[AaronIG]

> My point here is, if you're in the military now, you're volunteering for war. If you're an injured soldier, I'm sorry you got hurt. You didn't deserve it, because nobody deserves war and mayhem. But you volunteered for it. We need to stop saying "support the troops". We need to start saying "prevent kids from joining unjust war".

I'm currently serving, and I agree. It gets tiring having complete strangers walk up to me, while I'm in uniform, and saying things like "thank you, for all that you do.", as if I should bask in the glory of their appreciation. Perhaps they really are thankful, but the whole encounter is always awkward. At first I wasn't sure how to respond, but I've settled on saying "you're welcome", even though it sounds arrogant to me. Then you have individuals and corporations who profit on this whole notion that we should donate to "support the troops" at every opportunity we get. Many of us don't deserve support. Some of us may make sacrifices at times, but that doesn't mean we deserve everyone's affection or undue favoritism. We have the same issues as any one else. I'd much rather people pressure their congressmen and women to provide the benefits our service members were guaranteed. For those that feel compelled to give, I'd urge them to do so locally by contacting their local VFW post.

Now, I don't want to seem ungrateful. There have been instances where I felt I experienced actual appreciation. Once I was out enjoying sushi with some family and friends and a stranger paid the bill. They left without us ever having known who they were. I'm grateful for what they did.