Any prior service besides me have issues with this "salute the to military campaign"?

I'm retired Army, I don't take offense to it. Anytime we can get "any" awareness and support for our troops I'm ok with it. I remember way back when vets got no recognition at all and were seen as second class citizens, so I'm ok with this if it brings our service members some notice and respect.

I think we are sometimes a little over sensitive to some of these things.

What I dislike are "real" posers...visit stolen valor and that will piss you off.

FirstAndGoal said:

I don't mind a camo hat here or there but I just find it incredibly disrespectful how the coaches sideline jackets look like some kind of mockery of the uniform and that sleeve tab looks like some "Big Red 1" patch on LSD.

I just think it's a mockery of the military the way Nike is trying to make things a fashion statement and how they're just pimping new clothing lines in order to sell more product.

The new trend is to push corporate patriotism as cool and it really bothers me. I'm no strict military historian but there are certain things that have significance to those of us who served and I can't stand this false praise and corporate underpinnings.

Maybe I'm the only one.

End of rant.

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BB agrees with you, so there's that.

dannydyn said:

To make matter worse, I heard that only 15c out of every $1 spent on Breast Cancer merchandise goes to breast cancer research. The NFL pockets 85c of it....

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It's more like half of that. The number I've heard most often is eight percent.

Marine here. And here is my opinion:

It's not that our military does not deserve the utmost respect, it's that they are misused by those who disrespect them as humans. And the same ones who misuse and sacrifice them, accuse the rest of disrespecting the military if they don't agree with their misuse.

Please be reminded: war is an extension of (failed) politics.

One the most decorated Marines in the history of the United States Marine Corps, Major General Smedley Butler, had this to say: "War is a racket. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives."

It should be quite obvious that they're beating the drums of war via communication channels that are most efficient, from the standpoint of recruiting. In addition, many corporations will profit, in the same way that they do for all the pink stuff sold for breast cancer. In a nutshell, football viewership is consider prime air time for selling many things, including the military and war itself. Of course, Super Bowl air time is prime example.

Koma said:

I never served and I thought the salute to service gear looked pretty cool. I considered buying one of the coach's sweatshirts, but changed my mind pretty quickly. I think they made them look too good, if that makes sense. I'm not going to buy them for the same reason I'm not going to buy a USMC or 82nd Airborne jacket: I didn't serve and neither did any of my immediate family. I'm not worthy of pretending I'm not affiliated with any of those branches of the military (or specific units) and the NFL gear crosses the line into making it look like you did, IMO.

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You don't play for the Patriots, but you'll wear Patriots gear.
You don't work for Nike, but you wear Nike T-shirts.

We really need to stop trying to create tempests in teapots.

Koma said:

I never served and I thought the salute to service gear looked pretty cool. I considered buying one of the coach's sweatshirts, but changed my mind pretty quickly. I think they made them look too good, if that makes sense. I'm not going to buy them for the same reason I'm not going to buy a USMC or 82nd Airborne jacket: I didn't serve and neither did any of my immediate family. I'm not worthy of pretending I'm not affiliated with any of those branches of the military (or specific units) and the NFL gear crosses the line into making it look like you did, IMO.

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Although we'll never know for sure, not having served may be the same reason that Belichick doesn't wear the military garb.

Froob said:

NFL doesn't do prostate cancer awareness which I believe is almost as deadly as breast cancer because it's not profitable.

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And, in general, breasts are a lot more popular than bungholes.

Deus Irae said:

You don't play for the Patriots, but you'll wear Patriots gear.
You don't work for Nike, but you wear Nike T-shirts.

We really need to stop trying to create tempests in teapots.

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Apples and oranges. The military is not a for profit enterprise.

At some point in time, I'm not sure exactly when, companies started selling crap with their logos on them. I've always been critical of those who would buy an item and give them free advertising, especially a company like Nike. They're the single biggest contributor to the over hyped athletes that I've had to endure as a sports fan.

I do tend to feel that bandying about camouflage and flag clothing is disrespectful.

Currently US Army.

I guess I think it's a bit silly with how overboard it is, but it's more of an eye roll at the NFL and the silly costumes they make players and coaches wear, while getting worked up when a player puts his father's name on his eye black to memorialize him.

Froob said:

Doesn't bother me any. I suppose I could understand how it'd upset you with them making it a fashion statement. NFL doesn't really give a **** about military. BB is the man for not doing it.

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Pretty much sums up the rest of my thoughts. Makes me respect BB even more.

1960Pats said:

Apples and oranges. The military is not a for profit enterprise.

At some point in time, I'm not sure exactly when, companies started selling crap with their logos on them. I've always been critical of those who would buy an item and give them free advertising, especially a company like Nike. They're the single biggest contributor to the over hyped athletes that I've had to endure as a sports fan.

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It's not apples and oranges, at all. It's the same thing.

obgod3 said:

What I dislike are "real" posers...visit stolen valor and that will piss you off.

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Saw this when I was scrolling up to leave this page.

Couldn't agree more. How some of those guys keep it together enough not to knock those SV ****ers out, I will never know, but it gets my respect.

How about a 'Salute to Integrity' month?

You see what I did there?

I am pleased with the acknowledgements of our military at every home game.
I don't like the fact that they are not simply good will on the Patriots but are paid for
by the defense department.

tasmlab said:

Between the "Word Champions" banners (despite it being a US-only game), the patriotic song with hand on heart, the celebration of militarism, the flyover, etc., looks like some real North Korea-style jingoistic propaganda, IMO,

Or to imagine it a slightly different way, imagine seeing the North Koreans playing a sport only in their country calling themselves "world champions", praying to their flag and having the players quasi dress up like Military, it starts looking pretty Nationalistic.

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The "world champion" discussion came up here in another thread some time ago. I think it's the epitome of pretentiousness to hear any American sports league use the term.

Japan (2) and the Dominican Republic have won the last 3 World Baseball titles, with South Korea, Puerto Rico and Cuba as runners up, followed in third by two of those teams and Venezuela. The USA best finish was 4th once in 2009, just like the Netherlands in 2013.

World champions my arse.

I under$tand though why Kraft u$e$ the term each time the Pat$ win a $uperbowl

dannydyn said:

How about a 'Salute to Integrity' month?

You see what I did there?

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You're asking Goodell and all his ex-Jet cronies to quit?

Deus Irae said:

It's not apples and oranges, at all. It's the same thing.

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Right. Nike and the US Military are the same thing. That explains why LeBron James is out there right now risking his life to keep you safe while being paid close to minimum wage.

(Not current, former, or military affiliated in any way)

I'm not a fan of these salute to the military things, because they combine two things that I'm no big fan of. The militaries propaganda machine, and the NFLs commercial machine. At no point is it as simple as "a thank you to our troops". From the NFLs perspective it's getting paid for the commercial spot, which I have no problem with, it's a commerical like any other. And the NFL looks like a good guy that supports the military, which can bring more viewers that like the NFL because of it.

For the military it's about getting support for the military, so they can recruit more people, and get more continued support for military actions abroad. It's also about keeping current and former members happy, because that's beneficial for the military.

The whole thing just seems so incredibly fake, from all angles.

I served for 6 years but not in combat. They Vets today have really had some tough service. My fear is that because of someone's PR nightmare some Vets will lose a nice little bonus of going to a game. This was handled horribly and could have been beneficial to everyone involved.

Whether the military is paying for recruiting purposes and the NFL is profiting from it is one thing. Hiding it behind a fraudulous banner is another.

tasmlab said:

Between the "Word Champions" banners (despite it being a US-only game), the patriotic song with hand on heart, the celebration of militarism, the flyover, etc., looks like some real North Korea-style jingoistic propaganda, IMO,

Or to imagine it a slightly different way, imagine seeing the North Koreans playing a sport only in their country calling themselves "world champions", praying to their flag and having the players quasi dress up like Military, it starts looking pretty Nationalistic.

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Ridiculous comparison. A North Korean sings the "patriotic song" because he has to. An American sings because he wants to.

Not sure if you have ever been outside of the US but you will never feel your nationality more than when sitting in the middle of a foreign country as the only American.