Not trying to delve into a political discussion, the topic of stolen valor has bubbled up in a number of election seasons. Even though some politicians have been faced with accusations of embellishment of service records sometime reaching the level of total falsehood, no group is more offended than veterans. While I only know of the discussions in the US I'm certain it occurs in other countries as well. In my mind such actions are among the most shameful of personal insult. We can say that only the perpetrator is harmed, maybe true, when it occurs persons other than the perpetrator feel the stain of the fraud.
Stolen valor too common
- Thread starter TennVet
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JustDave
Well-known Member
I think for a vet that would be very offensive. For me, I have no valor worth mentioning. I've been very good at some things in my life, things like skiing, carpentry, and programming, but I can't imagine a politician bragging about things like that, and if he did, I wouldn't care anyway.
againstthegrain
Senior Member
- Location
- Sun Valley, ID
The OP is a thinly veiled political attack for the record.
How would a Viet Nam vet feel about having an individual's father's friend, a podiatrist, write a letter about bone spurs in order to evade the draft?
Stolen valor is evil as long as it applies to the opposition, plain ole draft dodging is somehow overlooked if one happens to be on the same side of the spectrum. Remarkable isn't it?
How would a Viet Nam vet feel about having an individual's father's friend, a podiatrist, write a letter about bone spurs in order to evade the draft?
Stolen valor is evil as long as it applies to the opposition, plain ole draft dodging is somehow overlooked if one happens to be on the same side of the spectrum. Remarkable isn't it?
Beezer
Well-known Member
I bought a shirt from The Thrift Store...I just liked the fit.
There was an emblem on the front of the shirt. It was The HMS Toronto ship or something or other like that. A co-worker who had served accused me of stolen valor.
He was a friend, so I just laughed...went home that night...washed and dried it...and gave it to him the next day. He was very pleased. This fellow actually had PTSD from responding to a downed plane on the East Coast. The Lockerby incident I believe.
There was an emblem on the front of the shirt. It was The HMS Toronto ship or something or other like that. A co-worker who had served accused me of stolen valor.
He was a friend, so I just laughed...went home that night...washed and dried it...and gave it to him the next day. He was very pleased. This fellow actually had PTSD from responding to a downed plane on the East Coast. The Lockerby incident I believe.
squatting dog
Remember when... thirty seemed so old.
- Location
- Arkansas, and also Florida
draft dodging, pfffft. smh
You my friend will never understand stolen valor.
squatting dog
Remember when... thirty seemed so old.
- Location
- Arkansas, and also Florida
That's Pretty much it. However... It's when someone uses it for any kind of gain, (financial, political,career enhancement, etc.)
A good read is this site. Probably explains it better than I can.
(no title)
fuzzybuddy
SF VIP
- Location
- The Sticks, Northeast PA.
"The OP is a thinly veiled political attack for the record."
Agree.
Nathan
SF VIP
- Location
- High Desert- Calif.
This is the typical not-so-clever 'disclaimer' for starting an obviously political discussion. Acts of stolen valor are offensive, in the same way that vets being called weak or losers, by a figure that avoided military service.
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Harry Le Hermit
Member
Politicians embellish, if not downright lie all the time. If it were illegal, they, along with the rest of us... would be in jail. Apparently, in this day and age, you can prop up table legs with classified documents.
Trade
Well-known Member
Who do you think you're kidding?
spectratg
Senior Member
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- Adamstown, MD
The modern equivalent of the word “snollygoster” is an unprincipled person. This is someone who is dishonest, cunning, and unscrupulous with the sole intention of gaining personal advantage. They are likely to take advantage of any opportunity that presents itself, regardless of the consequences to others.
They are likely to be motivated by self-interest and personal gain rather than any higher principles or values. They may use lies, manipulation, and other unethical means to achieve their goals. They are cunning and often difficult to confront, as they are usually very good at covering their tracks and disguising their motives.
They are likely to be motivated by self-interest and personal gain rather than any higher principles or values. They may use lies, manipulation, and other unethical means to achieve their goals. They are cunning and often difficult to confront, as they are usually very good at covering their tracks and disguising their motives.
CallMeKate
Well-known Member
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic US
It doesn't matter at this point which "side" any of us are on concerning the obvious political figure this is about. When I see a sentence like "not trying to delve into a political discussion" we know darn well where it's going and why it was said. Not very much unlike "no offense, but..." when everyone knows something offensive is coming. Or "with all due respect" when it's already known something disrespectful is coming up.
Pete Buttigieg's quote on this stolen valor nonsense ......
“Come to think of it, denigrating the worth of a soldier's service based on whether he deployed to a war zone is… kind of like denigrating the worth of a woman's citizenship based on whether she happens to have children.”
“Come to think of it, denigrating the worth of a soldier's service based on whether he deployed to a war zone is… kind of like denigrating the worth of a woman's citizenship based on whether she happens to have children.”
Knight
Well-known Member
Great reply. Completely devoid of any political inference. I think that was the intent, but those opposed find a way to change that.
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Naturally
Well-known Member
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- Corner of Walk 'n Don't Walk
No veteran denigrates the service of another ... just the lies they tell.
think what you want. I simply believe that stolen valor is an insult to all who served. that is what I said and what I mean. Okay?
CallMeKate
Well-known Member
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic US
Why did you choose MY comment to respond to when many said the same? Perhaps because men made the other comments? And if what you're saying is true, why didn't you just make a thread about it in the veteran section instead of starting with the "not trying to delve into a political discussion".... ???? I'm counting to 10.
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I'm not sure where that statistic comes from but I doubt its factual basis. I know many veterans and find that they are more likely to understate anything experienced during their service. Those who embellish and bloviate are pretty obvious, and are demeaning to those who take the quieter path.
I don't think I would argue the point at all. If true then it is a non-issue, that should not concern anyone. If false the person knowingly must live with their own opinion of the facts. Draft dodging probably goes unknown to others, but the individual's conscience is their own problem. During the Vietnam era there were principled persons to chose not to submit to the draft, and some even left the country in support of their beliefs. I didn't, but I understood the principle they were standing up for. I don't see that in the same category of falsely claiming what never experienced in fact.
PTSD is not only suffered by those who had war experiences. People endure trauma from many sources, and can leave scars as deep as any wound received in other ways.
IKE
Well-known Member
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- Oklahoma....U.S.A.
againstthegrain
Senior Member
- Location
- Sun Valley, ID
"stealing valor" or as it came to be known a while back "swiftboating." Naturally supplies the definition.
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