They Gave Their Lives... Why Can't You Spare a Few Minutes?

I think both groups agree on one fundamental thing, but we’re talking past each other.

No one in this thread has said that paying respects to the dead is a bad thing, and certainly no one has said that you can’t or shouldn’t pay respects by watching the motorcade go down the street, if it makes you feel better.

But not doing that is not inherently disrespectful, as several of you have claimed, one rather vociferously. Ask 100 people of their opinion of the war and you’ll get 100 different ones. I myself tend not to watch funeral processions because I tend not to know the deceased, and such an act would imply an emotion I do not feel and thus makes it an empty gesture, an act not dissimilar to worshiping on the Temple steps.

If respecting the troops means so much, try volunteering at a veteran’s hospital, or if you can, at the Canadian equivalent of the USO. Write letters and send care packages to troops stationed overseas. There are a lot of ways you can show your patriotism and commitment to the troops that mean something.

Robin

This.

CrazyCat Lady no doubt when you snuff it you wont be wanting any sort of ceremony,just dump your body on the nearest rubbish tip.
After all you wont know anything about it cos you’ll be DEAD.

And I wouldn’t be so quick to put words into the mouths of your relatives who have been vets.
Their opinions are their own not yours.

Would that they’d tie up the streets for long periods of time during rush hour in Washington D.C. and Ottawa then. It’s the legislators, rather than the average citizens, who need to be reminded and re-reminded of the gravity of the sacrifice. Perhaps then they’d think longer before embarking on such wasteful loss of life.

On that, I defer to the wise words of Professor Cross:

“People ask me, ‘do you want to be buried or cremated’? I don’t give a shit. I don’t really care, because I *can’t. *I mean, at least get some use out of my body—give it to a bunch of necrophiliacs or something. Yeah, just let em have a big ol’ circle jerk, fuck me in the ass, fuck me the in the mouth, fuck me in the ear hole, eye hole, make a new hole and fuck me there! I dont care!”

I’m not a flag waver or superpatriot, but I echo your sentiments. Do not try to paint us all with the same brush. There are those of us who DO give a shit. Even if we don’t have the autocratic power to change any of it.

How dare you! America is great and… oh shit. There’s a dead soldier going by my street. HONK HONK HONK I have a Pro-Life meeting to get to! How dare that soldier! ASS!

Those darn Canadians, trying to look all compassionate. I mean, no one in the US cares about the loss of thousands. Why don’t you get with it already. ASSHOLE SHITLICKER. Sorry, I guess that’s my road rage coming out again…

[not directed at foiegrasisevil, just using his quote as a start. Pretty obvious who i’m directed at. ASS.]