Whitney Who?

This conversation is in response to this facebook photo. If the link does not work, it's a photo of caskets with flags draped over them in a cemetery lined with small crosses. Underneath it reads: "Whitney Who?: When Celebs get more credit than Real Heroes."

A friend posted this which disturbed me, so I thought I would say something. Here is the resulting conversation. Why can't this happen more often?:

Me: Houston - The woman who entertained millions in the late 80s and early 90s. A human being whose death probably shouldn't be used as propaganda for military elitism. We're all people, no matter what we do with our lives. Yes, some people's jobs make it easier to meet an early demise, but that's still no reason to suggest there should be an established hierarchy, especially after death. How disrespectful.

Me: Would you really like a daily roll call to remind us just how much of a warring nation we actually are? I have a feeling those in charge haven't made one for a reason.

JL: It's more a comment on media priorities and how everyone seems to have forgotten that there is still fighting... actual on the ground calling in airstrikes and kicking in doors fighting, going on in Afghanistan.

And what I'd like is acknowledgement for all our wounded vets that they did a good job in a bad situation.

Me: Who wants to be reminded that there's fighting? There's enough to worry about at home. I'm not saying I don't think these people's lives are worth any less than hers, but I have a feeling people don't want to be reminded of the constant fighting that's been going on since I've been alive.

And to think that being a soldier is a thankless job...? I don't think any other job receives more praise and acknowledgement. What other job gets federal days off in honor of them?

JL: You make it sound like it's an inconvenience that we still have people on the ground. Who wants to be reminded? Are you being facetious? Are you playing devil's advocate here? Just because there is a lot to be concerned about doesn't mean we push aside inconvenient truths. Maybe the fact that it can and has been pushed aside in our national attention span is part of the reason we've allowed it to continue this long?

And I'm not saying that they are worth more either, but there are a lot more casualties (wounded and KIA in layman's terms) from Iraq and Afghanistan then there are dead celebrities who had a bad run in with medication. I'll be honest, I don't see how it's wrong to advocate for my own brothers, which you seem to be implying.

From where we stand... too much of the praise rings hollow. Maybe there is too much of it and people don't seem as sincere. I think I've mentioned this before(?). The human element is lost and people just seem mechanical about it. Americans from our perspective are just too detached from what we as a group have experienced and what the real cost of all this fighting is. If they can see the wounded, if they can see the dead, if they can hear the stories and for a moment understand what must be given to accomplish the mission set before us ... then maybe we will start thinking twice.

And now I'm waxing poetic and diving into larger themes.

Me: "Maybe the fact that it can and has been pushed aside in our national attention span is part of the reason we've allowed it to continue this long?" YESSSS. My point.

It's perfectly fine to advocate for your coworkers, but to do it at the expense of another person is tacky and disrespectful. Preach SUPPORT OUR TROOPS all you want otherwise.

And I agree with that last part. Where there's no more draft, no one needs to care anymore unless they or their close friends/relatives decide they need to serve their country for whatever reason pushing them to do it.

However, I think the military is an industrial complex that is too much of a money-maker so getting those heartfelt images other than on those couple days a year, I don't think is really going to happen. Getting people in touch with real life on the ground is not going to sway voters to keep the process of divide-and-conquer going.

Me: ‎*divide-and-conquer-and-profit

JL: Fair enough. It seems we've come to a mutual agreement.

JL: You know what? It's nice to have an actual discussion on the internet. I feel like my DVD drive should pop out a cookie.

Me: I was about to say. Thanks for having a civil conversation when I know it's something near and dear to you.

Me: Fully.

Speaking of Health Care

This is just a conversation that I had with a guy I don't know on 2/21/11. All I do know about him is that he works for the military. I've put everyone down with just their initials showing. The guy to pay attention to is D S. I'm T S. I was admittedly slightly belligerent at first, but my curiosity helped me warm up after a while.

What sparked this was a post of an article 5 Myths About the Military You Believe (Thanks to Movies) by L K.


W G: Most important thing to take away from this article: "the mechanics do the work and the pilots get laid."

L K: Or this. http://i.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/article/6/0/7/43607.jpg?v=1

W G: YES. I'm sending this to my enlisted buddy. *NOW*

T S: Sounds like any other job. Except you get free health care.

L K: Also our bosses can tell us where we are and are not allowed to hang out, where we are allowed to get said health care, and can call us in at any hour of any day (that we are not on leave).

T S: That still sounds like free health care to me. If I could get that somewhere in the US, I'd gladly go. Instead it's been... 11 years.

And where can't you hang out? And how often do you get called in at a ridiculous hour?

D S: No, it's free healthcare, for us and our family. It's amazing.

T S: I bet it is. But it seems like the article says that 70% of the military workers don't even face any sort of imminent danger. So why is it so vital that these fine people get socialized medical care while the rest of the working public of this nation is not deserving?

I realize that taking a military job is now fully by choice, but I also know that it wasn't my calling. And it seems so weird to think that military personnel are generally right-leaning when they're recipients of socialized health care. I guess if you're not paying for it, it's all good. I'd totally be on board with that too.

D S: T S, try sitting in a briefing and having the big boss complain about the government "taking over" healthcare. It was a silly day.

T S: Ha! If we were really feeling the anti-Communist agenda, we should make that the first thing to go -- health care for all non-combatant military. Elected officials should try it out as well. There's billions of tax dollars saved right there.

D S: Travis, but that would mean you hate the military. Why are you a socialist-nazi? I read that you hate kittens too.

The health care is a pain in the ass, but one of the main reasons I'll never get out is because my wife and I have 100% free healthcare.

T S: Oh, I forget elitism only works one way -- to the left. My two cats will tell you I was rather mean to them as kittens.

And I agree, even shitty VA (free) health care would be better than none. But does "support our troops" really mean I have to put someone on a higher pedestal who might do the exact same job that I do? If they were out kicking ass, that's another story. Yay guns and killing!

T S: But would you leave if there was *gasp* universal health care?!

D S: No, because I make a shitload of money.

T S: Damn you! They don't pay for your housing too, do they? Only if you're on base, right?

D S: Yeah, they do. I get about $1,100 a month for housing. Why would I live on base when I can life off base for cheaper?

T S: Dude. DUDE. Dude. I've lost my words. I wouldn't even need a salary on top of covered living expenses and health care. You must have like 5 cars, 3 boats, and 20 pairs of skis. I bet you could afford like 3 wives if it was legal.

D S: "Two wives are allowed in the Army, but one's too many for me!" Unrelated, but one of my favorite Pogues song.

I owe about $65,000 in student loans so I use my cash for that.

The enlisted guys don't make half of what we get. Well, that should change IMO. But, I take home about $2,300 every two weeks after taxes and that includes my housing and food.

Not half bad. In fact, I started in 2007, and in four years, I almost double my salary from when I started. I don't know many of my friends, in fact, I don't know any other friends that can say that.

Plus, if I get to do 20 years in service, I get half of my end salary, and free healthcare for life, for me and my family.(If I have kids, they get healthcare through college.)

Not a bad deal.

T S: I can't say that. Well, I'm currently unemployed...

So you didn't do ROTC? Seems like you'd be out if the red if you did.

Yeah. I almost got recruited into the Navy but pulled out at the last minute. That was 12 years ago.

D S: I did do ROTC, but I was a History major, and the military didn't want to give me money for that. Eh, no worries.

T S: Weird. That seems like something that should be supported, especially if it's American History, although it might bring to light parts of America's past that isn't all that great... And I can also see how it's not as "functional" as something like engineering.

I do archaeology when I'm on someone's payroll, so I support your endeavors.

Nice meeting you, sir.

D S: Good talk.

J L: Yeah, T S, I needed an x-ray for my knee the other day. Walked right over and 10 minutes later they were calling me back. How often does that happen in any hospital of Dr.'s office? That article was pretty spot on. I always feel bad for the Navy guys because in their boot camp it seems like they have 12 different uniforms to up keep.

Travis
Lucky bastard...