One of questions for years has been why over the years has the American society started to veiw soldiers as second class citizens?
ODB,
I have been told that I was no better than a welfare recipient on a few occasions while traveling by my fellow citizens. One particular person who was so sure of his own abilities ended up with a broken nose and Jack and coke all over him. He won the jerk of the year award from me. Usually though I keep my cool and tactfully in a academic manner explain to them what it is I do. Their view typically is that Govt. job=welfare. One guy didn't realize he had a grant from the Govt. until we discussed what he did, so I asked him if he were a welfare recipient.

Boot