Military hero worship

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I have thought this getting out of hand for some time. not everyone who joins the military is Rambo. Most aren't. Most of the time, the military is just like any 9-5 job, even in war.

http://trove.com/me/content/RLcBX?chid= ... aign=srfan

99% of the time, troop worship is either to sell a product or pander politically. Nobody with any power is making a serious effort to support veterans or soldiers. They're just like any other unskilled employee in America; a tool to be used and disposed of.

Oh, there is an overabundance of ex-military who seek out hero worship opportunities. A lot of young veterans exploit their veteran status to prey on women. I don't know when regulations were relaxed to the extent that military walk around in bars dressed in BDU's, especially in areas where there is no military installation, but it is common in my area. I don't know that ll of these elderly veterans would be publicly participating in all of these appreciation ceremonies, other than something at a local VFW or Legion. I think "honor flights" are more for the benefit of those arranging them in a lot of instances rather than for the veterans themselves. I dunno, maybe personalities have changed a lot but my grandfathers would have been moderately repulsed by all of this I think they would consider all of this attention as undignified.

Looking at that from the bottom-up, I think at least some people seek a sense of empowerment or validation by having their former-military loved ones honored even if nothing heroic had ever been done. I could post some links to some examples, but I refrain from doing that since I do not want to shame anyone.

From the OP article:

I think many people have a willingness to sacrifice for the good of all, but that mere willingness does not make anyone a hero. I happen to be an honorably-discharged veteran of the Viet Nam era, and I make efforts to remember and honor my past friends and schoolmates who died as a result of that war. I intend to make it clear to my family and others that I am not even close to being any kind of military hero, but I suspect today's "military worship" might easily prevail at the time of my funeral...and I see that as a sad thing coming from people who know not what they do.