Any thougts about this one?

I just found out that there are a lot of people joining any military branch just for the benefits and don't give a rats' ass about serving the country.

It’s true. It happens. Some people are also mislead or delusional. They might want to live a GI JOE action movie fantasy. Some guys actually think they’ll make big money as an enlisted soldier. Some people just want to “prove” something to themselves or others- and like any branch of service including police, fire, etc. some do it for ego. If you’re in a room full of executives and doctors and tech gurus and what not- some people feel small if they aren’t “on that level” socially, financially, educationally. So for some being in the service or even spec ops is about having an “elite” status. It’s somewhat taboo to look down on someone who serves, and even a civilian in a related field can’t usually claim to know or have seen what you have and what you do. So there are some who join not to offer service but for what they can get from service or how it makes them feel. It doesn’t necessarily change the fact they are serving though, or that they may put themselves at risk for that service

Although it may suck some of the nobility out of it in principal, and many people like that aren’t the sort of people most want to serve with or deal with. But to be honest- for most it’s less about the service to an ideal of patriotism and more about service to ones fellow service members. And that’s fine and noble still. Having other men and women put their lives in your hands and rely on you is a huge responsibility and anyone who takes that seriously is doing just fine. Because only a moron pledges 4+ years of their life away for 15% off Denny’s and the Gap, so you don’t join for a discount, and the incentives, bonuses, and training or schooling are nice if you qualify and can navigate the red tape to actually get them- but unless your prospects were very bleak that alone isn’t a good reason to join either. The same time in the civilian field will net you greater gains. But some still do- the majority do not however.

Well I've never heard of any discounts for veterans here in germany. And I'm talking about every kind of discount for veterans from every country including germany. I mean, I know this happened in the netherlands, but maybe discounts for veterans aren't a thing there either. No one should feel offended by not getting a discount, you're in a different country with a different culture and veterans aren't glorified like in the US in every country of the world.

Wether a veteran/active duty service person, senior citizen, celebrity, activist, etc- one should never expect a discount from anyone anywhere. One should- especially a professional soldier- realize that other cultures are different than their own and not make assumptions. It was wrong of these soldiers to get upset or make a scene because they were not allowed a discount. However- 1. Many international businesses offer military discounts to foreign service people. Not all of them advertise. Several prominent British owned international hotel chains are an example. If in doubt- it’s natural to ask. Especially a small business. 2. We don’t know this is the full story. The attitude I get from the post is one of a person who maybinherently be argumentative or have what many would term a “bad attitude.” Combine that with drinking and there is always room for temper. Combine that with servicemen and drinking and from context clues such as his use of the phrase “American arrogance never...

... ceases to amaze me,” and other clues I suspect he wasn’t terribly polite, and already had prejudice going in to the encounter (“never ceases” clearly implies he is used to and or expects not just ignorance, but a specific type of ignorance he attributes to Americans.) without prompting he felt compelled to post about the incident in such terms- as though to brag- and the picture I get is that the American soldiers could have and likely should have acted better, but the root of their anger may not have been the discount, but the way the situation was handled and the overall attitude they received from the guy they were dealing with. Don’t know, wasn’t there. Just from what I see though I can say the Soldiers likely should have been more professional and diplomatic, and the guy has an inherent prejudice against Americans and had already judged them before any incident happened.

... related to you did. So rolling the cosmic dice at birth to be a certain nationality doesn’t inherently entitle you to anything beyond human respect as any other person- but... it really comes down to friendship and sentiment. That’s where it gets sticky. A friend chooses to offer things. One might expect a friend to do certain things, like give them a good price. That friend might also expect that a good friend wouldn’t ask them to compromise their livelihood. My mother’s family thinks you should give to family or offer a better deal than to anyone else. My fathers believes that you should avoid business with family and if you do- that you should treat it as business with anyone else- and his family doesn’t get hurt feelings over that. To them, money is money and family is family. You show love for family other ways.

The thing about friendship is that people are different. Friends are able to respect that in each other and honor it. Same with gratitude. What I’m one place will get you free beers for life and for all your decendents- in another will get you a nod and a “thanks.” It’s sticky in that way because while at some point a lack of gratitude is just plain rude, at the same time having expectations of gratitude and the rewards are not just rude but also somewhat defeat the purpose. If we do a “good” deed on expectation of payment it’s simply a transaction. We can’t expect sentimental treatment over a business transaction can we? So it becomes circular and self defeating. Ultimately- when a country helps another you are not dealing with one perspective but many. One politician sees it as a way to “pay back” a favor. Another as a way to get money or gain popularity. Another sees it as a way to “bank” influence and good will. Down it goes to the soldiers in the field. One is just doing a job....

.. they joined because it was the best odds they had at education or even a way to take care of themselves. Another has a sense of duty to their military. The mission doesn’t matter, they do what they are told as a professional. Another has high ideas of doing good and helping. Another has a personal connection or roots in a place and genuinely wants to see the people there made safe and prosperous. We can never say that a whole country and all the multitudes involved in the decision and effort of a conflict are there for one reason or another. Each does as they do. The motivation behind the action is only part of the equation next to the action itself. Good intentions do not cancel harms done but selfish intentions don’t erase goods done either- and in neither case can we say either is completely “good” or “evil.” Someone who donates $100,000 to charity for a tax break has still done more actual good than someone who donates $10 out of the goodness of their heart- even if one can be..

.. said to be more noble. Regardless- as I say- the whole thing is very complex but in the simple reality of practical living- One shouldn’t feel entitled to rewards of gratitude. That’s a mercenary, not a soldier. One should serve and people should be greatful, but how gratitude is expressed is not always a function of material reward. Attempting to extort gratitude of any sort tends to destroy any goodwill that existed. Do “right” for the sake of “right” and not for reward, and others will either do the same or not.