| 6/3/2008 7:58:19 PM | Why Did You Hate On Me? | |
justme68
Cleveland, OH
age: 42
| I arrived home after serving my country for six years , serving eight months of that time in the Middle East in combat during the Gulf War. I did'nt expect sloppy kisses and hugs or thanks from complete strangers. I just wanted to be HOME , with my family and friends and all of the people who supported me during my tour of combat duty. I asked my parents and close friends not to make a big deal out of it because I just needed to be back with them. While waiting at an airport in New York , a man came up to me and asked me if I was proud of what I had done , fighting for democracy in Kuwait and to free that country from the hands of Sadam Hussein. I politely aswered , "yes". He then proceeded to tell me that I should be ashamed of myself for fighting a war that the Kuwait army should have done themselves. He told me that I was a sucker for believeing what my government had gotten me in to. He told me that I was an embarassment to our country and to all past veterans.
I was completely floored. I had to get out of that airport afraid of how I might react to this person. I sat on a curb , wearing my uniform , and wondered, "what did I do so wrong to deserve those horrible words"?. I fought the tears , but could not hold back. I felt so bad , like everything I had done was not appreciated. I arrived home later that day , and to my surprise , my family and close friends were there to greet me and made me feel like the soldier I felt I was. I will never forget those horrible , horrible words that were said to me , but I have gotten over it. My point is this....Please don't disrespect the young men and women who serve our country. They serve for all of us , regardless of our political opinions. They deserve our respect and thanks. They do a job that many are not willing to do. God bless our veterans past , present , and future.
[Edited 6/3/2008 7:59:45 PM]
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| 6/3/2008 8:00:31 PM | Why Did You Hate On Me? | |
mowry
Ashland, PA
age: 39
| right on 
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| 6/3/2008 9:53:44 PM | Why Did You Hate On Me? | |
mmaru
Erie, PA
age: 24
| My cousin, who's an Army medic, once told me that even if you don't support the war, you should support the soldiers. They're out there risking their lives so that we can enjoy the freedoms that we take for granted every day. That guy had no right whatsoever to attack you like that, and you shouldn't let him get to you. I think that far more people appreciate the service of our armed forces than would agree with that jerk.
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| 6/3/2008 9:56:11 PM | Why Did You Hate On Me? | |
laidbackdad
Harrisonville, MO
age: 35
| semper fi
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| 6/3/2008 10:01:13 PM | Why Did You Hate On Me? | |
beadz
Waterbury, CT
age: 31
| I concur.
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| 6/3/2008 10:15:18 PM | Why Did You Hate On Me? | |
chinatown_girl
Oyster Bay, NY
age: 19
| im sorry u heard that the first day of ur return. thats a time for u to reunite with ur family and friends.
i think its inappropriate for the guy to say it to a stranger, just because u were in uniform.
but after ur home for a while it might be good to do some research to see why someone would say something like that. what is going on in this war that is different? from what that guy said it didn't just sound like he was some radical antiwar guy, he sounded like he could have been a veteran himself. i have met lots of veterans who have been to the middle east and are not happy with the war and how its going now compared to what they thought when they joined. i even heard pat tillmans mom being interviewed and she is mad as heck now.
well now isnt the time to discuss politics, congratulations on getting home in one piece and im sure u will appreciate and enjoy the time with ur family and friends. best wishes & god bless.
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| 6/3/2008 10:18:08 PM | Why Did You Hate On Me? | |
amethystjewel
Saint Helens, OR
age: 54
|  NOT EVERYONE FEELS THAT WAY.
"THANK YOU FOR THE FREEDOM WE HAVE & ALL ENJOY due
to your sacrifices!"
Sorry you were greeted in your own country by someone
like that.
Hugs for you.
I was an active member in "Soliers Angels" before
my husband was killed 2yrs ago. Maybe you know of them.
We emailed,wrote,sent pckges to our soldiers.Did what
we could to help them. Our way of saying Thank you, you
are not forgotten,& are appreciated!!
I can't tell you how many nights I sat crying at my
comp over what one had emailed me or a letter one had
written about what was happening or the casualties.
It is sad that anyone can treat our military men & women
in such a mean way, while they are sitting in comfort here
in the USA enjoying the Freedom given to them by those
same military men & women!! Very sad indeed.
[Edited 6/3/2008 10:35:39 PM]
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| 6/4/2008 2:01:49 AM | Why Did You Hate On Me? | |
flowergirl62
South Australia
Australia
age: 46
| You should have decked the guy at the airport - what an idiot! It was a good thing that you did over there - don't listen to anyone.
[Edited 6/4/2008 2:39:53 AM]
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| 6/4/2008 2:25:42 AM | Why Did You Hate On Me? | |
cece123
Warren, MI
age: 48
| Don't shoot the messenger..
Going into the service during the time of war is trying enough...
People are rude.... they have no self control.. what flows from their mouth says more about them than you. Graduating from school is an honor... Fighting for our country... or for peace in other lands is an honor... making a postitive difference in anothers life is also good... so keep trying.
People will come and go out of your life, in a split second... And at the right time, that milla-second... someone can say something so cutting that you'll dwell on it for days, sometimes months and even years. But son.., I'd like to say... "Thank you for your service..." don't let some jerk of a stranger get to you.... Go home and seek comfort with your family, surround yourself with people who honor and love you.
Thanks for all your effort... peace be with you...
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| 6/4/2008 6:36:10 AM | Why Did You Hate On Me? | |
justme68
Cleveland, OH
age: 42
| Thanks for all of the response. And especially for all of the thanks to our past and present veterans.That happened to me a long time ago , and I've gotten over it. But it did hurt. To the young lady who wrote that the person who said those things to me "might have been a veteran themselves" , no veteran has ever been so mean and uncaring to any fellow veteran. That was no excuse. When you get older and wiser , hopefully you will understand the pain many of us feel when we are direspected like that. Peace to all.
Oh ya....I could have and should have knocked the guy on his ass, but I had to much respect for my uniform, country, and myself.
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| 6/4/2008 6:42:24 AM | Why Did You Hate On Me? | |
gapeach7777
Ball Ground, GA
age: 36
| I hope you kicked that SOB's a** for what he said!
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| 6/4/2008 7:25:46 AM | Why Did You Hate On Me? | |
stormygrl
Casa Grande, AZ
age: 42
| I would love to go around slapping people who treat our soldiers like garbage! Disagree with the government and the war but leave the soldiers alone! I have nothing but respect for each and every one of you.......
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| 6/4/2008 7:46:27 AM | Why Did You Hate On Me? | |
justme68
Cleveland, OH
age: 42
| That thought did cross my mind gapeach. LOL! Buy hey...I sacrificed 6 years of my life in order to give that tool the right to his freedom of speach , and his freedom in general. For every jerk like that , there are hundreds of caring and understanding people like the people that have responded to this thread.
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| 6/4/2008 8:23:46 AM | Why Did You Hate On Me? | |
man4life
Brooklyn, NY
age: 43
| Shoulda spit in his face and kicked him in the nuts! HOORAH!!!!
Theres no way he would have pressed charges since he would be nationally known as a p*ssy and start receiving daily death threats.
Next one that does it FLOOR HIM!!!! (and give him one for me to, Semper Fi!)
P.S. THANKS!!!
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| 6/4/2008 11:18:31 AM | Why Did You Hate On Me? | |
chinatown_girl
Oyster Bay, NY
age: 19
| Thanks for all of the response. And especially for all of the thanks to our past and present veterans.That happened to me a long time ago , and I've gotten over it. But it did hurt. To the young lady who wrote that the person who said those things to me "might have been a veteran themselves" , no veteran has ever been so mean and uncaring to any fellow veteran. That was no excuse. When you get older and wiser , hopefully you will understand the pain many of us feel when we are direspected like that. Peace to all.
Oh ya....I could have and should have knocked the guy on his ass, but I had to much respect for my uniform, country, and myself.
which airport was this at? i go to the airport cause there are always friends and relatives coming and going and my family is usually the one to pick people up and see them off.
the new york airports, ever since 911, new york city stays on red or orange alert. our airports are not very happy go lucky. people have been arrested or stopped from boarding because of antiwar t-shirts they wore. if anyone was overheard saying stuff like that to a soldier in uniform im surprised they weren't held for questioning.
i said he might have been a veteran because you mentioned that he made the statement "embarassment to our country and to all past veterans" which sounded to me like he respected past veterans and only had a problem with this war. lots of anti-war people have problems with all wars except WWII.
but ur right i'm still young and not wise yet. i do have an interest in poli sci and it helps me to hear all sides of the story so thanks for sharing and sorry u went through that.
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