Quote:
Originally Posted by Relentless
The only thing that bothers me is that if you were killed on 9/11 in the towers your life is somehow more deserving of monetary aid, remembrance, charity and patriotism than the many thousands more who were brave enough and patriotic enough to serve in our military after 9/11 but became injured mentally or physically as a result. There are 9/11 widows (who were financially well off before the attack) who have collected millions in aid during the aftermath of the attack, and military families with members who have been killed or injured but have not gotten 1/1000th as much support from our government or our citizens.
Instead of building monuments, spending money on parades, planning memorial services and using the event as a justification for pageantry - we ought to be using all of those dollars to provide educational funding, career training and support services for our military personnel and their families.
That kind of cash could put EVERY child of EVERY military casualty through college on a full scholarship, allow returning veterans to get career training, provide interest free financial assistance to veterans in need and do a heck of a lot more good for the living than it will ever do for the dead.  |
There is nothing more patriotic then serving in the military. I don't think 9/11 holds the people who were killed out to be "patriots" but it pulls us all together and makes *US* feel more patriotic as a country when we remember what happened.
You are right, the victims of 9/11 get remembered and their deaths observed, donations and monetary payments received from the govt, more so than any solider who was KIA. But I think there is a valid and good explanation for that. First of all, the people who were killed on 9/11 were all civilians. People who never signed up to put their lives in harms way, they were men, women (i assume some children) old and young. They didn't sign up to fight or enter the military where they knew they could die. They were your sister, father, cousin, mom, neighbor.
It was a tragic event, that killed thousands of people. I see 9/11 as remembering the innocent people who tragically died that day and honoring the brave police, fireman, and ems for their courage and in some cases gave their life trying to help others. You really can't even put 9/11 in the same context as "military" observance even though you will hear a token phrases every now again " ...and the soldiers who lost their lives since 2001". But IMO 9/11 really has nothing to do about the military, but the civilians that died, some who were just innocent victims and some who were heroes trying to help others.
I agree the military don't get enough recognition. I have family members who are career military. I think the US doesn't take care of them well and I think most Americans take them for granted and what they do for us. Memorial day and Veterans day simply is not enough recognition for all of those who have fought and died over the last 250 years. Also the fact that the death toll is staggered, a couple here a couple there, it doesn't nearly have the impact as if we were to loss a couple thousand soldiers on the same day. It's sad, but a true fact that most Americans don't think twice about losing a couple soldiers a day.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sherm
Also, these memorials, parades, etc...They fuel American citizens with American pride, and the pride drives many Americans to join the armed forces. At the end of the day, the government would much rather have larger armed forces, than a larger educated work force.
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True, but it also makes people feel better. Besides just morning, it unites people together. While some politicians might use it to their advantage or govt officials use it to justify war, or as way to recruit, it does make at least most of us (the asshole OP being one of the exceptions) feel better.
I think at the of the day its better for us a country if we feel pride and a sense of unity then lost and in despair and bad about ourselves with a sense of being defeated.