I’ve put this in the Pit because it’s a contentious issue. I’m English and this week British troops were withdrawn from Iraq. The headlines for most British tabloids were simply ‘Thank You’, or some slight variant on that general sentiment. I’m curious. I don’t begrudge our soldiers anything, but I’m generally confused as to why, precisely, I owe the troops my thanks for anything they’ve done in Iraq. And I speak as someone who has friends over there. What, precisely, should I be thankful for?
The general consensus, as far as I can tell, is that one should be thankful for the patriotism the troops display in risking their lives to protect our lives/our freedom (even if they’re not always risking their lives, or protecting ours).
I really don’t get it, either.
That they’re finally getting out of that cluster-fuck?
I’m down with that 
I think it is reasonable to thank them for doing the best job they could on a lousy assignment. In essence, thank them for taking a big bite of a shit sandwich and some how managing to keep it down.
I’m down with that also.
So what will the troops be doing when they are back then?
I’m a little concerned at how a large group of testosterone-fuelled, raghead-hating young males are going to react to the inactivity of not being in a war zone. Let’s hope it’s not a long, hot summer!
I’m not into military worship wrapped up as patriotism, but I do feel a certain degree of gratitude that they stepped up and took one for the “team”, as it were. If it weren’t for volunteers we’d have to reinstitute the draft, a concept I find untolerable.
You shouldn’t.
People need to stop buying into this bullshit.
I’d rather defend my house from the fascist draft police than some general’s post in BFE where they don’t even speak the same language.
Do you actually KNOW any fucking military personnel? Who have been in Iraq or Afghanistan? Do you have no idea how fucking stupid what you’ve just said sounds?
I happen to know a LOT of young men who did time in Iraq in the Marines and the Army, and they all returned from their experience with MORE understanding of the cultures they interacted with, and MORE maturity - not “testosterone” and “raghead-hate.” Jackass.
I don’t believe in “thanking” the military for their service, because I think it’s patronizing. I certainly respect that they’re willing to put their ass on the line, although I happen to hate what the government is making them put their ass on the line for. But that doesn’t mean I don’t respect the troops, and I certainly don’t classify them as “testosterone fueled” and “raghead-heating.”
Sleep, probably. Maybe catch some movies.
Well, don’t ask him to break his streak now.
I’m planing on some X-Box and a beer. Probably a pizza. Killing spree is way down on my list.
Well, on a certain level even dismissing any concepts of patriotism, certain people must devote time towards actions in service of society. Without those people, the modern social fabric falls apart.
Historically speaking, sometimes the leaders of a society have simply forced the population into such service. In the form of conscription when it comes to the military.
However the people that work for government building roads, collecting taxes, policing the streets, fighting fires, inspecting buildings, running libraries and et al. are also performing essential services that are essential to the modern social fabric.
The building inspector isn’t a glamorous person, but without building inspectors I’m willing to bet many people would die each year due to shoddy construction and unsafe practices.
I guess the reason soldiers get “Thank Yous” is because they are performing one of those “society-essential” services that additionally puts them at risk of being killed violently in warfare and that finally is a job many people do not want to do themselves.
Note, this is true whether the war in Iraq is seen as “society-essential” as not. Lots of people probably disagree with how government utilizes lots of its servants, for example many people probably would prefer if agencies like the IRS (here in the United States) devoted greater resources to insuring corporations were actually paying an appropriate amount of taxes instead of auditing individual tax returns. Many would also prefer if law enforcement agencies devoted greater time to investigating murders and rapes than drug crimes. However even when these resources are being allocated in a way we disagree with doesn’t mean we should not be thankful the resources exist.
Go on the Dole because Britain’s economy is shit and there aren’t many jobs.
Really? You don’t plan on getting more than four frags in a row?
Pussy.
Nah, it’s understandable : video games are murder simulators, but actual murder isn’t a video game simulator 
I do believe many who served in Vietnam and now in Iraq have serious trouble adjusting to civilian life for many different reasons. Many have been injured, others have been mentally affected, and other reasons because civilian and family life is just totally unlike fighting a war.
I see no need to thank or be grateful to people who are doing their job, specially when I disagree with the job they are doing. I would have felt much more respect for soldiers deserting from the Third Reich than for those fighting for it and I feel much more respect now for those who, in spite of the consequences, chose to not fight an unjust war.
The people that owe them a “thank you” are the officials of the Bush Administration who pushed for this clusterfuck, and the military machine that ordered them in. Best expressed in the form of a fully-funded VA medical system including counseling for PTSD, help with finding jobs after mustering out of the service, a decent salary, and the like.
That doesn’t mean, however, we shouldn’t bid them welcome home when they get here. Those that are coming home, I mean - since Obama is still leaving several thousand over there.
And while it’s ludicrous to paint the entire armed forces as a monolith of testosterone-fueled Islamophobes, it’s equally so to view them all as a giant model Boy Scout troop. There are servicemen and women like Matthis Chiroux and Ehren Watada who saw through the bullshit and stood up to say “no”, and there are grunts like the group portrayed in Generation Kill (and worse) all in the mix.
If your country were invaded by another, the people that signed up for the military would defend your country. Would you want to thank them after they successfully repelled an invading army?