<p>MoT: if you read it on the internet, IT MUST BE TRUE!!!</p>
<p>This one happened yesterday to my son. We are out of town at the regional championships for his sport - there are 160 kids on the team. A mother that he does not know, walks up to my son who was waiting for his grand final race, hoping to qualify for the national championships, and asks, “So, you are going to the Naval Academy?” He says that he is. She says, “Have you thought what it will be like to kill people?”<br>
I know that a question like that was bound to happen - but, this one at that time really shocked us all. And, what a cowardly thing to do - she did it when my husband and I were not there and she did not tell him who she was.</p>
<p>Indeed, that’s about as low as a person can slither. Can only imagine how a person like that would respond if one were to approach her child in similar demeanor and tone. :eek:</p>
<p>Body armour and pepper spray would be a starting point. 
</p>
<p>Hope she had a Happy Mothers Day. “Day” is not the expletive that most likely or often follows “mother…” in addressing this mean-spirited, vile broad. ;)</p>
<p>Wow–you guys sure run into some strange people where you live, lol. In the 4 years here in California (the “bastion of liberalism”) while our cadet has been at West Point, I have yet to run into someone with attitudes as described above. I guess I should feel fortunate living on the Left Coast :). People that would ask a question like the above must have a screw loose–it would be “out of bounds” for most people, even here :)</p>
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<p>I agree completely with shogun…Here in the Midwest (IN), I too have never experienced any such comments. </p>
<p>Although, the question posed was asked during a congressional interview. Obviously, it was worded a little more delicately.</p>
<p>Shogun, we are north of you, near Berkeley… I think that So Cal tends to be more conservative. Oh, well - this is a free country with free speech because of our great military - I bet that the vile mother with the big mouth had not thought of that.</p>
<p>Nor have we run into this kind of vitrol. But it’s everywhere. One of the news shows was discussing this yesterday, triggered by Wanda Sykes poisonous presentation at the White House in her attempt to be “funny” and using one’s drug addiction as a point of jest, and then wishing him dead. And the President laughing and congratulating her on her “funny” act. </p>
<p>But the real point is how this kind of mean, attacking talk is becoming so prevalent in our society. No doubt it’s being fueled by …internet forums. Let’s all recommit to civility, even and especially when we might disagree. ;)</p>
<p>I just think the extremes at both ends of the spectrum get entirely too much press and attention. Neither exttreme represents the silent majority who, quite frankly, are pretty moderate in their views. I think the extreme political views of the “crazy liberals” and the “un-bending conservatives” are facing a backlash from the people that is going to make both irrelevent in future political discourse.</p>
<p>“POWER TO THE PEOPLE” :)</p>
<p>Shogun, that was the first question my son’s ALO asked him: “Do you understand that as a member of the Air Force, you might be asked to drop bombs on people?” He was well aware, as I am sure your son is, about the responsibilities of our military. </p>
<p>Still, that’s a pretty rude way to engage someone in conversation - that 'lady."</p>
<p>Yeah, i think someone mentioned something similar to my daughter right before they showed her how to toss a grenade 4 years ago :)</p>
<p>Ok. So last week my friend and I are sitting in computer class. We love to talk about current events and the military(he is going to enlist in the Marines this summer and I am an appointee to USAFA class of '13). In the midst of our conversation another student blurts out I dont understand you guys. Why would you want to be in the military? Its a waste of your life and all of those guys die anyway. WOW! We were so ****ed! We shut him down real quick!</p>
<p>Patriotism is alive and well in West Texas! Son’s school had recognition ceremony last night. He is appointee to USNA and we have two appointees to USAFA as well. Air Force ALO did presentation for all three boys. There had been dozens of awards, scholarships, etc. ALO did USNA presentation first, then USAFA. Son got a standing ovation. Same reaction for USAFA. Mom (me) cried. As did the other two moms. Lots of congratulations and hugs all around following ceremony. No “weird” comments.</p>
<p>Time is marching down…</p>
<p>homeontherangelady …heck, I’m tearing up, just reading of your lad and the others (even if they ARE USAFA ;)) being celebrated. Indeed, when the US SS comes for me here in the land of the lost liberals, I’m heading to west Texas. Leave the light on, and keep a cot ready out in the barn. 
More immediately, I’m off to gather up a Mid @ the Yard, post-inspection.</p>
<p>Indeed, I-Day cometh! :eek: And home on the range’ll never be the same again.:D</p>
<p>Do you suppose blogs are being monitored by the Big Bro? :rolleyes:</p>
<p>HAHAHA! Whistle Pig, thank you for that post! Gave me a good laugh!</p>
<p>I don’t think that there are very many folks out there who don’t appreciate either the military or the service academies at some level so I’m constantly surprised to read these accounts as I can’t imagine a more liberal environment than where we are living now and I haven’t seen anything like these. I gotta think that the disparaging remarks are mostly from a small minority of folks regardless of where you are located. I’m in Massachusetts (which is not generally thought of as a hot bed of conservatism) and when my son graduated last year from an all male prep school- they did not announce scholarships- They did however announce where each kid was going to school (and all of them are in good to very good colleges) but the longest and loudest applause was for the 4 kids with appointments to the various SAs- (and my son and classmate got equally loud applause for the Virginia Military Institute). That doesn’t mean that most folks would jump to go into the service themselves but I have yet to find many who don’t appreciate the challenge and what a tough road it is that those kids have embarked on.</p>
<p>S2 goes to college in the L.A. area, and does ROTC at a neighboring university. He is one of 4 ROTC cadets at his university. When people at school see him coming or going in uniform, he says they look at him like he’s an alien. But I think he kind of enjoys that.</p>
<p>Well, that is the objective of the uniform. At least one of them, i.e. to distinguish them from us commoner/beneficiaries of their incredible service. Usually and thankfully, most of us recognize these brave souls as honorable, courageous, and selfless, whatever our political leanings. </p>
<p>Sometimes and sadly, no doubt mired in anger, guilt, bitterness, and utter confusion and inablility to distinguish the selfless, servant messengers from their perception of the calling and charge these uniformed warriors carry, there are those who determine they must regurgitate their feelings on the siblings and children of their neighbors. Nothing personal of course. And totally inappropriate, pathetic, and sick.</p>
<p>And the #2 objective, ironically, is to allow, with differences only the trained eye can decipher, that they may look just like their life-giving teammates. </p>
<p>Viva la differance! Viva the similarity!!</p>
<p>Amen Whistle Pig.</p>
<p>Piggie: You make me laugh!</p>
<p>A few reactions I’ve gotten when I tell people I want to go to USNA…</p>
<ol>
<li>Wow! That’s great!</li>
<li>Eww, why would you want to do that? You’ll get yelled at a lot, you know.*</li>
<li>Why would you want to go there? You should go to a real college.</li>
<li>So you want to join the Army?</li>
</ol>
<p>*This from a friend of mine whose brother currently goes to USNA.</p>