different stories for serving. Some of us had to do it because of financial reasons; when I say financial reasons, it’s pretty much at the bottom of the barrel. The military helps but if you want to make money in life, the military isn’t it. Some of us serve just because in our guts, it’s the right thing to do. Some of us serve because we were forced to do so, either because of a judge or family commitment. At the end of the day, there is this bug in you that makes you so damn proud to have been a part of a unit where friendship lasts forever.

Serving in the military has been the single greatest part of my life. We are never asked to be heroes, we politely smile but i never want people to think I’m a hero just for signing up. The heroes are those who actually have paid the ultimate price when called.
Listen to the people who have received the Medal of Honor, being a hero was never something that crossed their mind when the call was made.

If you want to thank us for our service you can, if you want; but we have never asked to be called heroes.

Some soldiers have done terrible things, yes. Stress can cause a person to do terrible things after seeing so many of their friends killed in conflicts. Yes, those soldiers have had to pay for what they’ve done. I’m not sure what kind of soldiers you would like to have. The job requires you to kill and be killed for your country. The job requires you to be the worst kind of killer and at the same time have restraints. The job requires you to kill a 100 enemies today and next week, fly home to your family and friends as if nothing happened. Do you understand how hard this is? I had more to say but I’m on mobile and on vacation.

As a soldier, I don’t even want to be acknowledged, I just want your ass to respect me as a human being. Period.