I’ve been debating on whether I would eventually write about this topic. Its one of those things where certain cliche sayings come to mind like, letting sleeping dogs lie or some things are better left unsaid. However, everyone is talking about it and so why not jump on the bandwagon…since my view is, from what I can gather, the opposing viewpoint. The issue at hand is that little phrase, ” (insert military branch here) wife, toughest job in the (insert branch again.” The prevailing thought seems to be that this is highly offensive, although the idea of it being highly offensive is news to me. In the 10 years that I’ve been a gf/fiance/spouse, it wasn’t until recently that I even thought of it negatively. Lots of things have been coming up recently that I had never thought of before, that I’ve all of the sudden head people getting upset about. I wonder how much of it is social media, or just people’s need to be mad, or pick a fight. My husband tells me all the time I like to be angry, so I’m trying to make a concerted effort not to be.
Before I heard all the negative thoughts I always thought of this phrase as cute, as a way for military spouses to show support to each other, to lift one another up, and just a cute silly thing to put on a bumper sticker or t-shirt. Literally – its not the hardest. I get that, I really do. Being the wife that stays home when her EOD, or Special Forces husband is deployed clearly is the toughest part of being in whatever branch of service they are in. I’m not a complete idiot.
I asked my husband what he thought. Its what I usually do when I want to get a grasp of something in reality. He’s super grounded, and my anchor on emotional topics. He looked at me and laughed and was like, “I don’t care.” There you go people, straight from the horses mouth. Mr. Air Force is pretty even keeled. Not much of anything bothers him, and I’ve rarely seen him upset in the 14 years that I’ve known him. However, if he feels strongly about something he’ll tell me. When the whole hullaballoo over thanking current serving military people on Memorial Day came out he had an opinion. People mean well, calmly say thank you and let them know what the day is really remembering, but don’t get all upset. People are less apt to listen when you get angry and overly emotional. That’s not to say that just because someone is well intentioned we should just let them do and say whatever they want. But you get my drift.
So, there you have it. It doesn’t bother me and when you take it for what it is, a support for wives, a little fun, that really truly isn’t hurting anyone, then why would you spend the time getting upset about it. Now if you are the kind of person that wears that shirt or has that bumper sticker, or if you know someone like this, and you ACTUALLY think you have the hardest job and you act like you are the shizz that’s a whole different story. I would wager a bit of money that it wouldn’t take a little saying to make that person act that way. There will always be people like that, its the nature of the beast.
Maybe I have a little bit of a glass too full kind of attitude about it. I mean, I just don’t get upset about it, and the hubby doesn’t get upset about it so I guess that is all that matters.
What do you think? Am I crazy or do people seem to be reading too much into it then necessary? Are we making a mountain out of a mole hill or should we be gathering signatures to abolish this saying?