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Debate Info

18
8
It's only fair It's embarrassing
Debate Score:26
Arguments:44
Total Votes:33
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Argument Ratio

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 It's only fair (15)
 
 It's embarrassing (6)

Debate Creator

Dermot(5736) pic



Why do Americans say " thank you for your service " to the military ?

One hears this quiet a bit when watching TV shows from America , some people when greeted this way say nothing others say ' thank you ' , I've only ever heard Americans say it .

It's only fair

Side Score: 18
VS.

It's embarrassing

Side Score: 8
3 points

They give up a lot to serve their country. Those in the service often go for weeks to months without seeing their family and vice versa...the family can go for weeks to months without seeing their mother/father or even knowing if they will come back safely. Often times the family is uprooted, in our case, every three years and moved to a new location either in the US or in another country. It's a difficult, rewarding sometimes, yet difficult life. Thanking someone for their service and sacrifice is no hardship but it's your choice.

Side: It's only fair
Dermot(5736) Clarified
1 point

Yes I understand all that but most of vets do not like it and find it disingenuous and similar to ' have a nice day ' as it's not really heartfelt .

Side: It's only fair
2 points

Really? What American vets do you know in Ireland that have voice their dislike?

Side: It's only fair
Mint_tea(4641) Clarified
1 point

I can see that if it comes across as disingenuous. I've never had that problem when I've thanked people but it's probably because I truly mean it. But I can certainly see someone getting upset or put off if it sounds like the person is saying it because it's "expected".

Side: It's only fair
1 point

Military and Vets don't hate the gesture, it makes them uncomfortable. Not because they think the person is disingenuous, but because they don't know what to say. "Your welcome? No, that doesn't sound right"

Typically they don't like being singled out for something that isn't remarkable in the world they inhabit. It's just what they do.

Ever see a Medal of Honor winner who said they deserved it? No. Similarly they don't exactly feel they deserve thanks, though they prefer it to a spit or a slur.

There is of course the occasional person who seems to say thank you mostly to feel good about themselves, but not most.

Side: It's only fair
Dermot(5736) Clarified
1 point

Well a fair proportion do , in fact they make a mockery of this form of greeting .

Here is what Mr Freedman a green beret says on the matter ....

The idea of giving thanks while not participating themselves is one of the core vet quibbles, said Mr. Freedman, the Green Beret. The joke has become so prevalent, he said, that servicemen and women sometimes walk up to one another pretending to be “misty-eyed” and mockingly say “Thanks for your service.”

Mr. Freedman, 33, feels like the thanks “alleviates some of the civilian guilt,” adding: “They have no skin in the game with these wars. There’s no draft.”

No real opinions either, he said. “At least with Vietnam, people spit on you and you knew they had an opinion.”

It's just something that people say mostly without thought and is mostly void of any real feeling or emotion.

Side: It's only fair
Amarel(5669) Clarified
1 point

I don't know what a "fair proportion" is, but it isn't most. The one soldier you quoted expressed one of many reactions that people have to being thanked for service. Most feel awkward, some feel angry, and some appreciate it.

“It can be frustrating to be thanked for my military service for a few reasons, but often it’s because there’s no easy, conversational response. Normally when someone says, ‘Thanks for XYZ,’ I can just say, ‘You’re welcome.’ But in this case that sort of rings flat. If people could just find a way to make it easier and more conversational to respond when they thank a veteran for their service, that would be pretty awesome.” —Kevin Bell, U.S. Army veteran

"I appreciate gratitude no matter how it’s conveyed.”—Lydia Davey, U.S. Marine Corps veteran

"We don’t want anything special, after all we did volunteer. The wars of the last decade have been unprecedented in their effect on veterans, and simply knowing that those whom we have served and protected appreciate it really goes a long way.” —Mike Grice, U.S. Marine Corps veteran

Side: It's only fair
1 point

Fair enough. And you're someone who compares himself to Jesus and seeks to break the commandments of God at every opportunity. Who do you think God will favour?

Side: It's only fair
1 point

It's an attempt to be respectful. It's not mandatory, and it may not always be accurate. But then again our other courtesies like please and thank you are not always accurate either, but we still do them.

Take it or leave it. People can be offended that someone dare to say it, but they don't really gain anything from getting pissed at political correctness either.

You know, you can also say thank you for your service to the mailman, your gas station attendant, and on and on. Not mandatory. But there's nothing wrong with it either.

Side: It's only fair
0 points

I tried to join the army after the 9/11 attack. I wanted to go to the front line to hunt Bin Laden. I'm thankful to every person who wears that uniform putting their life on the line to protect my beloved home and people. With deep appreciation and respect I am honored to stand face to face with a person wearing the uniform they told me I was too old to wear, and I humbly thank them for their service. Anybody who has a problem with this is unworthy of the protection that free men pay for with their blood. That serviceman took my place on the battlefield the same as Christ took my place on the cross. I thank God for what He did for me and I thank military personnel for what they do for me....even if they really are doing it only for themselves to get experience and money, they are in the line of fire while I enjoy being protected by them.

I have NEVER seen or heard a negative response from a uniformed serviceman when I thank them for their service. I would fight next to them on the front line if I could, and I'll carry and hang on the same cross Christ took for me knowing the reward ahead. I won't bother reading here any further as I know haters of God have a problem with being full of dirt and feeling they need to spit their teeth out to get rid of it. I don't enjoy the thoughts of assisting them with spitting out their junk by loosening some of their bloody teeth.

Side: It's only fair
Dermot(5736) Disputed
2 points

You wanted to hunt Bin Laden , I hope it was to forgive him as you do know about turning the other cheek don't you ?

The rest of your sacherrine sweet speech is like something one would hear in ' The waltons ' enough to make a dog puke ; you really ought to study what your own vets think of this mostly disingenuous sound bite ... in short they detest it but .....hey you never served did you ?

Side: It's embarrassing
Atrag(5666) Disputed
2 points

Hi devil monkey, you want to kill and break one of the 10 commandments

You really are a complete failure as a Christian in every aspect aren't you?

And to liken you going to war to kill Muslims to what Christ went through.. Waw.. Heresy beyond belief.

Side: It's embarrassing
NowASaint(1380) Disputed
1 point

You're a fool, nasty and dirty hater of God and lover of death.

Side: It's only fair
0 points

This is said in almost any country that is known to somehow be warmongering. In more dictatorship-styled nations, the "thank you" is essentially forced at gunpoint so it kind of loses its effect.

Side: It's only fair
0 points

Idiot .

Side: It's embarrassing
Dermot(5736) Disputed
1 point

Oh you agree now your stance on the other side was in error ; don't brand yourself an idiot I forgive you :)

I'm over here because I cannot listen to any more of your so called attempts at signing up but getting turned down over your age :) you knew you were too old and would get turned down but you craved the attention and wanted people to tell you your were great , bet they saw through your egotistical ' gesture ' and showed you the door .......

In your case ' thank you for not serving ' :)

Side: It's only fair
NowASaint(1380) Disputed
1 point

I don't read your stuff anymore, so you might want to spare yourself the trouble of thinking you're saying something to me. Foul mouth haters who won't listen to reason will only sling dirt and try to make others as dirty as they are. Keep it to yourself, enjoy your pig pen.

Side: It's embarrassing
NowASaint(1380) Clarified
1 point

Why do you present yourself in your icon as a lonesome looking, sad and miserable old man?

Side: It's only fair
NowASaint(1380) Disputed
0 points

You're a fool, nasty and dirty hater of God and lover of death.

Side: It's embarrassing
Atrag(5666) Disputed
1 point

This unrepentant sinner thinks Jesus is his personal slave that guarantees him eternal life. He would have a nasty shock if he ever read the Bible.

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

" Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained."

Side: It's only fair
NowASaint(1380) Clarified
1 point

How stupid for an atheist who believes the Bible is lies to use it as support for their opinion. Obviously they enjoy fooling themselves with lies.

Side: It's only fair
NowASaint(1380) Clarified
1 point

How stupid for an atheist who believes the Bible is lies to use it as support for their opinion. Obviously they enjoy fooling themselves with lies.

Side: It's only fair
-2 points
-Yuri-(284) Disputed
1 point

I dont know who you are but your wrong as hell is hot. Many in service enjoy people saying thank you, people pay for those in the military's meals etc because they are risking there life.

Side: It's only fair