Should the American public feel obliged to thank Service Members for "protecting their freedoms"?

I don't actually agree with any of the three choices above.

I would say that the average American shouldn't feel obliged to thank a SM, however when it occurs, it is nice to hear. Same thing with SM, they shouldn't feel that the average American should be thanking us as well, we do what we do because I choose to serve. It is our honor to provide that service.

I do think there needs to be SM who protect our freedoms, though!

I emailed the author of the article my thoughts on his piece. It's long but maybe you want to read it:

"Sir,

I just finished reading your Salon article, "You don’t protect my freedom: Our childish insistence on calling soldiers heroes deadens real democracy." I found the article interesting yet I feel that you've, perhaps, missed some of the finer points of service.

I am a U.S Army Soldier with nearly 8 years of service to America. I, like most Soldiers, didn't enlist to become heroes or seek the approval of the flag waving public. Most Soldiers I know have a deep sense of patriotism which means that they are willing to make a commitment to give themselves to a greater good. I was a social worker that helped place abused children in foster homes until their families could learn the skills needed to become loving cohesive environments suitable for children to thrive. I spent nearly 10 years working with children and families in rural western NC. One day, I was at my comfortable home watching news about the growing violence in Iraq. The news readers and talking heads all had an opinion about what should be happening. I realized that I too was complaining about how America was handling this "War on Terrorism", but I had no basis to make any judgement. I decided, after speaking with my wife, that I needed to serve my country. I was 32 years old. I left a successful job, a loving family, and my community to enlist in the Army. I didn't want to be a hero. In fact, I feared leaving my home and family, but I needed to have first hand experience of what situation was so that I could make a contribution to America. I enlisted in the height of the "surge." That meant that I came into the Army when people were dying everyday. It also meant that the Army needed bodies. Some of those men and women shouldn't have been allowed in the Army. They didn't possess the values and morals needed to handle the power that comes with training to kill an enemy. I've spent my career getting rid of those Soldiers whether it be in jail of sending them back to civilian life.

My job in the Army is to serve as a paralegal. I've spent the better part of military career working in military justice which is similar to a prosecutor's office. I've done the leg work and help my lawyers try cases from child abuse, rape, drug use, desertion, etc. I've seen the worst of the worst in the Army. Because I've seen the dark side of what Soldiers can do, I agree with some of your arguments that not all Soldiers are heroes. The Army is a small sample of society. Putting on a uniform will not stop someone from doing bad things. Just like society, the Army has members that break the law. We can't judge society as a whole by what a small number of people do. We have to look at the greater good and seek to remove the wrongdoers. The fact is, most Soldiers (including myself) are just regular people that go to work everyday trying to better themselves and their families. The difference between the workers at Salon or Google or Facebook and the Soldiers in the Army is that Soldiers have sworn an oath to make the ultimate sacrifice. Currently that sacrifice would likely come in Iraq or Afghanistan, and you're right. There is nothing in the middle east that is threatening our "freedoms." We could debate the impact that not cornering the energy market would have on our "freedoms", but for now I concede and agree that Iraq/Afghanistan is a waste of time, talent, and resources.

Most Soldiers feel awkward when someone approaches them and calls them a hero or thanks them for their service. We don't want to be put on a pedestal to be worshipped. This is iconography of the American Military comes from the mainstream media and politicians that sell a delusion that we are all heroes that must be lauded wherever we go.

Like you pointed out in your article, Soldiers only want time with family, fair treatment, and quality care for the wounds suffered doing America's work. It is America's work too, because no Soldier, General to Private, has ever packed up a troop ship or place and sent American men and women to fight a war/conflict/battle without the approval of the President.

Perhaps the reason America is so hell bent on showering Soldiers with praise and worship is because of the guilt that our elected officials have abused the power to send men and women into harm's way. Guilt can be a powerful motivator and I've seen what happens to the men and women that have responded to America's call only to come home broken or in flagged draped coffins.

See, Mr. Masciotra, Soldiers don't want to be called heroes. We don't want to be worshiped as a demigod. We only want to be recognized that if America needs us, we will be there. We are a tool of democracy and we've all sworn an oath to uphold that democracy by following the orders of the President of the United States of America. If you don't like how your tools are being used, tell the person using the tools. Don't blame the hammer when you smash your thumb.

I hope that you continue writing intriguing articles. I'll keep reading them. Just next time, take a moment to seek out information from the subject of your writings. Ask a Soldier, we'll tell you we're not heroes. We're just regular, hard working, Americans that have made a commitment to serve a greater good."

Americans should not feel obliged to thank Service Members. They should thank them, but it should come from the heart. That's real thanks.