phototec
New Member
In another post, a fellow Signs101'er asked this question:
"So what your saying is that Veterans are better then the average person?"
To be honest, when I saw the question, I immediately began to fume. But, after thinking about it, here's my answer.
I don't think Veterans are "better or special." They're just people. They laugh. They cry. They live. They die.
But, say some people go to a restaurant and order dinner. They really enjoy the dinner. Eventually, the server's going to bring the bill. Most people pay their share of the bill, but a few think it's cool to figure out a way to skip out without paying the bill. Some do so, leaving the rest to pay for their meal.
That's the way it is with the freedoms we enjoy as citizens of the United States. Some of us live here 18 or so years without worrying about the cost. Then the government says, "Ok, kid, here's the bill for the freedoms you've enjoyed." Some kids pay the price. Others skip out and leave their share of the bill to be paid by others.
Unfortunately, those who skip out are becoming more numerous.
People say that freedom isn't free. But most have no idea what the price is. It's spelled out in the last few words of our Declaration of Independence. "... we pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." Most in the military commit to paying that price. And here's a flash. The bill will never be paid in full. Each generation that uses (or abuses) their freedom has to pay their installment.
Are Veterans (past, present, and future) special? I don't think they're special. I think they're simply responsible citizens. That's not special. That's minimally acceptable behavior. They see that there's something that needs to be done, and they're willing to do it.
What about those who don't join? I'm talking about the people who are physically and mentally qualified -- but who, for some reason don't join. I'm not talking about people who've served and are now too old, or those who are hooked up to some kind of life support in a hospital, or those who are mentally handicapped. And I'm not talking about kids under 18. But it does include people who are too old to serve now, but who could have served and chose not to.
“These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of men and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly.” (Thomas Paine)
“Pacifists are among the most immoral of men - they make no distinction between aggression and defense. Therefore, pacifism is one of the greatest allies an aggressor can have.” (Patrick Henry)
“War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing that is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.” (John Stewart Mill)
HAPPY VETERANS DAY
TO ALL WHO SERVED
THIS GREAT COUNTRY
"So what your saying is that Veterans are better then the average person?"
To be honest, when I saw the question, I immediately began to fume. But, after thinking about it, here's my answer.
I don't think Veterans are "better or special." They're just people. They laugh. They cry. They live. They die.
But, say some people go to a restaurant and order dinner. They really enjoy the dinner. Eventually, the server's going to bring the bill. Most people pay their share of the bill, but a few think it's cool to figure out a way to skip out without paying the bill. Some do so, leaving the rest to pay for their meal.
That's the way it is with the freedoms we enjoy as citizens of the United States. Some of us live here 18 or so years without worrying about the cost. Then the government says, "Ok, kid, here's the bill for the freedoms you've enjoyed." Some kids pay the price. Others skip out and leave their share of the bill to be paid by others.
Unfortunately, those who skip out are becoming more numerous.
People say that freedom isn't free. But most have no idea what the price is. It's spelled out in the last few words of our Declaration of Independence. "... we pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." Most in the military commit to paying that price. And here's a flash. The bill will never be paid in full. Each generation that uses (or abuses) their freedom has to pay their installment.
Are Veterans (past, present, and future) special? I don't think they're special. I think they're simply responsible citizens. That's not special. That's minimally acceptable behavior. They see that there's something that needs to be done, and they're willing to do it.
What about those who don't join? I'm talking about the people who are physically and mentally qualified -- but who, for some reason don't join. I'm not talking about people who've served and are now too old, or those who are hooked up to some kind of life support in a hospital, or those who are mentally handicapped. And I'm not talking about kids under 18. But it does include people who are too old to serve now, but who could have served and chose not to.
“These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of men and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly.” (Thomas Paine)
“Pacifists are among the most immoral of men - they make no distinction between aggression and defense. Therefore, pacifism is one of the greatest allies an aggressor can have.” (Patrick Henry)
“War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing that is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.” (John Stewart Mill)
HAPPY VETERANS DAY TO ALL WHO SERVED
THIS GREAT COUNTRY
