This is probably morefor the vets than anyone else, but it's a topic that has come up time and again, sometimes aimed at me sometimes not, but definitely a sore spot.

I'm not pointing any fingers, and this is directed at no individual. Time and again I see people questioning the service of military vets on message boards. I can actually accept it better from ignoramuses who have never served and their every word proves it, than I can another vet.

All of us who are vets, and claim to be, and have been on this board for any length of time know for the most part who and what each other is just from the way we talk and/or the things we say.

Whether or not we agree with each others politics, IMO, there is no reason for ANY of us to disrespect another vet's service simply for that reason. The only reason I can fathom to do so would be if a vet's service itself was OTH.

I've made it clear from the first time it ever happened ... don't want to believe me simply because you disagree with my politics? F--k off and die. I'm not putting my DD214 out here for the identity thieves, stalkers, and Lord knows who else to screw with. I don't need to wake up with the Fred Phelps across the street praying for my death.

If an alleged vet is a fraud, they prove it with their own words/ignorance to the military and while it hasn't happened recently, it HAS happened here, and it's NOT a pretty picture.

Otherwise I think we not only dishonor each other, but ourselves as well by lowering ourselves to the level of using this tact as deflection in lieu of a response to a post on a topic.

I would like to add that this does not include the inalienable right of all jarheads to call squids "squids."

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“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing” - Edmund Burke

Have you not been paying attention? The current operating parameter is to say " for all I know you could be...." and then when confronted deny that you ever disparaged anyone's service.

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The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd. Indeed in view of the silliness of the majority of mankind, a widespread belief is more likely to be foolish than sensible.

-Bertrand Russell

Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are more pliable

-Laurence J. Peters

I never said that you had no right to have an opinion. I just said that it was, in fact, worth nothing.

-Maineman ( on 12 June 2007)

Like I said, I really don't want to make this an individual thing. For all ANY of us really know the person at the other end is Satan pulling out chains. I usually picture the ones threatening to kick my ass as lardasses who haven't seen their belt buckles since they were hanging in the closet.

Seriously, as I said, within the current vets on this board, we all can easily tell who and what eah other is. In that regard, we are all in the same club and have paid our dues to be here.

One other thing I did notice though ... when a certain poster came on here disparaging vets and talking about pissing on them and/or the monuments in their honor. Used to be on this board, vets would get in line to get a chunk of that ass. We'd be stumbling all over each other getting our shots in.

Some things transcend politics, IMO.

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“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing” - Edmund Burke

Amen. Such sentiment will not prevent this cannon cocker from calling Marines "jarheads" and Air Force personnel "wing nuts". Just so yawl know.

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"Why, it appears that we appointed all of our worst generals to command the armies and we appointed all of our best generals to edit the newspapers. I mean, I found by reading a newspaper that these editor generals saw all of the defects plainly from the start but didn't tell me until it was too late. I'm willing to yield my place to these best generals and I'll do my best for the cause by editing a newspaper." -- Gen. Robert E. Lee

I wear the name "jarhead" with pride.

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“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing” - Edmund Burke

It's a term of endearment ...

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"Why, it appears that we appointed all of our worst generals to command the armies and we appointed all of our best generals to edit the newspapers. I mean, I found by reading a newspaper that these editor generals saw all of the defects plainly from the start but didn't tell me until it was too late. I'm willing to yield my place to these best generals and I'll do my best for the cause by editing a newspaper." -- Gen. Robert E. Lee

Well put, and I agree.

I might also add, that what you are concerned about seems to have been taken down to a level, that has made it a non-issue, for the most part.

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Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.-KC Theisen

"Statistics: The only science that enables different experts using the same figures to draw different conclusions." — Evan Esar

Vigilance is the price of liberty. - Motto of SHAPE

"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies." —Groucho Marx

What actually prompted my post was something on another board. I've seen it on just about every board, mostly from people who wouldn't know what to do with a John Wayne and can of generic Spaghetti-Os if you drew 'em a picture.

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“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing” - Edmund Burke

along with your mickey mouse watch, MARINE!

merry christmas from your favorite squid.

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"In a rich society, no one should be allowed to suffer from deprivation such as homelessness, starvation and illness. This ideal is essential, not simply as a matter of human good, but as the price we pay for a measure of domestic tranquility. "

John Kenneth Galbraith

Now ya see...we know that can't be true...Marines don't know how to tell time so they wouldn't be wearing a watch....not even a digital!

Merry Christmas, swabby!

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"Why, it appears that we appointed all of our worst generals to command the armies and we appointed all of our best generals to edit the newspapers. I mean, I found by reading a newspaper that these editor generals saw all of the defects plainly from the start but didn't tell me until it was too late. I'm willing to yield my place to these best generals and I'll do my best for the cause by editing a newspaper." -- Gen. Robert E. Lee

That is slander, Marines can tell time. We know when it is time to kill, when know when to kill time and we know when it is time to unfuck the cluster. We also know well the time to harrass "seaman". Further we know when it is time to explain warfighting to the Army. And we know when it is time to teach the airforce how to fly.

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The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd. Indeed in view of the silliness of the majority of mankind, a widespread belief is more likely to be foolish than sensible.

-Bertrand Russell

Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are more pliable

-Laurence J. Peters

I never said that you had no right to have an opinion. I just said that it was, in fact, worth nothing.

-Maineman ( on 12 June 2007)

That's why every Marine carries a calendar instead of a watch!

Merry Christmas, jarhead!

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"Why, it appears that we appointed all of our worst generals to command the armies and we appointed all of our best generals to edit the newspapers. I mean, I found by reading a newspaper that these editor generals saw all of the defects plainly from the start but didn't tell me until it was too late. I'm willing to yield my place to these best generals and I'll do my best for the cause by editing a newspaper." -- Gen. Robert E. Lee

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POLITICAL ACTIVISTS CREED
"It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brushfires in people's minds"
-Samuel Adams

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POLITICAL ACTIVISTS CREED
"It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brushfires in people's minds"
-Samuel Adams

Y'know, most squids will mention that we are all in the department of the Navy. That is true. Marines refer to it as "De mens Department".

The Sergeant Major is correct. I wear a countdown timer only. When it hits zero, as Ben Grimm usta say....... IT'S CLOBBERIN TIME. And, of course, Doggy is a term of endearment.

So, Merry Christmas to all (Doggies, Squids, Zoomies, Jarheads, Coasties, NG's, ANG's, Scout [they at least get adult leadership] troops, and the families of course. And to all a good bite (of the turkey).

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As a Public Service I placed an interactive election map on my blog. It'll be up for a week at least.

I'm Phil -- 40ish male, self sufficient, great with my kids, wed 25 years, and believe that ones actions have logical consequences. How much more out the box can you get nowadays? -- MSgt of Marines (ret)

Independent Glossary:
Poor - someone who has little;
Rich - someone who has lots;
Middle Class - Someone who has the problems of each w/o any of the advantages.

Middle of the road - Someone who gets hit by traffic in both directions.

Straight party ticket = Voting for dummies