Should we respect our soldiers more?

williamblah · 03-12-09, 02:10 AM

That's what the servicemen of our country do!

Terrorists don't do it because they just fancy blowing people up, they do it because they believe it is necessary in securing the future of humanity! Suicide bombers believe that they are killing themselves for the greater good. They are almost certainly wrong, but they believe that nonetheless. A lot of them are trained from a young age to believe what they do, they are almost brainwashed. They believe that they are sacrificing themselves for the rest of us. Let's say you believed that you had to blow yourself up for the future generations, could you do it? They've got a lot of courage. And they are more similar to our soldiers than you'd think.

This isn't mine, but this guy is spot on:

Quote:

Evil people know what is evil and do it anyway. If you think you're doing good, and you're wrong, you're not evil; you're mistaken. People who are willing to kill & die for God are the most sincere people in the world. But they're not good unless their God is good. A good God may tell people to kill evil people, but He will never tell people to kill good people, or innocent people, or people who happen to believe the wrong thing. This perverse idea of God did not start with the Koran, or even with the story of Joshua. It started with the story of Abraham & Isaac.

Abraham supposedly heard a voice from God telling him to sacrifice his son. Of course, the Moslems say it was Ishmael, not Isaac, but that?s beside the theological point. The point is, he heard a voice from God? knows where, telling him to kill his son. Did he check it out with the local priesthood? No. He just assumed it was the god to whom he was accountable, though God as we use the term today wasn?t even imagined in the Bronze Age. And then he did it ? almost. But just as he raised the dagger, God stopped him, congratulated him for passing the test of faith, and promised him reward for obedience.
Message: Obey God, and you will be rewarded.
In fact: Obey what you believe to be the voice of God, and you will be rewarded.
In fact: Obey what you believe to be the voice of God, no matter how insane or immoral those directions may appear, and you will be rewarded.
But now that we have the Word of God written down, such voices in the sky (or head) are generally regarded as unreliable. Now it's: Obey what you believe your Holy Scriptures are telling you, no matter how insane or immoral those directions may appear, and you will be rewarded.

Please don't take this as "Terrorism is a good thing", because that is not what I am saying. I am not saying that I approve of or condone any of their actions in any way. But there is absolutely nothing a human can do which exclude them from their basic human rights.

Edit: If any of this has got you thinking, another good read: http://sjhoward.co.uk/archive/2005/0...heyre-not-evil

Apologies for dragging this off topic!

pspupgrade · 03-12-09, 07:21 AM

Slightly back on topic, I think that the respect that soldiers get is based on how much the public realise they are protecting us.

In WWII, people felt the strain of the war as it happened; bombs were dropped on their houses, food supplies went down, people's friends died. As the people living at that time saw a German plane being gunned down by a Spitfire, they would cheer, in the knowledge that the heroic man piloting that Spitfire and the other servicemen would eventually restore peace and normal life.

In our current day situation, I don't see the same thing. It's fair to say that just about all of us don't completely know why we're fighting this war. We just look at the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and dismiss it, thinking that the only people being protected are the civilians of those countries, and not us. I would partly blame this on politics, and the excuses of war, but I would mostly say that we don't realise that these soldiers made the choice to join the army. They could've chosen to have normal jobs at home, but instead they decide to go abroad, and risk losing their lives to protect us from threats that we don't even realise to the full extent.

joewarne · 03-12-09, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simmo

I can't say I believe in national service as I don't particuarly believe in war. However, I think people do respect the soldiers, its just people say that we don't when we actually do, if you get what I mean.

Also, for the record human rights is a bunch of nonsense. Does a terrorist deserve human rights? no he does not.

Regarding Iraq/Afghanistan, I don't give a toss about them so get our soldiers out.

I believe thats why there is the terroism act which entitles the government to keep someone uncharged for something like 42 days. This is clearly giving their human rights up even if they are not terrorists.

pengasius · 06-12-09, 12:29 AM

one word....

joewarne · 06-12-09, 12:41 AM

one word ^^ Fail

ElectroGirl · 06-12-09, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pengasius

one word....

Whenever I see your username I misinterate it for something else

pengasius · 06-12-09, 01:16 AM

Quote:

one word ^^ Fail

...lol

but i love this song....
all he say it's shocking like the lyric at the end!

Quote:

Whenever I see your username I misinterate it for something else

im like this ugly monkey called courious goerge: im courious what kind of thing u misinterate my username....

joewarne · 06-12-09, 01:17 AM

I think your missing the point, we cant see the video, we just get a white box, u posted it wrong.

williamblah · 06-12-09, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElectroGirl

misinterate

You should send that to the Oxford Dictionary, it's a nice new word!

What does it mean?

Larkino · 06-12-09, 01:21 AM

tbf he's from quebec

williamblah · 06-12-09, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larkino

tbf he's from quebec

electrogirl isn't

Harvez · 06-12-09, 11:38 AM

I see these debate sections have gone to Sh!t with nobody following the rules, knew it wouldn't last long.

ElectroGirl · 06-12-09, 02:42 PM

I meant misread...
If know one is going to debate, there is know debating..

David James · 30-04-10, 07:19 AM

In fact this is the very reason why soldiers do not deserve the exaggerated respect they receive. Soldiers join the army knowing full well that they will have to kill people. I cannot begin to imagine the mindset of someone who thinks this is ok. The fact that these men and women are apparently okay with the idea of being paid to kill others is pretty disturbing to say the least and hardly worthy of respect.

FurbtasticM · 30-04-10, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David James

In fact this is the very reason why soldiers do not deserve the exaggerated respect they receive. Soldiers join the army knowing full well that they will have to kill people. I cannot begin to imagine the mindset of someone who thinks this is ok. The fact that these men and women are apparently okay with the idea of being paid to kill others is pretty disturbing to say the least and hardly worthy of respect.

They deserve far more respect than someone who comes on a forum, makes a post like yours and spams their own site. The irony is that the first line of the said site says:

"Our soldiers are needed to defend democracy and human liberties
all around the globe, and because we need them, they are there."

**the_icks** · 30-04-10, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pengasius

one word....

is that the flag of the French military??

I have a lot of respect for the forces, having been brought up as an RAF dependent with a father who served in the Falklands.

I live very close to Headley Court, the recovery centre for injured service men and women and was ashamed of people in my area who refused planning permision for a home for families to stay as they felt it would lower their property values!

mattyb · 30-04-10, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_icks

is that the flag of the French military??

LOL. I went to my French self defence lesson last night and I was absolutely knackered....never run so far in my life.

Back on topic, yes I think they do need respect. It's a dirty job and someone has got to do it and I thank god it's not me who has to see and do what these men and women do. Whether or not I agree with the current 'wars' we're involved in is besides the point really - theirs is not to question why.

As for Furbs' idea of national service, I would wholeheartedly agree with that. I think it's a great idea and would perhaps help solve so many things wrong with the younger generations attitude towards a great deal of many things.

**the_icks** · 30-04-10, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattyb

LOL. I went to my French self defence lesson last night and I was absolutely knackered....never run so far in my life.

Back on topic, yes I think they do need respect. It's a dirty job and someone has got to do it and I thank god it's not me who has to see and do what these men and women do. Whether or not I agree with the current 'wars' we're involved in is besides the point really - theirs is not to question why.

As for Furbs' idea of national service, I would wholeheartedly agree with that. I think it's a great idea and would perhaps help solve so many things wrong with the younger generations attitude towards a great deal of many things.

National Service?? Did you never watch bad lads army??

mattyb · 30-04-10, 12:48 PM

No I didn't - were they a cheeky lot of youngsters up for a prank but essentially good wholesome boys?

Nak1 · 31-05-10, 11:33 AM

A very useful discussion and a good way to judge public support.

I am a serving member of the Armed Forces and have been for the last thirteen years. I have served in a number of different locations including a number of tours of both Iraq and Afghanistan.

It is very interesting to see how you (the general public) view what we do. I agree with some of the comments made above. However please let me point out a few facts.
1. We are professionals and not conscripted into the Army, however many of us are in a position where leaving the army is not feasible (for a number of different reasons) and therefore are in a position where going to places such as Afghanistan is not a matter of choice.
2. We are not political pawns. We are fighting a dedicated and very tough enemy, who believe that death in battle is a privilege and want nothing more than to destroy our democratic rights.
3. We (YOU) live in a society that is relatively safe from the threat of terrorism. This is due to hard work and dedication from not only our soldiers but our Government, security services and local law enforcement agencies.

03-12-09, 07:21 AM	#22
pspupgrade iPod 20gb Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sussex, UK Posts: 912	Slightly back on topic, I think that the respect that soldiers get is based on how much the public realise they are protecting us. In WWII, people felt the strain of the war as it happened; bombs were dropped on their houses, food supplies went down, people's friends died. As the people living at that time saw a German plane being gunned down by a Spitfire, they would cheer, in the knowledge that the heroic man piloting that Spitfire and the other servicemen would eventually restore peace and normal life. In our current day situation, I don't see the same thing. It's fair to say that just about all of us don't completely know why we're fighting this war. We just look at the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and dismiss it, thinking that the only people being protected are the civilians of those countries, and not us. I would partly blame this on politics, and the excuses of war, but I would mostly say that we don't realise that these soldiers made the choice to join the army. They could've chosen to have normal jobs at home, but instead they decide to go abroad, and risk losing their lives to protect us from threats that we don't even realise to the full extent. __________________ Free iPod Touch\| Free iTunes Gift Card \| Free Apple TV \| Free Magic Mouse \| Free iPad 2 My simple secret to success: Spoiler Stop sitting around and get to work!

06-12-09, 12:29 AM	#24
pengasius iPod Nano 2GB Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Québec Canada Posts: 105	one word.... Last edited by pengasius; 06-12-09 at 12:30 AM..

06-12-09, 01:21 AM	#30
Larkino Call me Vlad Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: South London Posts: 9,503	tbf he's from quebec __________________ Free Xbox 360 S \| Free Wii \| Last.FM

06-12-09, 11:38 AM	#32
Harvez Mini Mac Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: l33dz Posts: 9,421	I see these debate sections have gone to Sh!t with nobody following the rules, knew it wouldn't last long. __________________ Freebiejeebies \| Free iphone \| Free Blackberry \| Free Wii U \| Free laptop ^^^^ its not real stop begging losers ^^^^ Someone once said "Life is what you make it", I disagree sometimes life makes you into what you are.

06-12-09, 02:42 PM	#33
ElectroGirl Mini Mac Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Plymouth! Posts: 5,666	I meant misread... If know one is going to debate, there is know debating.. Last edited by ElectroGirl; 06-12-09 at 02:43 PM..

06-12-09, 12:41 AM	#25
joewarne Mini Mac Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Great Yarmouth Posts: 4,742	one word ^^ Fail

06-12-09, 01:17 AM	#28
joewarne Mini Mac Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Great Yarmouth Posts: 4,742	I think your missing the point, we cant see the video, we just get a white box, u posted it wrong.

30-04-10, 07:19 AM	#34
David James iPod Shuffle Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1	Should we respect our soldiers more? In fact this is the very reason why soldiers do not deserve the exaggerated respect they receive. Soldiers join the army knowing full well that they will have to kill people. I cannot begin to imagine the mindset of someone who thinks this is ok. The fact that these men and women are apparently okay with the idea of being paid to kill others is pretty disturbing to say the least and hardly worthy of respect.

30-04-10, 12:48 PM	#39
mattyb iPod 20gb Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sussex Posts: 505	No I didn't - were they a cheeky lot of youngsters up for a prank but essentially good wholesome boys?

31-05-10, 11:33 AM	#40
Nak1 iPod Shuffle Join Date: May 2010 Location: British forces Germany Posts: 13	A very useful discussion and a good way to judge public support. I am a serving member of the Armed Forces and have been for the last thirteen years. I have served in a number of different locations including a number of tours of both Iraq and Afghanistan. It is very interesting to see how you (the general public) view what we do. I agree with some of the comments made above. However please let me point out a few facts. 1. We are professionals and not conscripted into the Army, however many of us are in a position where leaving the army is not feasible (for a number of different reasons) and therefore are in a position where going to places such as Afghanistan is not a matter of choice. 2. We are not political pawns. We are fighting a dedicated and very tough enemy, who believe that death in battle is a privilege and want nothing more than to destroy our democratic rights. 3. We (YOU) live in a society that is relatively safe from the threat of terrorism. This is due to hard work and dedication from not only our soldiers but our Government, security services and local law enforcement agencies.