Dealing with anti-Military types

[Citizen]

Everyone here knows at least one, and probably more. The kind of person that's condescendingly against the Military, along with everyone in it. Going to school in Los Angeles, a hub of leftist activity, I try to simply ignore all of the "WHAT?! you're joining? Like, aren't you going to Iraq and getting shot at or something?" crap, but every now and then I run across the guy that gets in my face over the issue.

I'm proud of my upcoming attendance at USMC OCS, and don't brag but will happily explain the details for anyone that asks. With this comes guys that call Squids gay, Marines inbred idiots, et al. I broke one asshole's nose for his big mouth (he decided to insult my familiy's naval tradition a little too far).

I want to know this: what is the appropriate way to deal with this crap? I don't care what some pothead loser that bums money from Mom things, but when people get in my face and insult my grandparents things are going to get ugly. What should a potential USMC officer do?

 

[room5047]

hey citizen,

whoa there, motivated! you're gonna make one hell of an officer of marines, i'm sure, but don't forget the gentleman part of "officer and a gentleman". it's tough, i know it -- i just graduated from an ivy league college where they find a new cause to protest practically every week and where we're still fighting tooth and nail to get ROTC on campus - a lot of students don't want the school to "reward killers" and all that junk. truth is, on this issue, everybody's wrong and everybody's right. our government - and, at times, our military - HAS done some things that are worthy of being criticized, but that's certainly no reason to crap on the average, patriotic, professional serviceperson. and most of the folks doing the criticizing never intend to get off their duffs, get their hands dirty, and fix the things that they claim are broke anyway.

but yelling what you believe or backing it up with fists - no matter how strong the conviction - against an immature ingrate doesn't help the situation either, it usually just galvanizes the resistance and makes people walk away saying, "yep, there goes another inbred militarist hothead." i think the best thing you can do with these types is to employ maneuver warfare, vice the frontal assault - disarm 'em with your charms. tell 'em that, yeah, what the military does often isn't pretty, but neither is life in the world. besides that, the military is more geared today than ever toward being humane and kind whenever possible, while still winning - look ar iraq. fact is, if they're so concerned about justice in the world, maybe THEY should join the service - or at least volunteer in government or non-profit -- to improve conditions, rather than merely complain about them.

tell 'em that if they have you pegged as an enemy before they ever get to know you or what you do, that it's THEM who are actually on the warpath, raring for a fight. the point is, you have to get them to see you as MORE than just a "jarhead", though that's enough for us, you have to get them to see you as a person, too. remind 'em that they can hate war, but they ought to love the warriors, because life would be awfully different without them at all.

anyway, all that and a buck gets you a cup of joe.

 

[jaerose]

They are instigating problems with you because they want you to get all hot and bothered over it and react like you did so they can say, "see, you just proved my point." I'm very, very passionate about what I'm going to do as well and it really disturbs me when I see people rip into those of us who want to make the sacrifice and protect their rights, but that's part of what I'm doing it for...to protect their right to shoot off at the mouth and look like an uninformed idiot who hasn't the foggiest clue what the real issues are.

Actually, that's what I would do...I would go out of my way to stay cool and prove them wrong and my response to them would be "That's right, I love my country so much that I'm willing to devote my life to protecting it and it's people, including your right to run your mouth like the obtuse person you are." Then politely walk away while they stumble over what the word obtuse means (it's not geometry).

JR

 

[BeanFighter]

..or just shat in their backpack...

 

[jaerose]

Yeah, either will work. I'm partial to putting rancid fish in their cars on 90+ degree days =)

JR

 

[jaerose]

Oh, I forgot, you can also wear fur and eat meat! That will deflect attention from your military status.

JR

 

[Jedj]

keep braking noses, no problems with that here

 

[nittany03]

During my ROTC career I was basically advised to "fly under the radar" w/ regards to public anti-war stuff but I suppose if you're just shooting the breeze the best thing to do would be to come to the fight w/ plenty of ammo (evidence and ideas, not brass knucks

) That way you can hold forth in an intellectual debate and at the end, even if they don't think they'll look like an idiot, everyone else will think they do! Ask'em how they can support women's rights and then not support going after the Taliban, etc. You'd be suprised how little thought those of that ideological persuasion put into their points of view. I guess they figure if they sound pseudo-intellectual, lovey-dovey, and snobby enough everyone'll think they know what they're talking about

.
Of course the problem with arguing with idiots is that they drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. Good luck at OCS.

If God isn't a Penn State fan, than why is the sky blue and white?

 

[perchul]

I would take room 5047 father's advice, "whoever cares the least wins"

Tolerance only benefits the weak

 

[perchul]

oh and tell them there are ivy leaguers in the military like room 5047 who score goddamn 72's on the astb and there dumbass sure as hell can't

Tolerance only benefits the weak

 

[perchul]

Just for the record I can think pretty liberally, but only when I can rationalize it; this brings me to people like Janene Garafolo who are complete idiots and think if you say non-sequiters with enough passion that they all of a sudden make sense...these people should die I'm not kidding. I think laws should be passed against people who can not give a logical base for the arguments they use. I quote "If we go to war in the middle east we are doomed!"...WHY?ahhh do you know that I can't sleep because people like her say **** like that....sorry venting

Tolerance only benefits the weak

 

[vegita1220]

I never argue with my father when he's drunk. I'm sure you understand why.

So never argue with idiots/irrational people. You can't win, no matter how well you present your views.

 

[hukleberry]

Lots of good advice. I personally deal with the same issues and at least a weekly basis. My SOP is to talk with the ones I care about, ignore the others, and try not to get into physical confrontation about it. HOWEVER, when I was at OCS, we had close quarters combat instruction on how to subdue a threat without causing harm to that person. Our instructor told in no uncertain term that these manuvers are to be used in bars and other occasions when we are being threatened. The fact that they worked this into our screen and evaluate program attests to the significance of being ready to deal with violence. Just bear in mind that a Marine in general and an officer in particular needs to be a lot of things but a push over is not one of them. There is nothing wrong with displaying your enthusiasm and motivation through an artful display of "smack-a-prick". Just use your head. Hoorah!

Semper Fi

 

[jaerose]

So when you say 'just use your head,' you really mean head-butt them, right? So it's 'head-butt-a-prick.' Nothing hurts like a crushing blow to the nasal cavity with a skull...don't ask how I know =)

JR

 

[hukleberry]

Head, hands, knee, whatever works. I always love a good weapon of opportunity.

Hey jaerose, I didn't realize you were in my back yard. I had a friend who played football at DePauw. I was a baseball player at Anderson University for a while. Good luck to you at OCS.

Semper Fi