I have a FB acquaintance who went to an smoothie place and asked for a military discount. When told they did not offer one, he asked why not. The guy behind the counter told him that he was the manager and that their corporate office did not have a policy regarding military discounts. When pressed about it, the manager disclosed that he personally did not agree with our military being active overseas using force on foreign soil. (This is way more than a black & white issue in my opinion, but that's just my commentary.)
So, the prospective customer proclaims that he will never return to this establishment, and that he would tell all his friends and family to do likewise, since the manager hated the military. He proceeds to broadcast all over his social media, calling for a boycott of that specific franchise location.
I told him privately that I disagreed with the public shaming of this business. I personally support and appreciate all service to our country. However, a military discount should be accepted graciously when offered, but never demanded. I further told this individual that his reaction to the situation was not representing the military in a positive light. It came off as elitism, something that is fundamentally un-American in my opinion.
My thoughts are summed up by the fictional President Andrew Shepard from "The American President," as portrayed by Michael Douglas:
"America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You've gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say, 'You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours.' You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms.
Then you can stand up and sing about the land of the free."
My Bio Page - Texas - Dallas
