Thread: I Don't Think Magnets Support Our Troops

Originally Posted by sidneykidney

OK Mark thats just getting annoying now.

Ok ok! It's background music for Brads thread!
He's paying me a bundle to keep the theme alive!

..."O'er the land of the free
And the home of the brave!"...


FK

Originally Posted by M1ke

Well said. But remember war = job security for me.

and for others, as well. My whole industry is shrinking right now as a result of fears that peace might break out at any moment.

I agree that a crappy magnetic flag does nothing for our troops. But I won't lie... when I get to talk to guys coming back from the sandbox that have been using my company's fine products, and have been well served by them, I do feel proud and am grateful that I have a job actually supporting the troops.

"99 bottles of beer on the wall, 99 bottles of beer, ya take one down, pass it around, 98 bottles of beer on the wall...."

Originally Posted by JMS

Ok ok! It's background music for Brads thread!
He's paying me a bundle to keep the theme alive!

Actually it is annoying and now a few lemuels have followed you with the same stupid gag but completely off topic.

Now get back in your closet Mark and I'll let you know if I need you to keep one of my threads alive.

Well, to get back on topic and redeem myself for my previous insolence, let me add this:

Don't be too hard on those who put the magnets on their car. Don't assume that because they do have a magnet on their car that this is ALL they are doing in support of the troops. I heartily applaud your efforts with your congressman and the sending of care packages.

I am aware of a certain women's group here in my town who probably have the back of their minivans littered with "God bless the USA", "Support our Troops" and magnetic soccer ball stickers, but they also "walk their talk". They put together care packages, send supplies, donate items to the families stateside who are here without their fathers and husbands, etc.

Also, the magnetic stickers serve as a reminder if nothing else. Sure, they are so prolific as to be approaching total redundancy almost, but they still remind people of those who are putting it on the line.

Does the wearing of crosses support Jesus or christianity at all? Not one bit. They support jewelry stores more than anything. Symbolically, however, things are different; crosses are reminders to those who remain of One who put His life on the line for us. Yellow ribbon shaped magnets are reminders to those who remain of soldiers who put their life on the line for us.

I'm sure for many, the magnets are just trite "follow the crowd" items, but for others they do have meaning.

So, No, the magnets aren't out there giving soldiers high-fives, but they do make ME think of the armed forces, and thoughts lead to actions.

Originally Posted by Ben325e

Well, to get back on topic and redeem myself for my previous insolence, let me add this:

Don't be too hard on those who put the magnets on their car. Don't assume that because they do have a magnet on their car that this is ALL they are doing in support of the troops. I heartily applaud your efforts with your congressman and the sending of care packages.

I am aware of a certain women's group here in my town who probably have the back of their minivans littered with "God bless the USA", "Support our Troops" and magnetic soccer ball stickers, but they also "walk their talk". They put together care packages, send supplies, donate items to the families stateside who are here without their fathers and husbands, etc.

Also, the magnetic stickers serve as a reminder if nothing else. Sure, they are so prolific as to be approaching total redundancy almost, but they still remind people of those who are putting it on the line.

Does the wearing of crosses support Jesus or christianity at all? Not one bit. They support jewelry stores more than anything. Symbolically, however, things are different; crosses are reminders to those who remain of One who put His life on the line for us. Yellow ribbon shaped magnets are reminders to those who remain of soldiers who put their life on the line for us.

I'm sure for many, the magnets are just trite "follow the crowd" items, but for others they do have meaning.

So, No, the magnets aren't out there giving soldiers high-fives, but they do make ME think of the armed forces, and thoughts lead to actions.

Thank you! some people miss these points! I assume them to be obvious, but apparently not to all!

Originally Posted by JMS

Thank you! some people miss these points! I assume them to be obvious, but apparently not to all!

Surely you should have learnt about making assumptions already Mark. Perhaps you should make Brads Status as your signature!

Apologies Brad for the slight

So let me ask this question to those who believe the magnets are a positive. If you were to list the "good deeds" you have done, would the placing of a magnet on your car be an entry?

Originally Posted by icedog

So let me ask this question to those who believe the magnets are a positive. If you were to list the "good deeds" you have done, would the placing of a magnet on your car be an entry?

Of course not, Brad. It would probably rank right up there with straightening up the business cards that were on the counter at Advance Auto Parts the other day, because I am kinda OCD about things like that.

Just like I put with the whole subject of crosses. I don't wear a cross. Never have, never will. If you were to ask a catholic (only because I know a lot of catholics who do wear crosses) to list their good deeds, I don't think that they would list wearing a cross as a good deed.

The magnets aren't supposed to be a "good deed". It's not like I would ever come home to hear my wife ask "How was your day" and then I reply "Honestly, my day WAS sucking, but then it all changed.. I felt like I didn't get a dang thing done today, I'm way behind on a project at work, but then as I was getting the groceries out of the trunk I saw our "Support our Troops" sticker.... then I KNEW I had made the world a better place!!"

No one ever expects to recieve a "Key to the City" for plunking a magnet on the back of their car.

The question of the "good deed list" is way too black and white. Shining your shoes isn't a good deed, but it's good to do. I don't spend my entire life going around doing nothing but good deeds, but I do try to do things that are good to do.


Also, to touch on the "special" topic:

I'm 29. I'm in college working on a bachelors degree. To many people, I may seem like I'm pretty behind on the game of life. in my early twenties I spent several YEARS doing volunteer work in different countries. I've volunteered at homeless shelters, rest homes, food banks, the red cross, working with autistic children, and even on American military bases in Germany as well as a list of other activities.

I was born on a military base. My grandfather flew B-52's in WWII and was shot down resulting in him being a POW for 2 1/2 years. My father was in the military. My brother was in the military. Me? I never joined the armed forces.

My wife is a neonatal intensive care nurse and has gone to South America to work in childrens clinics there, all paid for exclusively by us. Day to day she works with little babies that are sometimes no bigger than the palm of my hand. Sometimes she requests to be the primary nurse of really really sick babies, and I have to hold her when she cries after their death. She never joined the armed forces.

Neither one of us has voluntarily enlisted in the Armed forces. Are we less special?

I agree entirely with you when you say that M1ke is special, but I would point out that people are born with different passions and directions. Just a few minutes ago I saw a bumper sticker that said "All men are created equal, then some become firefighters" , and I wondered what your take would be on this.

When you say that he is "more special", I guess that leaves me wondering. I don't believe in destiny, but I do believe in the extraordinary amount of potential we all have. It's a shame that so many people today waste that potential by sitting at the television with their remote controls, but it would also be a shame for someone to waste a unique talent by not utilizing it.

For example: My cousin is a neurosurgeon. He's young, in great shape, etc. I'm sure he'd make a fantastic soldier. His mom died of a brain tumor, and ever since he has fought in that direction. Would you consider him "more special" if he were to drop that and enlist? Personally, I think it would be a waste. His research is amazing and useful to the global population.

I think he's just as special for using his talents for the good. For me, I define "more special" as maximizing your given potential. Who knows, maybe that guy at the McDonalds drive thru is working through college and will one day revolutionize the renewable energy industry. We can't be so quick to judge or to label others.

Oh, yeah. I forgot to mention that I don't have a magnet on the back of my car. I think they're visually tacky. There are better ways to support the troops. I just don't think that having a magnet on your car is in anyway negative or detrimental. I think they have a positive effect overall, albeit extremely, extremely, extremely small.

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