How do you feel as veterans?

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 14:51:15 -0500

It appears that JFK's "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country" has turned into "Ask not what you can do for your country, but what more your country can do for (or give to) you."

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 21 at 2015 6:00 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 18:00:52 -0500

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member, I just love the JFK quote that you reference. I think it's all about "giving back" and I'll bet that most vets and service members feel the same way. Service to our country in the military certainly qualifies as giving back, in my book at least.

I'm guessing you're talking about the folks who are part of a "me, me, me" (entitlement) society, who think that the government owes them for living in this great nation.

As I've said before here on RallyPoint, those folks should take a look around the world (which we in the military often get to do) and see just how blessed they and we are to be citizens of this great land.

On another related topic, this is why I'm all for mandatory public service by every citizen. I think it would require folks to "do" for their country.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 21 at 2015 6:26 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 18:26:22 -0500

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member I believe you are spot on with the mandatory service. I have long advocated for mandatory service before college. I believe A) many people are too young to attend advanced learning institutions straight out of formal school. B) there is greater appreciation for the freedom to learn after having provided service of some kind.

As for the question on this topic, I do not know that I follow what you are asking. Though the JFK quote is a great quote and certainly elicits thought provoking connotation, I do not know what it has to do with me being a veteran.

Are you asking whether I as a veteran feel I am owed more from my country than I give to it? Or are you asking whether I think that the rest of society does not understand what it is to give back to the country but veterans do?

Response by CMC Robert Young made Feb 3 at 2015 7:02 AM

CMC Robert Young — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 07:02:58 -0500

Thoughtful query.

I am not a politician nor do I subscribe to the narrow ideology advanced by either major political party in America today, but I would like to offer some perspective. There has been a paradigm shift in our country. In the span of 50 years (my lifetime), the same political party which inspired us with "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country" has now degraded us with "I want to redistribute the wealth."

Does that mean the other side advances a better agenda? The answer is an emphatic NO! What it does mean is that we as a society have lost sight of what it is to be great. We have become a nation of takers, and not of givers. We have become lazy and self centered. The "me" generation rules. There is no sense of civic responsibility and no thought of personal accountability. We failed to recognize that reward comes from effort; not from a handout. We don't understand that achievement, self-respect, respect from others, and success are all driven by hard work, and character; not by idleness and entitlement programs.

Somebody from the "me" generations must realize that entitlement only works as long as somebody else is willing to pay the tab, and when the group paying is smaller than the group taking then failure is inevitable. Then armed with this knowledge have the courage, integrity and intelligence to lead a shift in the cultural paradigm in a more productive direction. In the meantime, for those of us who still serve in uniform and out; those of us who understand self sacrifice; those of us who have repeatedly demonstrated commitment to a calling higher than ourselves, we must continue to do as we always have done; live to a higher standard & call others to do likewise.

Response by MSgt Michael Ivey made Jul 29 at 2022 11:37 PM

MSgt Michael Ivey — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 23:37:34 -0400

After spending 22 1/2 yrs in the Air Force, being retired now for 20 yrs, I feel like everything, all the sacrifices, all the family separation's were for nothing. The clown in the White House is clueless as a C I C! A total buffoon. And a crime family boss to boot.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2022 8:32 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Jul 2022 20:32:49 -0400

Or what sex are you? Binary. lol

Response by A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney made Jul 30 at 2022 10:22 PM

A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney — Sat, 30 Jul 2022 22:22:19 -0400

I Served From 06/29/1961 - 06/10/1965,
We All Loved JFK As We Served Under His Administration.
With JFK Being Our Commander-In-Chief....
I'll Wager 98% Of The Adults At The Time
Can Quote That Part, And Many Other Parts, Of His Speeches.

He's "A Man To Be Remembered"
And We Do So With Great Fondness..

But,SARGENT, You're Right, To The Point Where They're "Wanting, Without Paying"

Response by SGT Clayton Magee made Mar 11 at 2023 2:41 PM

SGT Clayton Magee — Sat, 11 Mar 2023 14:41:05 -0500

Regretfully I believe too many individuals have reached that point.

Response by SPC Vernon Trexler made Sep 6 at 2023 10:08 PM

SPC Vernon Trexler — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 22:08:41 -0400

don't wanna complain but VA care is subpar.was forced to get civvy insurance for several major ops.didnt trust them and I was right.if you are 100%you need better med care all the way around.quality of life is what we need.if the shit hits the fan I wanna be there no matter my age