This is sorta the stuff that makes me go back to active duty. Granted its not all army, but it still gets the point across. Pass it on. GO ARMY

http://www.grouchymedia.com/index.cfm

P.*. Might be a repost, but then again they add stuff every month

Yes, let'* glorify combat...

I really liked that one line: "You should have studied history, Not terrorism"...

You give the smartest, most dedicated miltary in the world the coolest toys, and like R Lee Ehrmy said "That'* why we win wars, boys and girls"

Ryan, Ill give you this piece of info, and any combat soldier or military person could say the same.

Without the deaths of hundreds of thousands of US and Canadian servicemen, you my friend Ryan, would not be free this very moment. I'm not trying to be condescending or insulting, but it'* a pure fact the biased media would have you forget.

There are no two ways about it.

Semper Fi, Brothers.

I never claimed a lack of respect for those men and women who serve, nor am I so naive to believe that if we all "put away our guns," that peace will ensue. No, regrettably, I understand the reality of the world, knowing all too well that humankind is much too violent to simply do away with armed conflict.

However, I completely disagree with the glorification of combat. Specifically, I do not think it is right for one to view combat as a video game, or "Black Hawk Down" Hollywood blockbuster, which is precisely what the video "Sway" portrays. I have nothing wrong with video of say, jets pulling manuvers, or an M1A1 Abrams unloading at a gunnery range; it is the footage of the so-called "Shock and Awe" campaign that truly sickens me, it honestly makes me feel sick to my stomach. You have to remember that there are PEOPLE on the receiving end of those explosions, and not just soldiers of an "enemy" army, there are civilians. Innocent men, women, and children being killed, and it all looks "not-quite-real" to all of us from the comfort of our safe homes.

Furthermore, on the topic of respecting the contributions of our veterans, I believe that such video does much disservice to the memory of their sacrifice. These videos do not, for the most part, show the true horrific reality of combat. Rather, I think that it fools many into thinking of war as a distant and disconnected reality, which is far from the truth.

I think that the sensationalization of war is one of the main reasons that we (and I speak of we as the developed, Western world) are able to turn our back on atrocities throughout the world. For example in Rwanda in 1994, in the West Bank as we speak, and in Darfur, Sudan at this very moment. The war in Iraq notwithstanding.

I disagree with you to a point. As a veteran myself, the thanks and reminders come far too often, and little things like this topic are enough to make me proud of what I did.

A veteran doesn't need much thanks, but they do need it for the sacrifice they make on behalf of all of our countrymen'* freedoms.

I agree with you on the video games, but I feel movies, when done right, are very important to remind people. Saving Private Ryan is a perfect example of this.

There is no better way to depict and thank a Veteran than to memorialize them with images in action, doing what they do.

I know I know. But you have to be there to understand as well. Simply put, everyone has thier view of conflicts and how they feel. there isnt a way to change it or sway someone from thier beliefs. The reason there isnt true combat or our soldiers getting killed on TV is that John-Q public could not handle watching that on tv. Just remember that out country is lucky as to have a stable north and southern allies and are protected by thousands of miles of ocean. Also, we werent too far off, just remember in WWII if there had been subs able to launch missles, there wouldve been attacks on the US'* eastern coastline since the Coast guard sunk german subs off the eastern seaboard

This isnt to undermine what you said, but think before you speak please. Your doing more harm then good by saying those videos are a disservice, they were created by members of the military, members who have lost brothers and sisters in combat, and they do those as a memory to their sacrifice.

Look at the military as the Motto of the Airforce Pararescue

Okay all this is a very old argument, I think we have seen this kind of topic about 6 times in the last few months and enough is enough. Ryan, we all know where you stand on this issue, as you have decided to wade into these posts with guns blazing and emotions running high. This thread was not created to glorify violence, it was created to respect to veterans. And as Bill stated we should thank them for their service to us all, and what many of them sacrificed for all of us. So before this gets out of hand, I am locking this one.