Stars Earn Stripes

Some people, before they even saw one episode of SES, said it glorifies war. Did they watch the show after this initial judgment and change their mind? I suppose a lot of people did not change their mind judging by the two reviews here. They see this TV show in a different way than I do. This show was about educating people on what our military and first responders do for this country and raising money for charities to help them and their families. Sure it cannot give people the whole experience of war and what our military goes through, but I don't think that is the point.

No one likes war. Well, there are some that do I suppose. But the fact is there will always be war as long as there is religion, politics, money, resources and just plain old greed. There will always be people out there who don't like our way of life and want to destroy it or who want what we have. I see nothing wrong with helping and honoring the people who serve our country. And if that means a TV show giving celebrities a tiny taste of what it's like to be a soldier or first responder, in order to win money to donate to a charity helping these very people, then I think it's fine.

There are so many crappy reality TV shows on where people are bickering and fighting and stabbing each other in the back and complaining. Probably some of the people criticizing SES watch Survivor or The Apprentice, (produced by the same people who produced SES by the way) shows which hi-lite human behavior at its most unsavory and immature. The operatives and celebrities on Stars Earn Stripes did none of the above. They cheered their competitors on and applauded at the end of their missions.

All of the celebrities earned money for their charities because of Stars Earn Stripes. this was all done to help people and I just think it's a shame and shameful that people are poo pooing it. Here is a list I took from this entry, which I encourage you to read because it's a veterans journal: http://ptsddiary.com/?p=1569

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MILITARY CHILD EDUCATION COALITION, which works to ensure quality education opportunities for military connected children.

WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT, which provides medical care to injured service members after their period of active duty.

THE PAT TILLMAN FOUNDATION honors Pat Tillman by providing education scholarships and community opportunities to military veterans and their spouses.

THE BADGE OF HONOR MEMORIAL FOUNDATION hopes to provide the families of officers who have been killed in the line of duty a lasting symbol of recognition for the life of service, as well as providing the survivors of officers with statutory benefits.

ARMED SERVICES YMCA OF ALASKA provides educational, recreation and social programs and opportunities to all service members and their families.

HIRING OUR HEROES helps to find jobs and maximize job opportunities for veterans and military spouses.

GOT YOUR 6 is a campaign led by the entertainment industry to support veterans and military families, promoting their societal role as leaders and civic assets.

United Service Organization, or USO, privately funds programs in an effort to lift the spirits of America's troops and their families.

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Hopefully this show has educated people to the fact that our military and first responders deserve to be help and recognition.

As the spouse of a S.W.A.T Officer / Army Reservist (currently on his 4th active duty tour overseas), I loved this show! I thought the "celebrities" were very respectful toward the military operatives, and it seemed to be a very eye opening and humbling experience for them. They took this opportunity very seriously and every one of them said it completely changed they way they view our brave men and women in uniform.

I honestly think that the critics who negatively reviewed this show, did not watch it to the end. There was a HUGE amount of humility, and at times even tears, in the eyes of the "celebrities" as they talked about how impressed they were with the Operatives on the show and how much they respected them for their service and sacrifice for our country. They appeared truly grateful for the experience of being on the show and getting to have even a small glimpse at what our military does to ensure our safety and freedom. I REALLY hope they do a second season of this show. My spouse and I both felt it really did a good job of honoring our military, and the fact that the celebrities were competing to win money for military and law enforcement based charities like Wounded Warrior Foundation, Got your 6, and USO, was awesome!

To those who gripe that it is a "reality show," "game show," or that it "glamorizes war"...you clearly didn't watch the show to the end. There was nothing glamorous about it. There were a few "celebrities" who failed their missions, "celebrities" who were covered in mud, several injuries, and lots of bruises! In the end, there was a great deal of humility both on the part of the celebrities and the operatives.

One thing I was also really impressed with was the fact that many of the operatives, when approached about being on the show, said no...several times. They did not want to see the military mocked or made light of in any way, but in the end, they were happy they did the show because it painted the military in such a positive light, AND brought attention to military/law enforcement charities. If you've got a Green Beret, a Delta Force Operator, a SWAT Commander, 2 Navy SEALs, a Navy Corpsman, 2 Marines, and a 4 Star General who all felt the show was a very positive experience, and were pleased with the way the military was depicted, I don't think you can get a better endorsement than that!

Stars Earn Stripes has been a slap in the face to all men and women in the armed forces, all branches, since it's first thought. They touted "REAL DANGER, REAL AMMO, REAL EXPLOSIONS" on ads all through the Olympics. What they cannot simulate is the mental portion of war. The mental anguish that the military go through is something that they will never be able to simulate. They can simulate a small portion of the physical side of war, (very small portion) but not much. Can they show one of the co-stars holding another in his/her arms, as one dies a slow painful death? NO, they can't! Should a loved one, "at home" die, will NBC let the stars go home for the funeral? Yep, they sure will. If one of the male star's wives goes into labor, will that male star get to be there for the birth of that baby,??? YOU BET he will. Our Military men and women don't have that luxury! And how about the ones left at home, be it male or female? They are now a single parent trying on a meager salary to make ends meet. They worry when the doorbell rings, a knock at the door, and are terrified when an unknown car drives into the drive way! Those are just a FEW of the MENTAL parts of war that they will NEVER EVER be able to simulate, and mental is just as important as physical!

War is the worst and most horrific behavior of humanity. This game show celebrates the strategies, instruments and effects of war. The result is desensitization and dehumanization. I'd rather stay humane. Please cancel this morally corrupt perpetration and keep its memory as one of the sign posts of television gone beyond acceptability, taste and restraint. Shameful garbage. A sign of the times.

Place yourself as an innocent citizen of an invaded country. BRRRRRRRROOOM. In drive the tanks, the transport vehicles, the guns, the planes, the helicopters, the big guns, the little guns, the Shock and Awe of potent weapons of death and destruction. The people, men and women, driving that gear and wielding those weapons are enjoying themselves as they compete to be the best marksmen, the creators of the biggest booms and explosions. Move in! Move out! Let's go! G.I. Joe! KAPOW. There go your children. PiwPiwPiw! Pick off your neighbors. BOOM! Your house goes flying into the air in flaming pieces. It's the Americans! And they LIKE IT! And you've figured out that they've gone insane and inhumane. How can you respond to these acts of jovial injustice, contestant murder, compensated destruction and hijinks horror?

Thanks 'Stars Earn Stripes' for helping to inspire another generation of retribution and devolved humanity. Let's do better.