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Response to Nicole Frazier’s “Why we shouldn’t just have military discounts”

As a member of this great nation, Fort Collins and the CSU community, I would like to start off by stating I in no way endorse or condone Tuesday’s column by Nicole Frazier, “Why we shouldn’t just have military discounts.” I can only hope that Frazier did not intend for the piece to come across as offensive as it was.
First of all, let me define service. Service is the action of helping or doing work for someone.
Frazier stated in her opinion column on Tuesday, “I am thinking of the word ‘serve’ in the sense of yielding a service or product for others, not limiting it to just those who have enlisted in the military.”She goes on to discuss the fact that anybody who “serves” deserves equal right to a discount at businesses as the military does.

If one wants to talk about serving others this includes waitresses, janitors, postal workers, garbage men, nurses, doctors, grocery baggers, you name it. Any job or career for that matter provides a “service.”I wouldn’t call what the members of our military do for us a simple “service.” I would more closely associate their line of work as a sacrifice and a willingness to do what so many of us could never fathom the mere thought of.

Let’s move on to the issue of the “discount” — an issue so irrelevant to the work the men and women of our military do for this country I am unsure why it was discussed.

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We all get a discount of some sort at some point in our lives. When I head out to the movies — last time I checked at least — I got a full $2 off for being a college student. Wherever you go, there’s a discount for somebody. Apple offers a discount for educators and for students. Damn near every business in Larimer County offered a discount, free food, merchandise, or whatever for the firefighters fighting the “raging summer flames,” as Frazier believed they deserved. Which they did. And to an extent many people in our country deserve some sort of extra compensation for what they do.

Any person who is willing to risk their life for another person deserves respect. Why debate something as petty as a discount instead of just simply saying “thank you”? The compensation these members of our society deserve isn’t about monetary value. It’s about a community and a country standing behind those that protect as they “serve.” It’s about appreciation and homage.

However, to single out the military — the people of our country that stand by the principles that our nation was founded upon is flat out wrong. It is offensive, unnecessary and quite frankly — insulting.

Let’s talk about PTSD. Let’s talk about missing the birth of a child. Let’s talk about moving every 2-3 years. Let’s talk about living in middle of nowhere towns and missing Thanksgiving and Christmas with immediate family. Let’s talk about waiting and worrying if one’s husband or wife will return home safely. Let’s talk about never knowing what will happen next, doing something for this country, and then being criticized for it.

Have I made my point?

Who cares if they save a few dollars when they go out to dinner? It’s nothing to the members and families of the military in lieu of the multitude of sacrifices they make. Maybe it makes them feel appreciated for one second for everything — and I mean everything — that they have given up for you. For your right to speak your opinion. For your freedom of speech, freedom of press and so on and so forth.

Ask any of our military members if they really, truly care about that super awesome ten percent discount they receive at Applebee’s, or Lowe’s or whatever. Sure, they made a choice to join the military. But if those brave men and women didn’t make that choice, who would? Would you step up and give your life to protect us?

I can one hundred percent guarantee you they sure as hell didn’t sign their name over for you — and for the sake of our country — for a discount on a trip to Disney World.

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Comments (15)

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  • M

    Mariah ParviziSep 28, 2015 at 12:46 am

    There’s no reason to think that people who participate in a group (the military) who kill other people should be regarded as hero’s. A soldier from one country will come home as a “hero”, as a soldier from another country will never come home. Neither is the hero, someone just won the battle.

    Reply
    • S

      sharder8Sep 28, 2015 at 1:01 am

      When you have the courage to volunteer for the military and go to war . . . you can have a say. As is, while you have your right to comment, your stupidity over whelms any intelligence you may be trying to display. Be thankful that men like me have stepped up and put our life on the line for you.

      Reply
      • M

        Mariah ParviziSep 28, 2015 at 2:38 am

        Although badly worded, I think that this is what the article was about. The entitlement of military because we have told them they are doing good in supporting such a backwards power. Why would thank I would thank you. I am not thankful for anyone who stepped up to support this power. Personally, I see it more honorable NOT to participate in a group that trains people to kill other people.

        The only positive I can see in war is lowering human population, hopefully we destroy ourselves before we destroy the rest of the world.

        Reply
  • M

    Mariah ParviziSep 28, 2015 at 12:41 am

    I just absolutely disagree. Joining the military is a choice, therefore no one should support it. Why would you want to support all of the hard times that you just mentioned like PTSD and missing the birth of your child. No one should have to go through that. Respecting people “who are willing to risk their life” at the cost of other’s lives is not something to support. I believe that Nicole wasn’t just anti- American Military, but against the idea of worldwide military. What does it mean to be patriotic? Is one group of humans better than another because of where we were born? If no one supported or joined any military in the world, then there would be no war. I support all human life, not just American and will not be encouraging that idea with any means of support like a discount.

    Reply
    • S

      sharder8Sep 28, 2015 at 1:07 am

      So, you support the lives of Saddam, Hitler, and every other person responsible for the murders of millions? What a fantasy land you live in? At what point would your hypocrisy enlighten you to reality? How many evil people do you support . . . only non-Americans . . . or only those that commit evil in your country/state/hometown?
      I don’t ask for your respect and I don’t expect it from a dreamer like you. Go back to your liberal dreams and fantasy’s.

      Reply
      • M

        Mariah ParviziSep 28, 2015 at 2:18 am

        These evil powers don’t have the ability to murder millions without support. Why give them our support? War is not the solution of disagreement of beliefs. If you had a choice, do you whole heatedly support war? We have the choice, power is nothing without support, it doesn’t have to be this way.

        Reply
      • M

        Mariah ParviziSep 28, 2015 at 2:20 am

        I respect you as a person with different beliefs then me. We don’t need to kill each other to the death about it.

        Reply
  • J

    JNov 4, 2013 at 6:35 pm

    Totally disagree with you, what a shame these are your beliefs. Being in the military is a job just like everyone else- end of story.

    Reply
    • S

      sharder8Nov 5, 2013 at 3:07 am

      Tell me J, how many other jobs do you put your life on the line day in and day out? Live in the mud and dirt, blood and gore? Work hard physical work for hours on end, 40 hour week and holidays off . . . not gonna happen. Routinely miss births, deaths, first words, weddings, family reunions, kid’s events, but get to stare death in the face, more times than you care to count? Not to forget the less than min. wage.
      No Jay, being in the military isn’t just like every other job. Fact is, over 95% of our youth can’t qualify, because they aren’t smart enough and physically fit enough to enlist. You can be a supervisor at any major company with only a high school diploma, but you need a college degree to be a senior NCO or an Officer. If you want to be an E8 or MAJ, you better have a Masters or be about to get one. And there is no finding your niche and staying there till retirement.
      Finally, name one job where you can end up going 5 days and 4 nights without sleep? I had to on one mission and I was still alert. (Amazing what adrenalin can do in a life or death situation.) Name one job you can spend 2 weeks underground in your office, 24×7. Name one job, where you may have to collect up your buddy’s body parts, for shipment to his family, than back on the line later that day.
      No J, the military isn’t just like any other job. It’s an adventure into how far you can push yourself physically and mentally . . . and even further. I’ve worked civilian jobs for more years than I served now . . . and I haven’t found any civilian jobs even close to my military service. Have you served? If you did, you were probably a POG. I was a Grunt, both enlisted and as an Officer.

      Reply