Why do people always flaunt, "because of so-and-so, you can talk shit..."?
Yes. They can. Get over it...if you don't like being spit on, shit at, knocked around, criticized, called an idiot, treated like a lesser human being, and stereotyped, then get out of the fucking military. You don't join the military for a pat on the back...you join the military because it's a personal choice, and no tickertape parades or pats on the back or stupid little yellow ribbons is going to change the fact that in this war, if you go to Iraq:
A. You will go into combat
B. You will be shot at
C. You or someone you know will probably die
If you cannot handle THE TRUTH, then maybe you really don't know what the military is all about. All the patriotism in the world doesn't change the fact that you are going into an area to kill people and you may possibly be killed.
That said, Nik, you should be comforted to know that since your son is fighting in Her Majesty's Armed Forces, he will probably be stationed in the south of Iraq, close to Kuwait. There, they drink beer, do a few perimeter runs, even sometimes have little parties. It's quite relaxed compared to places like An Nasirya, Baghdad, and Balad. Kudos to you and your son and your strong support of him. But you must remember, if someone wants to call him a baby-killer, you must let them. He signed up of his own free will to bear the burden so many have forgone. You are a number, a body, and you aren't special in the military. This isn't the movies...this is war. Don't throw shit at someone else because they have the right to throw shit at your son...that's what we're all about. Selfless sacrifice doesn't grant us special recognition. Just because you see it as honorable doesn't mean everyone else does...and should.
That said, saying "your son will get fucked up", although containing some truth, is crass, arrogant, immature, and of low class and taste.
