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Angry Facebook veterans are officially the Tumblr social justice warriors of the veteran world.
If you’ve been in the veteran/military Facebook page circuit lately, you’ve probably seen at least once or twice a collective, hive mind outrage at a shirt that Under Armor put out called “Band of Ballers.”
This is an outrage! I guess? Don’t get me wrong, I understand the significance of the Iwo Jima flag raising photo (especially as a Marine), but what bothers me is that every week there’s some new collective butt-hurt about some stupid thing that impacts absolutely no one. This week was “Band of Ballers,” last week was minorities stepping on the American flag. Every week there’s something new to be upset about floating around the veteran community and it gets old really fast.
Here’s the thing…
If you truly believe in Freedom of Speech and support and defend the United States Constitution, you will defend even those you disagree with. You should embrace the fact that you are offended, because this is America, and people have the right to offend you.
Unfortunately the vocal minority of the veteran community seems to be the loudest, and any time there’s some insignificant slight that happens, it makes the rounds. I can’t tell you the countless amount of Facebook messages and emails I receive every day that are some conversation with a civilian that dislikes the military, or a dumb Facebook post that’s anti-military, or something as stupid as a shirt called Band of Ballers that I’m supposed to “make famous.” I also can’t describe to you how much I don’t care every time I see it.
This is America.
You cannot demand censorship of someone just because they offend you.
The saddest part of this comic strip is that I almost didn’t do it because I was genuinely worried I might offend some veterans, but then I realized that’s exactly why I needed to do it. To sum this up, everyone just needs to chill the fuck out. Under Armor had no malicious intent with their shirt, and they certainly aren’t the first people to parody the Iwo Jima flag raising.
-Content is the work of Max Uriarte of Terminal Lance @http://www.terminallance.com
If you’ve been in the veteran/military Facebook page circuit lately, you’ve probably seen at least once or twice a collective, hive mind outrage at a shirt that Under Armor put out called “Band of Ballers.”
This is an outrage! I guess? Don’t get me wrong, I understand the significance of the Iwo Jima flag raising photo (especially as a Marine), but what bothers me is that every week there’s some new collective butt-hurt about some stupid thing that impacts absolutely no one. This week was “Band of Ballers,” last week was minorities stepping on the American flag. Every week there’s something new to be upset about floating around the veteran community and it gets old really fast.
Here’s the thing…
If you truly believe in Freedom of Speech and support and defend the United States Constitution, you will defend even those you disagree with. You should embrace the fact that you are offended, because this is America, and people have the right to offend you.
Unfortunately the vocal minority of the veteran community seems to be the loudest, and any time there’s some insignificant slight that happens, it makes the rounds. I can’t tell you the countless amount of Facebook messages and emails I receive every day that are some conversation with a civilian that dislikes the military, or a dumb Facebook post that’s anti-military, or something as stupid as a shirt called Band of Ballers that I’m supposed to “make famous.” I also can’t describe to you how much I don’t care every time I see it.
This is America.
You cannot demand censorship of someone just because they offend you.
The saddest part of this comic strip is that I almost didn’t do it because I was genuinely worried I might offend some veterans, but then I realized that’s exactly why I needed to do it. To sum this up, everyone just needs to chill the fuck out. Under Armor had no malicious intent with their shirt, and they certainly aren’t the first people to parody the Iwo Jima flag raising.
-Content is the work of Max Uriarte of Terminal Lance @http://www.terminallance.com
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 79
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Hey, I have no problem with Under Armor exercising their right to put whatever the hell they want on their shirt ... I will just exercise my right to not buy it!!!
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GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
Thank you for your opinion CW3 Eddy Vleugels. My opinion is different than yours. WHY does that mean there is something wrong with ME? Perhaps there is something wrong with YOU. Just sayin' ... :-)
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CW3 Eddy Vleugels
It's all a matter of interpretation I guess; I'm a glass half full kind of guy, and fail to agree with the negativity that you are seeing in the logo.
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GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
Okay, I can accept that! Like I said (at the very top) -- it really isn't a big deal to me and all it means is that I won't buy their shirt. Life is good ... take care CW3 Eddy Vleugels.
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LT Charles Baird
Funny thing is - that picture on the shirt may have nothing to do with the military - have you ever watched 4 young teenagers try to put up one of those nets; they act like it takes all of them; I know, I watched my son and his friends attempt it in the back yard; looked almost just like this.
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Suspended Profile
A symptom of a culture that values victimhood over success.
Suspended Profile
1SG (Join to see), lol I think a whole thread could be made for just the SHARP/SAPR/etc programs
http://www.jqpublicblog.com/one-airmans-view-open-letter-to-the-sarc/
http://www.jqpublicblog.com/one-airmans-view-open-letter-to-the-sarc/
1SG (Join to see)
Yeah, I read that and she is friggin brilliant! I had the good fortune to have a mixed gender (/sigh ... and yes ... all races) deployment last year. At first, I was intimidated by females (they are the stronger gender) and did not know what to do with them. What I found, given enough rope to lead, they can and did excel. Continue to saddle them with the victimaztion shill SHARP espouses, they'll hear it over and over, doubting their abilities. Build them with some ass kicking skills - well - they might lose the fight - but damn, virtue is intact as is the satisfaction of placing the perp in the ICU. -respect the Warrior-
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SGT Rick Ash
After 6 years military service and 31 years of High Tech IT on the Sales side I think I could write a book on this subject. As women shattered the old "glass ceiling" and worked their way up I now have 2 women in the CEO slot. It's different, there is no "good ol' boy" network to hang with and get insight on either woman. All I am saying is that you must treat women differently than men. Although, I do hold the door open for both sexes so I am am equal opportunity door holder.
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SSgt (Join to see)
LT, that is an EXCELLENT little open letter. She drives her point home PERFECTLY!
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I think chronic false outrage is a negative symptom of social media. Take the good with the bad I guess. Personally I'm not offended by the image. What does bother me is a company trying to turn a profit by using its likeness.
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CPT (Join to see)
To all of the lovely, overly sensitive, easily butthurt people! Check out my 2nd Channel for bloopers/behind-the-scenes and vlogs: http://www.youtube.com/hig...
I think you may need to watch this. I was going to post something like a while back but now it is more fitting.
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SSG Carlos Madden
I had a funny comment directed at you but I didn't want to get people butthurt. The irony.
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CW3 (Join to see)
I thought the image was artsy and a very clever play on an iconic image. In a sense, a parody, without the negative connotations that comedy usually brings. To that, it may be seen as a tribute to the brave men that raised the Flag on that hell hole in the first place. Imitation is the highest form of flattery. Appropriate? Well, that's the discussion. We as military members will always view these topics differently from others. We do undergo ordeals that ordinary citizens to not, and rightly defend our deeds and the heritage of those who came before us. I wouldn't buy it, but it was still clever.
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