Comments about ‘In our opinion: Bill helps Utah make good on promise to assist returning veterans’

I object to the phony deification and aggrandizement of those who actually have done nothing to deserve such, while the people of America who need help are chastised for their failure to be successful in the financial world. Many people complained about the notification of people who were ELIGIBLE for food stamps.

People join the military voluntary for personal reasons not for the propagandized reasons of the businessmen who profit from the military/industrial group.

At 19, I joined the Navy because my job had lost it’s opportunities, I was failing in the overload of courses at the University and my parents barely supported themselves. The military gave me a home, food, medical care, and a relief from the responsibility of myself. And a chance to see the world beyond the Kansas border. I have been aptly rewarded for the 4 years of active and 4 years of reserve.

Everyday persons serve America just as much as people in the military. Some in uniform and some without. They also are at risk. The death rate of other groups often times exceed the number of military killed and their rewards are seldom as great.

Wow Ultra Bob, obviously you didn't face any combat during your years in the Navy. You're right, these kids weren't forced into the military but many of them coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq have paid a heavy price and will be forever altered by what they've seen and experienced. As an AF veteran, I'm grateful for the discounts, opportunities, and other benefits I've been blessed with because of my service.

Ultra Bob:

Most of the Soldiers in the U.S. Army I work with on a daily basis do not seek out public attention. They carry their burdens quietly and with dignity. May I share a few of the burdens of the modern Soldier with you, Bob?

The Soldiers I work with have had to leave their homes and their families multiple times for 9 to 12 months (most are on their second, third, or forth deployment) and sent to third-world countries. Often times each week, the few hours of sleep they get are interrupted by the wail of sirens as rockets or rifles are fired at their base. Fortunately, most miss. They come to expect that every scrap of trash or rock along the roadside potentially hides an explosive device. They never know when a foreign soldier they are training will turn on them. Many of these Soldiers return home - especially Reservists - wondering if they will even still have a job or a family waiting for them.

No, I don't think this article is about phoney aggrandizement. Rather, Bob, it is about helping serving Americans who have been through something most citizens have not experienced, nor understand.

My point is that military people, even those who face dangers, are no different than the police, firemen, construction workers, doctors, window washers, teachers, postmen and just about every other kind of citizen who face dangers in their everyday life.

I might feel different if the military had actually done anything to help America but I feel that the military has been only been used to further and protect the business interests that have caused much of the anti-American feeling around the world.

The other point is that they have taken on the risk of military service totally voluntarily and knew of the dangers ahead of time. Many of the dangers faced by ordinary citizens are not expected or thought of when their careers were chosen.

America is about equal opportunity for all and while we should recognize unusual achievement for individuals, the blanket rewarding of a group where most of the individuals have done nothing is wrong.

Bob, I thank you for your service to our country. I am happy you returned safe and whole. I must respectfully disagree with your comment "where most of the individuals have done nothing". The act of volunteering for service to preserve, among a myriad of freedoms, the very liberty we are using in this discussion is worthy of whatever we can provide in showing our appreciation for the sacrifices made. The average citizen does not nor will not make the sacrifices that we expect of our brothers and sisters in uniform and their families to do on our behalf. Thankfully, there are others who will not forget them.

Old49erfan.

I thank you for supporting one of my favorite teams.

When the school bus driver risks and gave his life trying to prevent harm to the children?

When school teacher risks and gave her life trying to prevent the harm to her class of children?

Where are the accolades for teachers and school bus drivers?

Our legislature seems to be more interested in putting the teachers down and taking away their rewards.