The Difference Between Service Members and Wall Street

Here's my two cents on the ongoing uproar over AIG bonuses. This is an example of the culture of greed, excess and entitlement bred among the financial elite in our country. They are a stark contrast to the brave men and women that serve our nation in the military, on the police or fire departments, in the country's classrooms and as community volunteers.
If there really is an "Us vs. Them" in our country, its between those that believe they are entitled to excess and those that believe in giving back to the nation. I can speak from my experience as an officer in the Army. The Army is one of the most socialist cultures in the country and, although it has many faults and probably too much bureaucracy, the average soldier does not feel "entitled" to anything special for serving the country.
In the Army, officers eat after the enlisted soldiers because they understand that they should look after the well-being of others before themselves. If there is a formal dinner that everyone must attend, officers pay more for tickets in order to offset the cost to the enlisted personnel that make less money. This is what I mean by a sense of service over entitlement.
Our soldiers and civil servants do what they do out of a sense of duty and loyalty and ask nothing in return. The nation should show our appreciation by improving the medical, employment and education benefits available to the soldiers, teachers, nurses and police officers that serve us all so well. I look forward to the day when Wall Street learns a thing or two from these patriots.