asterism
Congress != Progress
they're serving the crack fiends and the rapistI hate that you say "serving" in Iraq or anything like that. That implies that they are helping us citizens in any way shape or form. No. The only people who are being served by these oblivious "soldiers" are the corporate and government officials making money off of it.
They are serving because they volunteered to be the military force that the civilian leadership uses to defend us. They aren't the ones who decide where they go.
Is a firefighter serving by putting out a fire at a crackhouse? Is an EMT serving by intubating a suspected rapist?
Yes in both cases.
but I"m not about to get into a semantic argument with you. This has nothing to do with the word "serve" and all to do with the idea that we owe any kind of debt of gratitude to us military officials
It's okay if you don't get it. Many have served so that you can think and say whatever you want.