08 August 2013

Definition of a Veteran

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America' for an amount of 'up to and including my life'. That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.


 

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."
~ John Stuart Mill, English economist & philosopher (1806 - 1873)




h/t Stormbringer

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

You know my response to this, Rev. Paul. I don't even have to say it.

gfa

Rev. Paul said...

I know, Guffaw. Thank you.

Well Seasoned Fool said...

At my son's graduation from Basic Training, his Sgt Maj spoke to the crowd. Among the things he said was less than 1% of the population now serves in the military. I was shocked. Unless someone has a disability, I have a less respect for those who can serve, but don't.

I generally keep that view to myself.

You won't give 2-4 years to keep your country strong? Git!

Rev. Paul said...

WSF, agreed. I'm one of those who thinks we probably should reinstitute the draft. Maybe it's just me ... but I don't think so.

SENIOR said...

Well put Rev, besides the political crap of the double star's, another reason why I left the Navy early was because of the lack of honor I saw from fellow sailors. I could say it for the most part honor was still their in my generation of sailors, the newbies, forget it.

Rev. Paul said...

I concur, Senior. I only did one tour, but saw the same thing beginning to happen after 'Nam.

Old NFO said...

Thanks for posting this!

Rev. Paul said...

You're welcome, NFO. We're so few, it seems, that we must speak up for ourselves.

DR said...

Excellent post. Thank you for your constant vigilance on behalf of veterans and thank you for your service.

Rev. Paul said...

And thank you, DR, for your kind remarks. You & I would both gladly serve again, I'm sure - and in stark contrast to those who feel no compulsion to give anything.