Soldiers

Why do people respect soldiers so much? WW2 was the last justifiable war. Soldiers don't defend our freedoms, our rights and liberties get stolen everyday (often in the name of national security).
Welfare recipients are more productive than soldiers.

I'm in the U.S. Army.  I'm not a fan of the wars.  Al Qeada is a international/subnational entity and its members should be treated as criminals and tracked by CIA/Special forces, not with invasions of nations.  This was unlikely to happen after 9/11 when Afghanistan had Bin Laden and wouldn't hand him over because of how outraged people were with the attacks.  The military is important and demands respect because even when they aren't in the middle of a war for freedoms, they are a deterent.  China, Russia, or whoever will not invade as long as there is a large and well equiped military around.  Soldiers are willing to do things that the rest of the public will not and deal with situations and stresses that the average person can hardly imagine.  I don't like to make a big deal about being in the military myself, but I know other soldiers that are heroes by most standards and who should be rewarded for what they do regardless of people's politicasl stances.