A Note to the Offended (Updated from 5/22/2016)

"HONOR:  Honor guides Marines to exemplify the ultimate in ethical and moral behavior. Never lie, never cheat or steal; abide by an uncompromising code of integrity; respect human dignity and respect others. Honor compels Marines to act responsibly, to fulfill our obligations and to hold ourselves and others accountable for every action.

COURAGE:  Courage is the mental, moral and physical strength ingrained in Marines. It carries us through the challenges of combat and aids in overcoming fear. It is the inner strength that enables us to do what is right, to adhere to a higher standard of personal conduct and to make tough decisions under stress and pressure.

COMMITMENT:  Commitment is the spirit of determination and dedication found in Marines. It leads to the highest order of discipline for individuals and units. It is the ingredient that enables constant dedication to Corps and country. It inspires the unrelenting determination to achieve victory in every endeavor."

-- Marines.com, "Marine Corps Values"

I had a thought the other morning.  I don't have many, but, when I do, they are meaningful.  I had this thought and pissed myself off. Not unusual, pissing myself off.  If it's going to happen, it doesn't usually happen when I think.  It usually happens when someone else thinks, while their heads up their ass and I catch the unfortunate mumbling of their muffled nonsense before I've had my morning cup of coffee.  

As is my habit, I immediately wanted to share the substance of my thought with you, my readers.  I opted for the cup of coffee first.  This was, probably, for the best since it gave me time to consider toning down the emotional rhetoric.  Okay, I considered it.  

For a little background (on the issue, not my coffee), please reference the following story before you continue: Memorial day Wedding Photo.

Now, does posting a wedding photo, on Memorial Day, of a U.S. Marine's wedding, offend you?  Well, get over it.  This man is ready to fight and die for your right to be perpetually offended at every little thing that gets your panties in a bunch.   I think you should cut him, and his beautiful wife, a little slack.   What is it that everyone found offensive?  Was it really about Memorial Day, or was the day, the celebration for remembering, just an excuse, a catalyst?  Was it that they are in love?  Was it that they were celebrating a Christian wedding?  Was it that he was a Marine?  Or, was it that they are beautiful, happy, employed, etc., and the offended are not?  What was it about their happy moment that made people so selfish as to feel this once-in-a-lifetime moment needed to be destroyed by the offended?  Could it be they found true "happiness" that seems to elude the League of the Perpetually Offended?

Nowadays, it is has become difficult to find real patriots.  Real patriots are easy to spot in the growing crowd of non-patriots.  They're the ones talking about what they can do for their country, not what their country can do for them, or what their country owes them.  The citizens they are protecting and dying for should be making those arguments for them.  The search for real patriots is made harder when we forget to honor those who fight our battles for us, and they die doing it.  My advice to everyone, including the League of the Perpetually Offended, is to try honoring our heroes before they fall.  

Maybe we should pay more attention to remembering who keeps us safe and protects our right to be free, or a whiny little cowardly bitch.  Our volunteer heroes aren't going to ask you to cut them some slack and they aren't going to ask you for your respect.  A true hero possesses way too much integrity and honor for that.  As evidence of their moral courage, they will protect the rights of their fellow citizens regardless of the ridicule those same citizens heap upon the broad, brave, shoulders of those volunteers.  They will protect the rights of all because it is what our heroes take an oath to do. To do anything less would be treason to the oath they take and their code of honor.  For most, it would never even occur to them to do anything less.

The "offended" need to stop thinking about how they can be offended by those who protect them.  They should try thinking about thanking those men and women who protect their freedom to be insensitive and ungrateful.  These people who risk their lives would be offended if you took a knee and puckered up to plant a wet kiss on their collective ass.  But, this is what we should all do for the freedom they help to guarantee.  

How about we put aside the asinine discussions about restroom rights, religious rights, state flag rights, Constitutional rights, LGBTQ+ rights, alien rights (illegal and ET), animal rights, terrorist rights, criminal rights,  homeless rights,  the Constitutional righteousness of immorality, breathing rights, your right to fart in public, your right to suck the life and a percentage of the paycheck out of your hard-working fellow citizens and, oh my dear God, your right to enjoy a meal totally naked in your local eatery while wiping your skanky ass all over the vinyl seat the next customer has to sit on (San Francisco tried it.  Yes, San Francisco, who would have thought, right?  They killed that right as rapidly as it was killing the lunch crowd and tourism).  

One can't help but be perpetually offended by the League of the Perpetually Offended and their never-ending offense that denies everyone else's rights as long as the offended have rights.  As long as their rights to be offended at every little thing are approved, regardless of how one-sided and selfish, their offense happens to be.  One can't help but be perpetually offended at the perpetually offended, especially when they take umbrage over a wonderful photo of one of our unsung heroes celebrating life, love, and a right to pursue happiness - the same hero that will die for someone's right to deny his.  How insane is that, and how absolutely selfish?

If you want to be offended by our military, be offended at the lack of training they get to prepare them to survive the Post Traumatic Stress they endure after combat.  Be offended at a Congress that keeps your freedom at risk through budget cuts that leave our brave soldiers ill-equipped to protect themselves and their fellow citizens, and the defenseless.  Be offended that the military "standard of living" is a joke compared to their sacrifice, always remembering there will be a sacrifice.  Be offended at how their country ignores them when they return as permanently wounded warriors that did everything we asked of them.  Be offended that private charities have to pick up where government responsibility for catastrophic injuries, incurred during battle, leaves off. 

If we Americans really want to be offended, try looking in the mirror at the shame staring back at most of us.  That shame should more than slake that hunger to be offended, or, maybe not.

Just saying.

"I asked for strength that I might achieve;

I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked for health that I might do greater things;

I was given infirmity that I might do better things.

I asked for riches that I might be happy;

I was given poverty that I might be wise.

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.

I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;

I was given life that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I had asked for,

but everything that I had hoped for.

Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered,

I am, among all men, most richly blessed."

-- Prayer of an Unknown Confederate Soldier

 

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

I fervently hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and, finally, a senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Western Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research.

Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony: tolerantpastor@gmail.com