I read the story using the link to the Dallas paper, as many of you probably have.
The story said the man was a Reservist and the incident happened sometime after 2am.
"I" do not think there is enough in the story to make an immediate assumption it is a direct or indirect affront to the troops, military service, the Flag.
I do think, although I do not know, the young man was more than likely not in military uniform when he came home.
Could it be possible, just thinking here, the young man was out "on the town", and possibly mentioned to some people, during a "situation", the details of which we are unaware, he is / was "military" and this resulted in him leaving an establishment having "disturbed" someone who followed his vehicle and when he left it unattended - damaged it.
With there being general support for the military and their service, I think there is an important element, leading up to this damage, of this incident about which we are presently unaware. I think he alone pissed someone off, it is a specific focused individual attack. We all are aware there are those who do not like the war(s) and are adamant about it. A few beers and tempers fly and some take illegal action. It happens.
Maybe as the facts come out, I will stand corrected.
Well, you never know - he could be a huge bragger, big bar talker... real s!it talkin' boy... It happens.
It's the victims fault? I just find it sad that you feel the need to make stories up about what had happened... Especially how it ends up being the soldiers fault... reminds me of my old college professor...
Whatever happened - however it happened - there is absolutely no excuse for any of the damage that was done.
__________________
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress,
can be judged by the way its animals are treated. ~ Gandhi
Very interesting... so without any sort of proof or even support what so ever you come up with a situation where the soldier was the one who was wrong and antagonized someone somehow and caused this vandalism? Wow.
How about this? Maybe HE did it all himself so he could have his 15 minutes of fame?
Or how about this? Knowing that it is not difficult to determine if someone is a soldier (even a reservist) someone who didn't like the war or soldiers in general targeted someone they knew to be a soldier and in the cover of night did this damage?
Or how about this? WHO CARES what lead up to the damage happening? The statement that is made is NOT a personal one, but a general one aimed at SOLDIERS, not at one man. I would be more apt to believe that if it was personal "MURDERER" or "YOU MURDERER" would be sprayed as opposed to "SOLDIERS ARE MURDERERS".
........ but I could be wrong.
LOL, you have it right on, as usual, Sam.
"Dogs and Soldiers Keep Off the Grass".
The hidden - but oozing - contempt for soldiers is one of the more insane phenomena of the leftward fringe. Having spent a lot of time in Europe, I can say with authority that this counter-survival bigotry is not limited to the American scene. They often treat their own soldiers like dirt should the troops have the gall to wander off the plantation into "polite society".
__________________
tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
"shartley" commented "Very interesting... so without any sort of proof or even support what so ever you come up with a situation where the soldier was the one who was wrong and antagonized someone somehow and caused this vandalism? Wow."
I painted a possible alternative scenario, that's all, as all too often we see "Victims" recant their story after all the facts surrounding the incident are brought to light and the reasons such action was taken. I had no other motive than that. It is such a pointed and not random attack on a particular individual.
I could be digging myself a hole here, suffice it to say, I did not mean to "insult" the military and those who do and have served honorably.
......, I did not mean to "insult" the military and those who do and have served honorably.
Being formal Military, I did not take your "view" that way.
However, I have noticed more and more you respond to topics playing the "devils advocate"? I don't know if it is done to get arise out of people on here or because you actually believe it?
The point I got from the original story was the soldier(currently or former) had his vehicle vandalized soley because he was/is a soldier.
Unfortunately it has been going on like this since before I was born. My father, who was a Green Beret in Vietnam, told me many stories of when he came home on leave, how people would spit on him, curse at him, call him a child killer and a murderer. It got to the point where my dad VOLUNTEERED to go back to Nam 4 times just to get away from the tree loving hippies who were to scared to fight for our country.
I too saw some of this when I came home from Desert Storm back in '90-'91. While certainly not to the extent that my father heard it, but none the less. It pissed me off to the point of wanting to (not going thru with it) beat them to a bloody pulp. I simply responded (most of the time) " I fought for your right to call me what you will. Be thankful" and walked away (again....most of the time) .
Go with PI heads and quit watching The Fast and the Furious. (thanks 2 IhaveadopeGT)
Remember, it is almost impossible for anyone, myself included, to diagnose a problem over the internet without seeing the car. My advice is simply that, advice based on years of experience. I don't want you or anyone taking my word as gospel. I am trying to give some direction as to what I think may be happening.
Yes "rj8806", you are right, I do often respond playing the “devils advocate”. Although I may agree with the poster, I also wonder whether they considered all the facts, as we know them, or possibly some we do not know, surrounding a particular situation, or do they in fact care. How strong is their position. Maybe I can learn something or change my mind.
I come from a family of lawyers. Dining room table conversation generally centered around real “things” that were happening and world events. You were expected to listen and age appropriate comment, but your thoughts were important and expected. You were expected to listen for the facts as known, what did you think about them, what would you do, what was your thought process and how deep were your convictions. Would you fight for your opinion or just sit back and be cynical and condescending. It certainly was a growing educational and sometimes fun experience.
So when I read the situation concerning the Reservist and his Jeep I wondered is this the entire story. I did not think so and it got me thinking and I “floated” a possible scenario, with no other agenda.. If it is determined, in fact, the vandalism retaliation against this specific soldier is his representing the military composite, in someone’s sick mind, I will be unbelieving such a person exists.
I read within these posts something that is totally foreign to me.
It possibly is my upbringing, background and education, but it is very difficult for me to comprehend there exists today real outspoken derogatory feelings being expressed against our troops. Yes, I remember there were “derogatory” feelings against the war and participants in Korea and Viet Nam, but as far as I and my friends were concerned anyone who would dare express a negative feeling against the troops were “those” people. People we did not know, lived somewhere else and we did not think like they did. The troops who were serving and had come home and died were members of our family and those of our family’s friends. We prayed for their safe return. So reading the comments some of our members, who proudly served, have had to face are totally foreign to me. I guess I am very naive.
I read the comment “Dogs and soldiers keep off the grass”. I can only guess some of you will not believe it is difficult for me to believe anyone would actually feel or express such a feeling today. If you truly believe this or experience this I can do no more then apologize for those unthinking people who have hurt you. It certainly was and is not deserved. Finis
Last edited by VintageV8; 09-29-2008 at 08:35 PM.
Reason: spelling
My thought is... the "hippie-tree-huggers-make love-not-war" mom's and dad's of the Nam generation had children and raised them with the same beliefs... and they have and will raise theirs with the same beliefs... They exist... I just think we're not crossing paths too often with them... They're out there - look to the left.
My thesis was on PTSD and the Vietnam Vet...
I'll never forget an ounce of what I learned.
__________________
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress,
can be judged by the way its animals are treated. ~ Gandhi
...... So reading the comments some of our members, who proudly served, have had to face are totally foreign to me. I guess I am very naive.....
Being from a family of lawyers explains alot (to me) about your thought process. While I definitely don't agree with most of the idiotic laws on our books these days, it certainly explains the meaning of your posts.
In regards to your sentence that I quoted you on..... believe me, it is not "fairy tale". I faced it (definitely not the majority) a little upon returning from Desert Storm. I guess you could say, I "ran into" the tree hugging group. While I did not face the adversity my dad did upon returning from Nam, it still sucks to be confronted like that, after going and putting your life on the line in the name of freedom and this great country. As I states, most of the time, I turned the other cheek and walked away but twice I did not. I will not (refuse) go into it anymore than that (especially to a lawyer ) but suffice it to say, I made my point on those 2 occasions.
I definitely don't think that the majority of the citizens of the U.S. are the haters of soldiers and such but it certainly exists and it sucks. Men and women go to battle and put their life on the line so we may enjoy our freedoms ( and help others realize it as well) and to come home and be targeted, such as the soldier in the original story here, is just appalling.
You're right, we don't have the whole story but then again, when have you ever seen the media give us the entire story? Never. They are biased to their own cause and what they feel we need to know and the rest is swept under the carpet. It's just the way the news media is. I stand by my original opinion in this story, that this soldier was targeted because he was a soldier. It doesn't look like it was a lovers quarrel based on the message on the jeep so what else could it be based on what we know?
Go with PI heads and quit watching The Fast and the Furious. (thanks 2 IhaveadopeGT)
Remember, it is almost impossible for anyone, myself included, to diagnose a problem over the internet without seeing the car. My advice is simply that, advice based on years of experience. I don't want you or anyone taking my word as gospel. I am trying to give some direction as to what I think may be happening.
It happens.
I just find it sad that you feel the need to make stories up about what had happened... Especially how it ends up being the soldiers fault... reminds me of my old college professor... 
I don't know if it is done to get arise out of people on here or because you actually believe it?
.
(thanks 2 IhaveadopeGT)
) but suffice it to say, I made my point on those 2 occasions.
