Half a league half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred:
'Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns' he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
'Forward, the Light Brigade!'
Was there a man dismay'd ?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Some one had blunder'd:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do & die,
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volley'd & thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.
Flash'd all their sabres bare,
Flash'd as they turn'd in air
Sabring the gunners there,
Charging an army while
All the world wonder'd:
Plunged in the battery-smoke
Right thro' the line they broke;
Cossack & Russian
Reel'd from the sabre-stroke,
Shatter'd & sunder'd.
Then they rode back, but not
Not the six hundred.
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
While horse & hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Came thro' the jaws of Death,
Back from the mouth of Hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred.
When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wonder'd.
Honour the charge they made!
Honour the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred!
Why is it that we have two separate holidays for soldiers (veterans day and memorial day) and nothing for any other occupation?
Well I guess there's a secretaries' day and a teachers' day. But no one cares about those holidays.
The implication seems to be that being a soldier makes you somehow morally better than any other job, which I think is BS. It's a necessary job yes, and dangerous, but so are a lot of other jobs. How about a coal miners day, to honor the sacrifice of all the miners without whom we'd have no energy?
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ThomamelasOnly one man can kill this many Russians. Bring his guitar to me! Registered Userregular
Why is it that we have two separate holidays for soldiers (veterans day and memorial day) and nothing for any other occupation?
Well I guess there's a secretaries' day and a teachers' day. But no one cares about those holidays.
The implication seems to be that being a soldier makes you somehow morally better than any other job, which I think is BS. It's a necessary job yes, and dangerous, but so are a lot of other jobs. How about a coal miners day, to honor the sacrifice of all the miners without whom we'd have no energy?
Teachers are rarely expected to give their lives in the course of their duties. There are other professions who are, and perhaps a day for them would be good. But in western civilizations we tend to consider the sacrifice of one's life to protect another's to be above and beyond what's expected of a person. And other professions rarely make as much in the way of personal sacrifice as we ask of soldiers.
Why is it that we have two separate holidays for soldiers (veterans day and memorial day) and nothing for any other occupation?
Well I guess there's a secretaries' day and a teachers' day. But no one cares about those holidays.
The implication seems to be that being a soldier makes you somehow morally better than any other job, which I think is BS. It's a necessary job yes, and dangerous, but so are a lot of other jobs. How about a coal miners day, to honor the sacrifice of all the miners without whom we'd have no energy?
Why is it that we have two separate holidays for soldiers (veterans day and memorial day) and nothing for any other occupation?
Well I guess there's a secretaries' day and a teachers' day. But no one cares about those holidays.
The implication seems to be that being a soldier makes you somehow morally better than any other job, which I think is BS. It's a necessary job yes, and dangerous, but so are a lot of other jobs. How about a coal miners day, to honor the sacrifice of all the miners without whom we'd have no energy?
Teachers are rarely expected to give their lives in the course of their duties. There are other professions who are, and perhaps a day for them would be good. But in western civilizations we tend to consider the sacrifice of one's life to protect another's to be above and beyond what's expected of a person. And other professions rarely make as much in the way of personal sacrifice as we ask of soldiers.
Nobody expects soldiers to lose their life either. If anyone dies these days it's a tragic accident. There's plenty of other professions liking mining and fishing which are FAR more dangerous these days than being a soldier in a professional army.
Why is it that we have two separate holidays for soldiers (veterans day and memorial day) and nothing for any other occupation?
Well I guess there's a secretaries' day and a teachers' day. But no one cares about those holidays.
The implication seems to be that being a soldier makes you somehow morally better than any other job, which I think is BS. It's a necessary job yes, and dangerous, but so are a lot of other jobs. How about a coal miners day, to honor the sacrifice of all the miners without whom we'd have no energy?
Yes, let's honor coal miners who give up their lives for the freedom of coal everywhere. COAL RIGHTS NOW!
Also giving up your life so some fat cat can get fatter through private profit while simultaneously providing energy in a way that can be replicated through other energy choices, is *significantly* different from giving up your life so you, and your family, and your friends, and your kids, and your grandkids, can enjoy the same freedoms you love and enjoy, which no one can profit from or exploit or gouge prices on... yeah there's a difference.
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RentI'm always rightFuckin' deal with itRegistered Userregular
Why is it that we have two separate holidays for soldiers (veterans day and memorial day) and nothing for any other occupation?
Well I guess there's a secretaries' day and a teachers' day. But no one cares about those holidays.
The implication seems to be that being a soldier makes you somehow morally better than any other job, which I think is BS. It's a necessary job yes, and dangerous, but so are a lot of other jobs. How about a coal miners day, to honor the sacrifice of all the miners without whom we'd have no energy?
Yes, let's honor coal miners who give up their lives for the freedom of coal everywhere. COAL RIGHTS NOW!
Also giving up your life so some fat cat can get fatter through private profit while simultaneously providing energy in a way that can be replicated through other energy choices, is *significantly* different from giving up your life so you, and your family, and your friends, and your kids, and your grandkids, can enjoy the same freedoms you love and enjoy, which no one can profit from or exploit or gouge prices on... yeah there's a difference.
This kind of...smacks of elitism and an ignorance of a lot of the more fucked up elements of the military (like, oh, KBR and Blackwater, for instance)
Why is it that we have two separate holidays for soldiers (veterans day and memorial day) and nothing for any other occupation?
Well I guess there's a secretaries' day and a teachers' day. But no one cares about those holidays.
The implication seems to be that being a soldier makes you somehow morally better than any other job, which I think is BS. It's a necessary job yes, and dangerous, but so are a lot of other jobs. How about a coal miners day, to honor the sacrifice of all the miners without whom we'd have no energy?
Yes, let's honor coal miners who give up their lives for the freedom of coal everywhere. COAL RIGHTS NOW!
Also giving up your life so some fat cat can get fatter through private profit while simultaneously providing energy in a way that can be replicated through other energy choices, is *significantly* different from giving up your life so you, and your family, and your friends, and your kids, and your grandkids, can enjoy the same freedoms you love and enjoy, which no one can profit from or exploit or gouge prices on... yeah there's a difference.
This kind of...smacks of elitism and an ignorance of a lot of the more fucked up elements of the military (like, oh, KBR and Blackwater, for instance)
As far as I know veteran's day doesn't seek to honor professional mercenaries, but rather veterans of the actual US military.
Why is it that we have two separate holidays for soldiers (veterans day and memorial day) and nothing for any other occupation?
Well I guess there's a secretaries' day and a teachers' day. But no one cares about those holidays.
The implication seems to be that being a soldier makes you somehow morally better than any other job, which I think is BS. It's a necessary job yes, and dangerous, but so are a lot of other jobs. How about a coal miners day, to honor the sacrifice of all the miners without whom we'd have no energy?
Yes, let's honor coal miners who give up their lives for the freedom of coal everywhere. COAL RIGHTS NOW!
Also giving up your life so some fat cat can get fatter through private profit while simultaneously providing energy in a way that can be replicated through other energy choices, is *significantly* different from giving up your life so you, and your family, and your friends, and your kids, and your grandkids, can enjoy the same freedoms you love and enjoy, which no one can profit from or exploit or gouge prices on... yeah there's a difference.
This kind of...smacks of elitism and an ignorance of a lot of the more fucked up elements of the military (like, oh, KBR and Blackwater, for instance)
As far as I know veteran's day doesn't seek to honor professional mercenaries, but rather veterans of the actual US military.
It honors veterans of wars in general, although it was originally conceived for WWI. Many countries have their own version of it. But you're right, it doesn't include mercenaries.
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RentI'm always rightFuckin' deal with itRegistered Userregular
Why is it that we have two separate holidays for soldiers (veterans day and memorial day) and nothing for any other occupation?
Well I guess there's a secretaries' day and a teachers' day. But no one cares about those holidays.
The implication seems to be that being a soldier makes you somehow morally better than any other job, which I think is BS. It's a necessary job yes, and dangerous, but so are a lot of other jobs. How about a coal miners day, to honor the sacrifice of all the miners without whom we'd have no energy?
Yes, let's honor coal miners who give up their lives for the freedom of coal everywhere. COAL RIGHTS NOW!
Also giving up your life so some fat cat can get fatter through private profit while simultaneously providing energy in a way that can be replicated through other energy choices, is *significantly* different from giving up your life so you, and your family, and your friends, and your kids, and your grandkids, can enjoy the same freedoms you love and enjoy, which no one can profit from or exploit or gouge prices on... yeah there's a difference.
This kind of...smacks of elitism and an ignorance of a lot of the more fucked up elements of the military (like, oh, KBR and Blackwater, for instance)
As far as I know veteran's day doesn't seek to honor professional mercenaries, but rather veterans of the actual US military.
No, Spacemilk's statement said ..."which no one can profit from or exploit or gouge prices on"
War is one of the worst examples of all that shit going on. I mean, let's be frank here, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been great boons to PMCs
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ThomamelasOnly one man can kill this many Russians. Bring his guitar to me! Registered Userregular
Why is it that we have two separate holidays for soldiers (veterans day and memorial day) and nothing for any other occupation?
Well I guess there's a secretaries' day and a teachers' day. But no one cares about those holidays.
The implication seems to be that being a soldier makes you somehow morally better than any other job, which I think is BS. It's a necessary job yes, and dangerous, but so are a lot of other jobs. How about a coal miners day, to honor the sacrifice of all the miners without whom we'd have no energy?
Teachers are rarely expected to give their lives in the course of their duties. There are other professions who are, and perhaps a day for them would be good. But in western civilizations we tend to consider the sacrifice of one's life to protect another's to be above and beyond what's expected of a person. And other professions rarely make as much in the way of personal sacrifice as we ask of soldiers.
Nobody expects soldiers to lose their life either. If anyone dies these days it's a tragic accident. There's plenty of other professions liking mining and fishing which are FAR more dangerous these days than being a soldier in a professional army.
War hasn't gone away. We have soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan who will die in combat. It won't be an accident. In the future other soldiers will die in combat.
Why is it that we have two separate holidays for soldiers (veterans day and memorial day) and nothing for any other occupation?
Well I guess there's a secretaries' day and a teachers' day. But no one cares about those holidays.
The implication seems to be that being a soldier makes you somehow morally better than any other job, which I think is BS. It's a necessary job yes, and dangerous, but so are a lot of other jobs. How about a coal miners day, to honor the sacrifice of all the miners without whom we'd have no energy?
Yes, let's honor coal miners who give up their lives for the freedom of coal everywhere. COAL RIGHTS NOW!
Also giving up your life so some fat cat can get fatter through private profit while simultaneously providing energy in a way that can be replicated through other energy choices, is *significantly* different from giving up your life so you, and your family, and your friends, and your kids, and your grandkids, can enjoy the same freedoms you love and enjoy, which no one can profit from or exploit or gouge prices on... yeah there's a difference.
Yeah see, it's this sort of ridiculous love affair with the military in America that need to step away from. It's really hard to believe that the Iraq was ever about fighting for our freedom. At best you could argue that it was about fighting for the Iraqi people's freedom.
Why is it that we have two separate holidays for soldiers (veterans day and memorial day) and nothing for any other occupation?
Well I guess there's a secretaries' day and a teachers' day. But no one cares about those holidays.
The implication seems to be that being a soldier makes you somehow morally better than any other job, which I think is BS. It's a necessary job yes, and dangerous, but so are a lot of other jobs. How about a coal miners day, to honor the sacrifice of all the miners without whom we'd have no energy?
Yes, let's honor coal miners who give up their lives for the freedom of coal everywhere. COAL RIGHTS NOW!
Also giving up your life so some fat cat can get fatter through private profit while simultaneously providing energy in a way that can be replicated through other energy choices, is *significantly* different from giving up your life so you, and your family, and your friends, and your kids, and your grandkids, can enjoy the same freedoms you love and enjoy, which no one can profit from or exploit or gouge prices on... yeah there's a difference.
Not to shit on the soldiers, but the American military hasn't fought for American freedom for quite some time. But that's largely the fault of the politicians and upper brass.
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RentI'm always rightFuckin' deal with itRegistered Userregular
Yeah see, it's this sort of ridiculous love affair with the military in America that need to step away from. It's really hard to believe that the Iraq was ever about fighting for our freedom. At best you could argue that it was about fighting for the Iraqi people's freedom.
Woah hey wait a motherfucking second
None of that shit is the military's fault, and I'm insulted you're implying it
Armistice day should be about ending wars. Which was popular with the people back in 1918. I'll leave it up to your imagination what kind of people didn't like the idea of peace. Do you really think they would have gotten anywhere without soldiers?
The only way to end wars would be to change human nature. Until that happens, we will need militaries to protect us from those who would do us harm.
Those who unilaterally beat their swords to plowshares will end up ploughing for those who didn't.
Europeans learned the wrong lessons from the Great War. Peace at any cost is often worse than fighting.
Modern Man on
Aetian Jupiter - 41 Gunslinger - The Old Republic
Rigorous Scholarship
Why is it that we have two separate holidays for soldiers (veterans day and memorial day) and nothing for any other occupation?
Well I guess there's a secretaries' day and a teachers' day. But no one cares about those holidays.
The implication seems to be that being a soldier makes you somehow morally better than any other job, which I think is BS. It's a necessary job yes, and dangerous, but so are a lot of other jobs. How about a coal miners day, to honor the sacrifice of all the miners without whom we'd have no energy?
Because it is the occupation from which stems all others. Without defense, we would not have a secure country. Without soldiers prepared to risk their lives, we would not have that defense.
Yeah see, it's this sort of ridiculous love affair with the military in America that need to step away from. It's really hard to believe that the Iraq was ever about fighting for our freedom. At best you could argue that it was about fighting for the Iraqi people's freedom.
Woah hey wait a motherfucking second
None of that shit is the military's fault, and I'm insulted you're implying it
Oh I don't blame the military for anything related to Iraq. I'm just not willing to honor them for it in the same way that I would honor someone who fought in the civil war, for example. It seems like a fairly standard government job, for most of the people involved.
Yeah see, it's this sort of ridiculous love affair with the military in America that need to step away from. It's really hard to believe that the Iraq was ever about fighting for our freedom. At best you could argue that it was about fighting for the Iraqi people's freedom.
Woah hey wait a motherfucking second
None of that shit is the military's fault, and I'm insulted you're implying it
Ok I'm going to completely borrow this to re-explain what I was saying:
-Coal miners go into mines under the full realization that the point of their job is to perhaps give up their lives so someone can make a profit. If you were to ask a coal miner about this profiteering, they'd shrug and say "Yeah I guess that's what I signed up for."
-Soldiers go into a war zone under the full realization that the point of their job is to perhaps give up their lives so someone can retain their freedom and their rights, and a potential unfortunate side effect might be that corrupt politicians and mercs and business owners turn a profit on the whole thing. If you asked a soldier about this profiteering, they'd say, "Fuck man, I didn't sign up for it, get those bloodsuckers OUT."
Not to shit on the soldiers, but the American military hasn't fought for American freedom for quite some time. But that's largely the fault of the politicians and upper brass.
And yeah, this is true. And completely unfortunate.
...Hopefully what I posted makes more sense and is less dickish now.
Yeah see, it's this sort of ridiculous love affair with the military in America that need to step away from. It's really hard to believe that the Iraq was ever about fighting for our freedom. At best you could argue that it was about fighting for the Iraqi people's freedom.
Yeah see, it's this sort of ridiculous notion that you can equate the decisions and actions of a soldier with those of a pencil-pushing, money-grubbing, war-mongering politician that we need to step away from.
Why is it that we have two separate holidays for soldiers (veterans day and memorial day) and nothing for any other occupation?
Well I guess there's a secretaries' day and a teachers' day. But no one cares about those holidays.
The implication seems to be that being a soldier makes you somehow morally better than any other job, which I think is BS. It's a necessary job yes, and dangerous, but so are a lot of other jobs. How about a coal miners day, to honor the sacrifice of all the miners without whom we'd have no energy?
Yes, let's honor coal miners who give up their lives for the freedom of coal everywhere. COAL RIGHTS NOW!
Also giving up your life so some fat cat can get fatter through private profit while simultaneously providing energy in a way that can be replicated through other energy choices, is *significantly* different from giving up your life so you, and your family, and your friends, and your kids, and your grandkids, can enjoy the same freedoms you love and enjoy, which no one can profit from or exploit or gouge prices on... yeah there's a difference.
Yeah see, it's this sort of ridiculous love affair with the military in America that need to step away from. It's really hard to believe that the Iraq was ever about fighting for our freedom. At best you could argue that it was about fighting for the Iraqi people's freedom.
Agreed. I never get all misty about serving in Iraq; I didn't think I should have been there, and still don't. However, somebody has to be willing to put on the uniform day to day (and I've been putting it on since well before 2001) in order to keep this nation safe. Then it's the job of the people who don't put the uniform on to make sure that if we're shooting and getting shot it, it's for a good reason.
It's a weapon we need to have, if only we could learn how to use it responsibly.
Not to shit on the soldiers, but the American military hasn't fought for American freedom for quite some time. But that's largely the fault of the politicians and upper brass.
Yes, because an irrationally frightened and/or bloodthirsty populace has never played their role in that. Nosireebob.
Not to shit on the soldiers, but the American military hasn't fought for American freedom for quite some time. But that's largely the fault of the politicians and upper brass.
The US military is the guarantor of a lot of peoples' continued freedom, in this country and abroad. Without the existence of a powerful US military post WWII, the world would have been a much nastier place for a lot of people, such as Europeans staring down the barrell of the Red Army, or the South Koreans.
The fact that the US military isn't engaged in a war of national survival is a testament to its effectiveness.
Modern Man on
Aetian Jupiter - 41 Gunslinger - The Old Republic
Rigorous Scholarship
Love how veterans day has turned into attacking the military due to decisions made by civilian leaders we all elected.
You're right, I'll just stop, because I know this is the wrong time and place for me to be saying that type of thing. I apologize if I offended anyone.
My grandfather fought at the Battle of the Bulge during World War II. He was also part of the push that ended in Berlin. He wasn't in Berlin when it fell, but he was in Germany. He saved his SO from an ambush with quick thinking. They were lost on a road in the middle of Germany. Gunfire erupted around them, an ambush on their Jeep. He shoved the SO in the backseat and took off with his head down, not even looking where he was driving until the gunfire was fading away. When they finally got back to base and took a look at the damage, the Jeep had about 50 holes in it. Neither one of them were struck.
He was given a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.
My other grandfather was on a supply ship in the Pacific. His ship was frequently a target of the Japanese because of it's role. He was the ship's barber and saw little action personally but will recount how frightening it was to see a Zero hit the water near them during the final days of the war.
I'd almost argue that peacetime soldiers deserve more honor than the guys who sign up just for the "good" wars. We're the guys that are willing to keep the country safe day-to-day, not knowing if the next combat operation we get sent to will be something like WWII, or if it'll be the next Vietnam.
But they do it anyway. Because even in peacetime, somebody has to.
Of course, I may not be all that objective because by "they" I mean "we." :P
My grandfather fought at the Battle of the Bulge during World War II. He was also part of the push that ended in Berlin. He wasn't in Berlin when it fell, but he was in Germany. He saved his SO from an ambush with quick thinking. They were lost on a road in the middle of Germany. Gunfire erupted around them, an ambush on their Jeep. He shoved the SO in the backseat and took off with his head down, not even looking where he was driving until the gunfire was fading away. When they finally got back to base and took a look at the damage, the Jeep had about 50 holes in it. Neither one of them were struck.
He was given a Purple Heart and a Medal of Honor.
My other grandfather was on a supply ship in the Pacific. His ship was frequently a target of the Japanese because of it's role. He was the ship's barber and saw little action personally but will recount how frightening it was to see a Zero hit the water near them during the final days of the war.
So yeah, Veteran's Day means something to me.
:^:
My great uncle was one of the Tuskegee Airmen. It's pretty cool to see him wear his jacket during the holidays.
Not to shit on the soldiers, but the American military hasn't fought for American freedom for quite some time. But that's largely the fault of the politicians and upper brass.
The US military is the guarantor of a lot of peoples' continued freedom, in this country and abroad. Without the existence of a powerful US military post WWII, the world would have been a much nastier place for a lot of people, such as Europeans staring down the barrell of the Red Army, or the South Koreans.
The fact that the US military isn't engaged in a war of national survival is a testament to its effectiveness.
You'll note the emphasis in my original quote up there. I was specifically responding to somebody talking about protecting my family, friends, kids and grandkids.
But, I don't want to drag this thread for thanking our veterans off into this territory, so I'll just leave it at that.
My great uncle fought with the Canadian Artillery in WWII, but I don't know much about what action he saw, he never really talked about it before he passed away as far as I know. I've got the brass base of an artillery shell from 1942 sitting beside my computer as a reminder of him. My grandfather volunteered for service, but was rejected for poor eyesight.
Another relation piloted a torpedo bomber during the war, and was later killed in a civllian plane crash, while flying to re-enlist for the Korean War.
See if you can find his obituary, Corvus, they might tell you if he participated in any famous events.
We probably have it around somewhere, but he passed away back in 97. I know he was in Sicily, Italy, and Holland. I do recall that his only physical injury from the war was a broken foot suffered while tripping over a ditch while training in the UK.
Edit:
It was interesting to see Prince Charles in Canadian uniform at the national service from Ottawa. Seemed weird for a minute until I realized he is ceremonial commander of several Canadian Regiments. Seeing the Governor General in uniform was especially weird though.
My grandfather was on the USS Langley as a Machinist's Mate 1st Class when it was torpedo bombed by the Japanese in 1942. He survived and was assigned to another ship, which I can't remember at the moment, for the rest of the war in the Pacific. He died when I was 8 so I never got to talk to him about it, but my dad still has my grandfather's medals in a case somewhere. My other grandfather fought with Patton and the Seventh Army in Sicily. He never talked about the war either.
My grandfather was a paratrooper at the very tail end of WWII. I don't know if he actually saw any action, and sadly he passed away several years ago, so I can't ask.
My wife's grandfather was a radioman/gunner in a B52 bomber during WWII. His plane was shot at during one mission, and ended up with over 2000 bullet holes. All but one person on board was hit. He ended up having pretty fucked up legs for the rest of his life. He's apparently mentioned in a couple books about WWII heroes.
My grandfather on my father's side was a navigator aboard a bomber in WW2. He doesn't have a ton of stories about it that I've heard, just the one. Probably because of just the one.
So, they're flying a mission over Italy, when they start taking anti-aircraft fire. Their right wing in the formation gets shot down. A crewmember comments,
"Our right wing is on fire..."
"I know. Sad, isn't it?"
"No, our right wing is on fire."
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no no, I get that. I didn't understand the use of the word "leg" as an insult.
Origin Handle - OminousBulge
XBox Live GT - TheOminousBulge
A big thank you to everyone who serves or served in the military. The best I can do is make radios for you guys.
Dude you're doing more than most civies, so I wouldn't worry about being a fobbit.
Eh, I don't view the term negatively, just a funny description of my job
I do a (actually, really) important job over here, so I don't get at butthurt over someone calling me a fobbit. Because I am.
I'd like to go out on convoys and do room clearing and such, but that's not part of my mission. Oh well.
It's 'cos the Airborne guys think the ice-cream cone confers godhood and everybody else is automatically inferior, of course.
It's cool, though. I didn't burst their bubble. We all had a job to do, mine was just different than theirs. And better.
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred:
'Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns' he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
'Forward, the Light Brigade!'
Was there a man dismay'd ?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Some one had blunder'd:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do & die,
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volley'd & thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.
Flash'd all their sabres bare,
Flash'd as they turn'd in air
Sabring the gunners there,
Charging an army while
All the world wonder'd:
Plunged in the battery-smoke
Right thro' the line they broke;
Cossack & Russian
Reel'd from the sabre-stroke,
Shatter'd & sunder'd.
Then they rode back, but not
Not the six hundred.
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
While horse & hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Came thro' the jaws of Death,
Back from the mouth of Hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred.
When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wonder'd.
Honour the charge they made!
Honour the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred!
Well I guess there's a secretaries' day and a teachers' day. But no one cares about those holidays.
The implication seems to be that being a soldier makes you somehow morally better than any other job, which I think is BS. It's a necessary job yes, and dangerous, but so are a lot of other jobs. How about a coal miners day, to honor the sacrifice of all the miners without whom we'd have no energy?
Teachers are rarely expected to give their lives in the course of their duties. There are other professions who are, and perhaps a day for them would be good. But in western civilizations we tend to consider the sacrifice of one's life to protect another's to be above and beyond what's expected of a person. And other professions rarely make as much in the way of personal sacrifice as we ask of soldiers.
Labor Day, sir.
Nobody expects soldiers to lose their life either. If anyone dies these days it's a tragic accident. There's plenty of other professions liking mining and fishing which are FAR more dangerous these days than being a soldier in a professional army.
Also giving up your life so some fat cat can get fatter through private profit while simultaneously providing energy in a way that can be replicated through other energy choices, is *significantly* different from giving up your life so you, and your family, and your friends, and your kids, and your grandkids, can enjoy the same freedoms you love and enjoy, which no one can profit from or exploit or gouge prices on... yeah there's a difference.
This kind of...smacks of elitism and an ignorance of a lot of the more fucked up elements of the military (like, oh, KBR and Blackwater, for instance)
As far as I know veteran's day doesn't seek to honor professional mercenaries, but rather veterans of the actual US military.
No, Spacemilk's statement said ..."which no one can profit from or exploit or gouge prices on"
War is one of the worst examples of all that shit going on. I mean, let's be frank here, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been great boons to PMCs
War hasn't gone away. We have soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan who will die in combat. It won't be an accident. In the future other soldiers will die in combat.
Yeah see, it's this sort of ridiculous love affair with the military in America that need to step away from. It's really hard to believe that the Iraq was ever about fighting for our freedom. At best you could argue that it was about fighting for the Iraqi people's freedom.
Not to shit on the soldiers, but the American military hasn't fought for American freedom for quite some time. But that's largely the fault of the politicians and upper brass.
Woah hey wait a motherfucking second
None of that shit is the military's fault, and I'm insulted you're implying it
Those who unilaterally beat their swords to plowshares will end up ploughing for those who didn't.
Europeans learned the wrong lessons from the Great War. Peace at any cost is often worse than fighting.
Rigorous Scholarship
SSG Darrell Griffin
PFC Alfred Jairala
PFC Charles Heinlein
SPC Zachariah Gonzalez
SPC Aaron Cameron (I can't believe I forgot about this guy)
Because it is the occupation from which stems all others. Without defense, we would not have a secure country. Without soldiers prepared to risk their lives, we would not have that defense.
Oh I don't blame the military for anything related to Iraq. I'm just not willing to honor them for it in the same way that I would honor someone who fought in the civil war, for example. It seems like a fairly standard government job, for most of the people involved.
-Coal miners go into mines under the full realization that the point of their job is to perhaps give up their lives so someone can make a profit. If you were to ask a coal miner about this profiteering, they'd shrug and say "Yeah I guess that's what I signed up for."
-Soldiers go into a war zone under the full realization that the point of their job is to perhaps give up their lives so someone can retain their freedom and their rights, and a potential unfortunate side effect might be that corrupt politicians and mercs and business owners turn a profit on the whole thing. If you asked a soldier about this profiteering, they'd say, "Fuck man, I didn't sign up for it, get those bloodsuckers OUT."
And yeah, this is true. And completely unfortunate.
...Hopefully what I posted makes more sense and is less dickish now.
Yeah see, it's this sort of ridiculous notion that you can equate the decisions and actions of a soldier with those of a pencil-pushing, money-grubbing, war-mongering politician that we need to step away from.
Agreed. I never get all misty about serving in Iraq; I didn't think I should have been there, and still don't. However, somebody has to be willing to put on the uniform day to day (and I've been putting it on since well before 2001) in order to keep this nation safe. Then it's the job of the people who don't put the uniform on to make sure that if we're shooting and getting shot it, it's for a good reason.
It's a weapon we need to have, if only we could learn how to use it responsibly.
Yes, because an irrationally frightened and/or bloodthirsty populace has never played their role in that. Nosireebob.
The fact that the US military isn't engaged in a war of national survival is a testament to its effectiveness.
Rigorous Scholarship
He was given a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.
My other grandfather was on a supply ship in the Pacific. His ship was frequently a target of the Japanese because of it's role. He was the ship's barber and saw little action personally but will recount how frightening it was to see a Zero hit the water near them during the final days of the war.
So yeah, Veteran's Day means something to me.
But they do it anyway. Because even in peacetime, somebody has to.
Of course, I may not be all that objective because by "they" I mean "we." :P
:^:
My great uncle was one of the Tuskegee Airmen. It's pretty cool to see him wear his jacket during the holidays.
You'll note the emphasis in my original quote up there. I was specifically responding to somebody talking about protecting my family, friends, kids and grandkids.
But, I don't want to drag this thread for thanking our veterans off into this territory, so I'll just leave it at that.
Another relation piloted a torpedo bomber during the war, and was later killed in a civllian plane crash, while flying to re-enlist for the Korean War.
We probably have it around somewhere, but he passed away back in 97. I know he was in Sicily, Italy, and Holland. I do recall that his only physical injury from the war was a broken foot suffered while tripping over a ditch while training in the UK.
Edit:
It was interesting to see Prince Charles in Canadian uniform at the national service from Ottawa. Seemed weird for a minute until I realized he is ceremonial commander of several Canadian Regiments. Seeing the Governor General in uniform was especially weird though.
My dad was in the Navy during the Cold War on a P-3 hunting subs in the Pacific and Atlantic.
My fraternal grandfather was in the Navy during WWII and saw a lot of action in the Pacific.
My great-grandfather was an NCO in the Army in WWII in the European theater, and retired a sergeant major.
My other great-grandfather fought in WWI in the Army.
My cousin was an officer in the Marines during the Cold War and Vietnam.
My uncle was in the Army in some airborne unit during the Cold War.
Veteran's day means a lot to my family.
My wife's grandfather was a radioman/gunner in a B52 bomber during WWII. His plane was shot at during one mission, and ended up with over 2000 bullet holes. All but one person on board was hit. He ended up having pretty fucked up legs for the rest of his life. He's apparently mentioned in a couple books about WWII heroes.
So, they're flying a mission over Italy, when they start taking anti-aircraft fire. Their right wing in the formation gets shot down. A crewmember comments,
"Our right wing is on fire..."
"I know. Sad, isn't it?"
"No, our right wing is on fire."
He spent the rest of the war as a POW in Italy.