You set up the statement, not me.

Current Events » in reply to Dunno. Does the current re-classification of service going on here count the National Guardsmen as Vets? :-)

You set up the statement, not me.

Tom Brosz — 8/18/2004 11:14:41 PM (archived)

Obviously, National Guardsmen can be sent to battle, and come into combat situations. I don't think anyone would begrudge them the term "veteran." Now if a Guardsman stays home, and never sees combat, but just trains in peacetime, then he isn't a veteran? Then why is someone in a war situation who never got shot at a veteran?

Of course, this is a ridiculous argument. ANYONE who signs up with the military in any aspect, has the right to call themselves a veteran. If you want to be specific about "combat veteran," that's another story. I will readily concede that Kerry is a combat veteran, and Bush is not. This does not make Bush's tour of duty worthless, or flying planes as safe as being on a golf course.

A tour of duty cleaning a ship is no less important or honorable than a tour of duty in combat. But pretending that both are hazardous duty is misleading at best. I have an older Kerry quote where he actually says he did both tours on Swift Boats. The story changes every damn day. I can't keep up with the holes that keep opening in it.

The whole thread (46 posts)

Hollywood preparing massive anti-Bush siege - Tom Brosz - 8/17/2004 4:28:35 PM
- cheap-film-wise, I think lots of folks are drooling over F911's success - alcaray - 8/18/2004 9:27:05 PM
- Hollywood makes what people will pay to see. Capitalism at work. - Bowser - 8/17/2004 7:24:38 PM
  - If that's the case, then explain 'Gigli', 'Reds', 'Ishtar' and a host of others - Larry J - 8/17/2004 10:01:47 PM
    - Are you serious? I suspect not. - Bowser - 8/18/2004 1:39:12 AM
      - Hollywood often makes movies that are absolute stinkers - Larry J - 8/18/2004 1:37:11 PM
        
        What was wrong with Get Shorty? - alcaray - 8/18/2004 9:24:39 PM
        
        It stank - Larry J - 8/19/2004 1:41:19 PM
        
        Read the book (n/t) - alcaray - 8/19/2004 3:48:11 PM
        
        re: Hollywood often makes movies that are absolute stinkers - Art Martin - 8/18/2004 6:31:12 PM
        
        What about the movie insulted you? - Larry J - 8/18/2004 6:41:23 PM
        
        re: What about the movie insulted you? - Art Martin - 8/19/2004 11:03:16 PM
        
        Charismatic leaders - Larry J - 8/20/2004 1:00:25 AM
        
        re: Charismatic leaders - Art Martin - 8/20/2004 6:23:32 PM
- Movie Title: Kerry's long war...Now that's funny - Scott Evil - 8/17/2004 4:47:25 PM
  - Oh... the Evil - SteveS - 8/18/2004 1:43:28 AM
  - 2 tours of duty Scott. Try to keep up. (n/t) - Tony - 8/17/2004 5:19:35 PM
    - re: You can't be serious... - Scott Evil - 8/17/2004 7:49:39 PM
      - OKaaaay - tony - 8/18/2004 1:56:09 AM
        
        Not all 'tours of duty' are created equal - Larry J - 8/18/2004 3:42:08 PM
        
        You just insulted pretty much a whole Navy-full of Viet Nam Vets (n/t) - alcaray - 8/18/2004 9:30:14 PM
        
        Try studying some military history - Larry J - 8/19/2004 6:00:16 PM
        
        Your personal attacks aside... - alcaray - 8/19/2004 6:36:03 PM
        
        It wasn't a personal attack, it was a statement of fact - Larry J - 8/19/2004 9:16:40 PM
        
        The problem here is either your reading comprehension... - alcaray - 8/19/2004 10:27:14 PM
        
        Instead of getting pissed at me... - Larry J - 8/20/2004 1:38:14 PM
        
        You are smoking like a whaler, now. This has nothing to do with your gaffe. (n/t) - alcaray - 8/20/2004 3:07:21 PM
        
        OK - Tony - 8/18/2004 4:11:49 PM
        
        "Next time any vet here says they served their country, I hope you dismiss it if they weren't actively being shot at." Like Bush? ;) (n/t) - Tom Brosz - 8/18/2004 6:15:03 PM
        
        Dunno. Does the current re-classification of service going on here count the National Guardsmen as Vets? :-) (n/t) - Tony - 8/18/2004 8:59:13 PM
        
        You set up the statement, not me. - Tom Brosz - 8/18/2004 11:14:41 PM
        
        Read this thread again. It's not me who is defining what counts as a "real" vet experience..... (n/t) - Tony - 8/19/2004 2:13:42 PM
        
        Wouldn't it be cool if Larry would say: "you are right, I misspoke" - alcaray - 8/19/2004 4:18:18 PM
        
        Why would I say something that obviously isn't true? - Larry J - 8/19/2004 6:00:48 PM
        
        If I were small-minded - alcaray - 8/19/2004 6:38:59 PM
        
        Not in my lifetime - Tony - 8/19/2004 4:36:15 PM
        
        You misunderstand - Larry J - 8/18/2004 6:07:06 PM
        
        Other than Harkin, who exactly is "Falsely claiming combat veteran status "? (n/t) - Tony - 8/18/2004 8:57:22 PM
        
        Exaggerating one's record is falsely claiming combat status - Larry J - 8/19/2004 1:59:31 PM
        
        You forgot Christmas in Cambodia ;-) - SteveS - 8/18/2004 2:01:58 AM
    - re: 2 tours of duty - Tom Brosz - 8/17/2004 6:36:30 PM
      - And where was George? - Mary Anne - 8/18/2004 3:22:43 AM
        
        That's kind-of the point - Scott Evil - 8/18/2004 1:34:18 PM
        
        Knee-jerk response #3 - Tom Brosz - 8/18/2004 7:28:58 AM
- "Then there's the media, which has dedicated itself to a Kerry victory." should be "Then there's the media, which have dedicated themselves to a Kerry victory." - David F Mayer - 8/17/2004 4:43:57 PM
  - should be "Then there are the media, which have dedicated themselves to a Kerry victory." (n/t) - DFM - 8/17/2004 4:45:01 PM

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