National guardsman beat up in Tacoma

[kinggovernor]

Originally Posted by SpicyMcVoodoo

under what circumstances and how often? the details are killing me...

I happened to be walking past an anti-war group at my school and I was in uniform.

[SpicyMcVoodoo]

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

I happened to be walking past an anti-war group at my school and I was in uniform.

Okay, so it was a protest...I'm starting to notice a common theme here...and the moral of the story is that trying to portray that soldiers are called "baby killers" while minding their own business is bullshit.

[SpicyMcVoodoo]

Originally Posted by Diesel66

or carry firearms

I carry a gun.

[kinggovernor]

Originally Posted by SpicyMcVoodoo

Okay, so it was a protest...I'm starting to notice a common theme here...and the moral of the story is that trying to portray that soldiers are called "baby killers" while minding their own business is bullshit.

walking down the street isn't minding my own business, I wanted nothing to do with their activity

[SpicyMcVoodoo]

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

walking down the street isn't minding my own business, I wanted nothing to do with their activity

right, but if i'm an american in europe, and i walk past an anti-war protest, and someone yells out anti american slurs, but otherwise i'm left alone, i can't exactly come back to america and try to make it sound as if americans are constantly called names in europe.

if the only time soldiers are called baby killers is when they hold up provactive signs or walk past anti-war protests, that doesn't say anything about how soldiers are normally treated in america.

[JaJae]

Originally Posted by SpicyMcVoodoo

Okay, so it was a protest...I'm starting to notice a common theme here...and the moral of the story is that trying to portray that soldiers are called "baby killers" while minding their own business is bullshit.

Well yea, if they don't know you're a soldier they'll leave you alone.

It's more common than you'd think for a soldier to be heckled while getting into his car at a shopping center or something of that nature. I'm sure this also depends on the part of the country you are from. I'm sure in conservative areas it's far less likely. In areas where your local media is less liberal, I'm sure it's also less likely.

And obviously it's more common when there's a group of antiwar people clammered about. But he should be able to feel free and proud to wear his uniform anywhere he goes. He doesn't deserve to be heckled for being in the military. And whether you feel it was in "protest" or not is irrelevent.

The fact still stands, certain people have absolutely no problem heckling our servicemen. And it doesn't end at people sharing their political beliefs and disgust for the war on terror.. it's personal attacks or ad hominems against our soldiers. Calling them baby killers, assholes, etc is completely different than sharing anti-war views. At that point it is completely anti-soldier and that's the problem.

This mentality sparked from somewhere and it goes all the way back to Vietnam. It's typically been an extreme "progessive" mentality and I feel it is being turned over again during Iraq through the interpretation of our media and their anti-war arguments. The constant harping on rare military incidents without putting it into perspective of other wars and the consistent harping and exaggerating of certain photos, ideals, incidents that have happened in war is influencing people's views of our servicemen. Back in Vietnam we had people like Kerry promoting the ideals of baby-killers. In today's society it's considered taboo, but so is racism. And we all know that still exists and is more prominent in certain regions of the nation.

How often do we hear about all the good things our soldiers have done in Iraq? I personally can't remember the last good news we had coming from our media regarding Iraq. I think taking Fallujah was the last peice of good news I've heard, and even then a very large portion of our media attacked it. Are we to believe that the negatives in Iraq are the norm?

Progessives constantly attack the Bush administration for not acknowledging the bad in Iraq, yet their media and ideals have never acknowledged the good because good news in Iraq is bad news for their agenda or predisposed beliefs. It goes both ways.

[six6ftr]

I guess I have lucked up so far. I have not received any negative feedback from the public, just a lot of paid lunches and thank you's. I did hear of others that have received that sort of treatment but I will say that it is a matter of time before the soldiers stop ignoring the comments and negative actions that they are receiving.

[SpicyMcVoodoo]

Originally Posted by JaJae

Well yea, if they don't know you're a soldier they'll leave you alone.

How does that follow from the stories and articles here? I've yet to hear a story about a uniformed soldier harassed in a normal situation minding his own business...except for the tacoma incident.

People can say it's common or whatever, but I'd like to hear some first hand accounts or reputable reports. I'm not going to buy speculation or friend of friend accounts because, like I said, that's too in line with the agenda to make it sound as if liberals are attacking our soldiers. Everything so far has involved protests. Even kinggovernor, after saying he was called a baby killer, admits it was as he passed an anti-war protest. Forgive my skepticism, but I'm trying to stave off the new "spit on vietnam vets" myth before it starts.

[JaJae]

Originally Posted by six6ftr

I guess I have lucked up so far. I have not received any negative feedback from the public, just a lot of paid lunches and thank you's. I did hear of others that have received that sort of treatment but I will say that it is a matter of time before the soldiers stop ignoring the comments and negative actions that they are receiving.

Thank you for your service and welcome to the forum

[SpicyMcVoodoo]

Originally Posted by six6ftr

but I will say that it is a matter of time before the soldiers stop ignoring the comments and negative actions that they are receiving.

that's partially why i don't believe the stories. i find it hard to believe the characterization of troops who are called names and don't do anything back.

[JaJae]

Originally Posted by SpicyMcVoodoo

How does that follow from the stories and articles here? I've yet to hear a story about a uniformed soldier harassed in a normal situation minding his own business...except for the tacoma incident.

I have numerous friends who have been heckled while getting in their cars when leaving a mall.

People can say it's common or whatever, but I'd like to hear some first hand accounts or reputable reports. I'm not going to buy speculation or friend of friend accounts because, like I said, that's too in line with the agenda to make it sound as if liberals are attacking our soldiers. Everything so far has involved protests. Even kinggovernor, after saying he was called a baby killer, admits it was as he passed an anti-war protest. Forgive my skepticism, but I'm trying to stave off the new "spit on vietnam vets" myth before it starts.

The above poster also acknowledges he has friends it has happened to. It's not something that makes the news and it's not something that's "common." I'm just trying to convey that it's likely more common than you think.

[JaJae]

Originally Posted by SpicyMcVoodoo

that's partially why i don't believe the stories. i find it hard to believe the characterization of troops who are called names and don't do anything back.

Contrary to certain progessive beliefs, most people in the military aren't stupid enough to do anything back. And it's often not done directly to their face. Like I said, it's done as they're getting in their cars, etc.

[SpicyMcVoodoo]

Originally Posted by JaJae

The above poster also acknowledges he has friends it has happened to. It's not something that makes the news and it's not something that's "common." I'm just trying to convey that it's likely more common than you think.

Again, friend of friend accounts abound, but first hand stories are missing.

[SpicyMcVoodoo]

Originally Posted by JaJae

Contrary to certain progessive beliefs, most people in the military aren't stupid enough to do anything back.

It has nothing to do with people in the military. I think if you take a group of early 20 something guys of any background, and have them called names, a good proporotion will get into a fight.

[SpicyMcVoodoo]

This rumor seriously needs to be put to rest. Why don't people get get a hidden cam, a uniformed soldier, and walk around in the mall and see what happens? It'd be a good investment too. It'd cost nothing, but if you were called names, the right would have a orgy with it and it'd be viewed by a gazzillion people. Put in on eefoof and you'll get those dollars rolling in.

[six6ftr]

The Majority of troops will not retaliate. Everything we do is carefully watched and scrutinized in the public eye especially when in uniform so getting involved in any kind of incident would not a wise decision.

[JaJae]

Originally Posted by six6ftr

The Majority of troops will not retaliate. Everything we do is carefully watched and scrutinized in the public eye especially when in uniform so getting involved in any kind of incident would not a wise decision.

If the retaliate they're in a lot more trouble than you or I would be.

[six6ftr]

Exactly, the Uniform Code of Military Justice has very harsh penalties.

[kinggovernor]

i would have no problem fucking someone up if they tried to spit on me

[smokie700]

Amen brother, but you would have to stop me first!!!!!