Do people who represent America not realize how they look to children.....VENT

[Beauty]

We took my son's 5th grade class to Wal-Mart this morning to pick out gifts for the Angel that they picked off of the tree. Well we are walking through the isles of Wal-Mart and there are two men who are obviously in the military acting like complete fools. They are cursing to each other right in front of these children and falling out laughing.

I am the first to say that I respect our military and know what they do for us each day, but when they are ON THE JOB they should not act like this. Of course out of uniform or in their own home they can act anyway they want, but when AT work, or in uniform and OBVIOUSLY representing us they shouldn't act that way. Here are 15 children 10-11 year olds who see these two men who are SUPPOSED to represent America acting like fools. How does that look for our armed forces? It was very obvious that some of the children were embarassed about the whole situation.

After 9-11 when America is "Supposed" to be pulling together we see people who act like this. I swear if I didn't know better I would have thought they were drunk, but they were just being vulger and children being present didn't matter, and in fact was funny to them. Boy let me tell you for a grown man to say the "F" word in front of a bunch of kids sure does make him look "Cool!" These are people that children are supposed to look up to!! Sorry just venting....it just makes me so angry when people who are obviously proud of their country and are willing to stand up for it are so mean and spiteful to other Americans......if they had spoken to the children and acted in a nice manner those children would have left looking up to them instead of the way I'm sure they fill now.

I don't know which member of the Armed Forces they were in, or if possibly they were in the National Guard but I bet that if the majority of people in the Armed Forces had seen the way they acted that they would be ashamed to have them........I know I was very ashamed this morning.

Sorry just a vent!

 

[disykat]

I think I would have gotten their name and rank off their uniforms and made some phone calls.

This totally suprises me since every military person I know considers their behavior differently when they are in uniform. I suppose we could hold out the hope that they were just jerks dressed in camoflauge?

 

[Beauty]

Nope.....J.C's teacher and I were talking about that, they did have name badges. I don't think I would have had the nerve to ask them anything. I was already so shocked at their behavior. My father was in the military and in Vietnam and he always talked with respect when saying anything about being in the military. I don't know if maybe they were on Christmas leave and had just gotten into town. I don't know I've thought of tons of excuses for them......maybe they weren't our military (That was meant to be funny...lol)

I have many military members in my family and friends and connections and in all of my 30 years I have only ever seen one other person whos actions definatly didn't denote someone who should be military (no respect for other people etc.)....but besides that one person and these two men every other person has been wonderful, respectful etc. I just hate that the children had to see this...that was the worst part.

 

[marlasmom]

I am very sorry the children had to witness this. Yes, the military should be and are held to a high standard and when they falter it really hurts. Try to think of all the good guys and let the few miserable *******s get what's coming to them. They will.

 

[AirForceRocks]

 

[JulesMom]

I tend to hope that most people really don't know how bad they look & act.

 

[Blondie]

Beauty, were they drunk? That's the only logic I can think of that would cause them to behave in such a manner in public with children present.

Sometimes, you just gotta shake your head and walk away.

 

[AirForceRocks]

 

[Kermit]

EVERYONE should know better than to act like that in front of children. Kids look up to grownups and expect the grownups to show them how to act like adults. It is especially sad when it's anyone in uniform, though, whether it's military or public service.

 

[mamajoan]

Sorry to say.. but jerks are jerks regardless if they wear a military uniform or a Mc Donalds uniform. If this happens again, I suggest you speak directly to the offender. "Could you please stop cursing in front of the children". I would hope they would apologize and excuse themselves from the scene.

When Dh was a Marine, they were NEVER allowed to wear their "cammies" off base. I find it odd that the other services allow their members to do so.
Sorry you had to run into a couple of silly jerks who should have known better.

 

[AirForceRocks]

I find it odd that the other services allow their members to do so.

The Air Force allows BDUs off base for short errands/shopping trips and fast food places.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

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I tend to agree with Mamajoan. Jerks are jerks, no matter what they wear.

I'm just glad that they aren't the majority. I probably would've said something, too.

 

[Grog]

The Air Force allows BDUs off base for short errands/shopping trips and fast food places.

The Army is the same way (it was allowed when I was in twenty years ago). Short trips to the store, and to fast food places were allowed.

I live about two miles from Ellington Field here in Houston. It's and old AF base, part of which is still used by the Army NG, Air NG and Coast Guard. I don't think there is a day goes by that I don't see BDUs in one of the fast food places or supermarkets around here. Luckily I have never seen the type of behavior that the OP reported. I would have told them to straighten up and quit making fools of themselves, and if that didn't work I would have taken a long look at their unit insignia (I know all the units in this area) and their name tags and reported them.

 

[minniecarousel]

Beauty - what an unfortunate scene. Fortunately, from my experience, that was the exception, not the rule. For the past 20 years, I have lived near a reserve base and the week-enders will get lunch off-base. They have ALWAYS been polite and a credit to their uniform.

 

[DisMNagain]

Uniform or no uniform, I'm disturbed when I see and hear adults...GROWNUPS behaving like this anywhere, whether it's in a physically public location, or on the internet.

(I'm not talking about occasionally letting loose, but constant displays of total immaturity and general bad behavior)


My 6 year old grandchild behaves better than some adults who are out there in the *real* world.

 

[Steve H.]

 

[DisMNagain]

 

[MonaCK]

 

[Blondie]

 

[Beauty]

John-Cole and I actually had a talk about this last night....his teacher also talked to the entire class about the behaviour. What it comes down to is that the majority of the military are outstanding people who are doing a great job for us and our country but just like in every other job there are some people who are frauds.....who would take the time to belittle themselves in front of children and others for some kind of justification??? What they don't realize is its THEM that look bad and its THEM that for that instant makes the whole military look bad......especially in front of children who look at one person as the "ENTIRE" group. I stressed to J.C. that if the boss (kids word) of these people saw the way they acted that they would not only be ashamed that they would be heavily punished because the way they act does not stand for what that uniform and position stands for. Its very very sad!