Happy Russian Fighter's Day!

[mox 298]

And I am kind of confused about how you ended up with a Russian in the first place if you can't even stomach the thought of a holiday like Defenders of the Fatherland Day.

I can't be arsed to search for the post, but ages ago he said she was "spoils of war." That's a direct quote.

[eekee 182]

We need a "American Haters Day" so you jokers and jokettes can get out in the streets and bite the hand that feeds you.

Being able to look at our history unbiased and to understand our past mistakes is a patriotic thing to do. Are you going to defend, say, the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II? I want America to become better, which is a far more patriotic way to be than to blindly assume that America has always been in the right and always will be. I do not support many of the United States' past policy decisions, but that doesn't mean I do not like the US itself, its potential, nor does it mean I do not have respect for the veterans who were given the assignment of carrying out said policy.

Patriotism does not have to mean saying that "America is right 100% of the time." If less people felt that way, the country would be a lot stronger for it.

[mox 298]

We need a "American Haters Day" so you jokers and jokettes can get out in the streets and bite the hand that feeds you.

We do. It's called election day.

[visaveteran1 33]

I'll tell you Red Army saluters to say what you want here...but you aren't being sensitive to the fact a lot of Americans suffered and died from the actions of the Soviet Union. It's one thing to salute Russian VE Day (although I choose not to) but to honor, even casually, the Red Army is disgraceful IMO.

BTW, for the fuss budgets, whiners, teachers pets, and trouble-makers, this is not off topic...this is a direct response to to topic. And since when did topics on RUB not go off topic? "He who is without sin, cast the first stone."

Edited February 25, 2012 by visaveteran1

[eekee 182]

And the American government deciding to go into Vietnam and forcing you to go as well gets no amount of credit for your suffering?

[mox 298]

And the American government deciding to go into Vietnam and forcing you to go as well gets no amount of credit for your suffering?

ekee, you can't reason with his line of thinking. Somebody who married a Russian woman as "spoils of war" simply is not going to be brought around to rational thinking. He's still got the "Evil Empire" mentality, and wants to make sure that ANYBODY who dares to celebrate Russian culture in any way, shape, or form, remembers that he got shot by a Russian-made weapon. And yet he continues to show up and "contribute" (???) to a forum that is Russo-centric. It's like some sort of bizarre Stockholm Syndrome or something.

VV, you should do what you do every year, and just start your own "I hate Defender of the Fatherland" day.

BTW, for the fuss budgets, whiners, teachers pets, and trouble-makers, this is not off topic...this is a direct response to to topic. And since when did topics on RUB not go off topic? "He who is without sin, cast the first stone."

I'll leave it to the mods to decide if it's off-topic, but whether it's off-topic or not, it's zero-class.

[visaveteran1 33]

And the American government deciding to go into Vietnam and forcing you to go as well gets no amount of credit for your suffering?

No, the communists broke a treaty and started a war. We supported an ally. And we were in the Cold War. That's how it was.

BTW, the Vietnam War helped bring down the Soviet Union by breaking their bank. So, I was happy to serve. Your generation gets a pass on military service. So you get the best of things and give back nothing.

[visaveteran1 33]

it's zero-class.

Does that makes us kind of brothers?

Edited February 25, 2012 by visaveteran1

[visaveteran1 33]

I apologize if the original conceptualization of the holiday personally offend you or anyone else. I only intended for the post to be a celebration of the modern interpretation of the holiday, which many Russians only consider Men's day. My fiancee and I have discussed the possibility of me joining the military. Even though that's not possible at this time, she knows that by being my wife she'd be subject to any of the rules and laws of citizens. She also knows that the possibility exists that Russia and America could have a conflict, or that Russian citizens may be persecuted for war crimes. She has stated that she would support me in that case as well, even if it meant that she wouldn't be able to see her family for some time.

Of course, every conflict is different, and I wouldn't expect her to support me if my mission or actions were to commit any crimes of humanity against other people, especially not against her family. I don't think anyone would.

Again, I was not trying to idolize or glorify the conflict from which this holiday is based upon, and I ask that you only try to understand my real intentions with this post.

If this causes you any anguish, please feel free to ask an administrator to remove this entire thread; I would have no problem with that. However, you did fight for our freedoms, and for that I will not ask for this post to be removed b/c I had no offensive intentions.

Appreciate the apology and explanation. It takes a man to own something and try to fix it. Thank you.

Good luck to you and your fiancee.

[visaveteran1 33]

How is it apples and oranges? Point is, neither side comes off well when the Cold War is examined from a non-biased perspective. I'm not saying the Soviet Union's hands were clean; I am simply saying that the United States certainly is not without its own sin.

The topic is celebrating the Red Army. Why should we honor them in any way? The only reason I can determine is wife kiss up.

You criticize Vietnam. What about the Russians invading Afghanistan in the 1980s?

The magnitude of evil that flowed from 80 years of the Soviet Union is beyond measure. The US reacts to communism and sometimes it was ugly...but in our last 80 years, we've done far more good than bad.

[eekee 182]

No, the communists broke a treaty and started a war. We supported an ally. And we were in the Cold War. That's how it was.

BTW, the Vietnam War helped bring down the Soviet Union by breaking their bank. So, I was happy to serve. Your generation gets a pass on military service. So you get the best of things and give back nothing.

You are free to think whatever you want about Vietnam, but I will differ with you on this one.

But how did my generation get a pass on military service? Tell that to my friend in Afghanistan right now. We may not have a draft, but there's still plenty of people in my generation who have seen and are seeing combat.

[eekee 182]

The topic is celebrating the Red Army. Why should we honor them in any way? The only reason I can determine is wife kiss up.

You criticize Vietnam. What about the Russians invading Afghanistan in the 1980s?

The magnitude of evil that flowed from 80 years of the Soviet Union is beyond measure. The US reacts to communism and sometimes it was ugly...but in our last 80 years, we've done far more good than bad.

I disagree with your last point. Plenty of evil has been done under the US flag.

I see the Soviets in Afghanistan and the US in Vietnam as two sides of the same coin... but we sure as hell shot ourselves in the foot by arming and training Afghanis to fight against the Soviets.

[visaveteran1 33]

But how did my generation get a pass on military service? Tell that to my friend in Afghanistan right now. We may not have a draft, but there's still plenty of people in my generation who have seen and are seeing combat.

No one agrees on Vietnam.

Your friend joined up voluntarily. He has no complaints unless he's been asleep for 11 years. But I appreciate his service.

Edited February 25, 2012 by visaveteran1

[visaveteran1 33]

I disagree with your last point. Plenty of evil has been done under the US flag.

I see the Soviets in Afghanistan and the US in Vietnam as two sides of the same coin... but we sure as hell shot ourselves in the foot by arming and training Afghanis to fight against the Soviets.

Not anywhere close to the magnitude of Russia...and you can always leave the USA...unlike the Soviet Union. There's just is no comparison.

Totally agree about arming the Taliban.

[visaveteran1 33]

YWe may not have a draft, but there's still plenty of people in my generation who have seen and are seeing combat.

Yes they are and they're patriots and impressive...especially the Seals and other Special Operations soldiers. And they got Geronimo-E.

I salute them.