tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755035051021414780.post376958397095342974..comments2023-11-17T03:55:40.736-05:00Comments on Ink Spots: You're Welcome AmericaLilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18373158801523577733noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755035051021414780.post-58141332598908243202011-09-08T12:41:26.605-04:002011-09-08T12:41:26.605-04:00Followed link here and now I feel awkward, in fron...Followed link here and now I feel awkward, in front of all this military personel (and ancillary sympathizers).<br /><br />What if the problem is the irreducibility.<br />Even if you just coast over the whole thanks/thanks thing, it doesn't change the fact of what it is:<br />a totally slight and swift bit of etiquette in response to a massive complex of pasion and opinion.<br /><br />It's awkward more than annoying. And that people seem too easilty in denial of the awkwardness of complexity just makes it more annoying.<br /><br />Most interaction in life is equally superficial and unsatisfying/near-meaningless. So, in "life or death" cases, it's just too obvious that this doesn't cut it.<br /><br />And it's dishonest, too. If you have some awful story that makes you a "legitimate" thanker, saying thank you hides that legitimacy by non disclosure.<br />If you're an anti militarist who wants to "re engage" "the troops" just as an ordinary citizen, in contradistinction to militarist claims that you should "support the troops by approving of war and shut up", then your ordinary act of political defiance has no existence outside your head as the soldier can't make a decision on how to interpret.<br /><br />It's a weird way of conveying info "thank" without conveying any info (the explanation or meaning). It becomes a nonsense word.<br /><br />So, my question is, for who feels comfortable speaking on behalf of all servicemen (each and every one !), how would it be if ordinary citizens actually started a conversation about war (or anything, in fact)?<br />Perhaps even more annoying, to be accosted by an opinion that won't change anything.<br /><br />a. thanks for killing those awful jihadis so we don't have to kill them over here. September 11 made me cry. But my tears are dry now and I have to get back to the "real world" which you boys lose out on in your great sacrifice.<br /><br />b. you guys are like superman.<br /><br />c. your career choice was a very poor one in our materialistic society but I condescend to congratulate you and make you feel better for not being a banker<br /><br />d. I just want you to know that although I hate our leaders who have you risking your lives to bomb often innocent people, I don't hate you and I "understand your position" (which I assume is agreement with me).<br /><br />e. are you in the military?<br /><br />f. your job is dangerous and difficult, often times. I bow to you because it is true. <br /><br /><br />Take your pick.<br />Who needs this crap?<br />The truest thing would be to say nothing at all. But then that would be true for so many things, aside from math there would be nothing to say ever.busygoghnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755035051021414780.post-37236152733555940512011-08-09T09:46:17.141-04:002011-08-09T09:46:17.141-04:00It sounds like the problem is the awkwardness of r...It sounds like the problem is the awkwardness of receiving thanks and praise in general. Outside of the rote daily exchanges of thanks and you're welcomes which politeness guides painlessly, it is hard for a lot of people to take a blast of praise or gushing thanks for something they've done when it's being singled out as special. We all want to be loved and appreciated but it is embarrassing when it happens because we don't like being placed above the person in front of us like that or we feel unworthy of that feeling, etc.Camels With Hammershttp://camelswithhammers.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755035051021414780.post-64409496816517617622011-08-08T20:18:49.534-04:002011-08-08T20:18:49.534-04:00I dunno Anonymous... If your kid thanks doctors an...I dunno Anonymous... If your kid thanks doctors and teachers and fishermen and utility linemen, then great. But I believe I'd be teaching my kids wrongly if they learned that a superior order of gratitude and honor belongs to the uniform. And I say that though my kids have a grandfather an uncle and others career military. I'd say, I'm grateful to the military -- and others who act in defense of this country's welfare & nobler values -- in some good deal b/c this is a country where we DON'T bow to the uniform. And I'd hate to see that undermined further. (As many have observed, Reagan's Hollywood -- but antiprotocol and antitraditional-- salute of uniformed military was the beginning of the decadence.T.W.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755035051021414780.post-40020462975478065812011-08-08T19:17:44.978-04:002011-08-08T19:17:44.978-04:00If I might, I'd like to offer the perspective ...If I might, I'd like to offer the perspective of one of the people who does the thanking in public. I have a lot of family members who served in the military, including my grandfather, my dad, my uncle, my brother, my cousin, brother-in-law, father-in-law, and grandfather-in-law. I've never served. But I appreciate the sacrifice and the effort of those who have served, and I try to make that appreciation known. More importantly, when I am with my 7-year-old son and we meet someone in uniform, I try to encourage him to politely introduce himself and to say thank you, because I want to instill in him a proper respect for the uniform and for the men and women who wear it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8755035051021414780.post-3845924201429549932011-08-03T09:59:56.400-04:002011-08-03T09:59:56.400-04:00Amen. Get over yourself. They are just being nice...Amen. Get over yourself. They are just being nice.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05503929193900498334noreply@blogger.com