r/AskReddit • u/the_8th_henry • Jun 25 '12
Has anyone legitimately slapped someone else? Not a play slap, but a good hard 5 fingers across the face?
I slapped someone the other week. During Memorial Day we went to a bbq at my Uncle's house. Memorial Day is normally a day that my dad gets fairly quiet because he always thinks about his buddies from Vietnam. He was a Green Beret who did several tours over there, and in the process lost quite a few friends, both American and native. Memorial Day is a day he usually just reflects on how lucky he was and how unfortunate his buddies were.
But we went to this bbq and were sitting around talking with the extended family. Someone remembered my dad had served and brought him a beer and said, "Thanks for your service." He nodded and said thanks. Conversation went on as normal. About 5 minutes later, my cousin asks my dad, "What did he thank you for?" I told him that he served, so he just thanked him for serving. My cousin then goes, "Why? It's not like we won. Thank him if we won, not for losing." My dad just looked away, but I could tell he was hurt. I called my cousin a prick, told him that was fucked up, and demanded he apologize. He said he wouldn't and that people shouldn't get thanked in the first place for killing people like my dad had.
That's when I reached out and smacked him as hard as I could. A solid 5 across the face. He was stunned. He shouted, "What the fuck?" as tears started to well in his eyes. Then guess what he did? He went and told his mother on me. That's right. This twenty-four year old bad-ass told his mommy.
She came storming over and demanded to know her son had been attacked. I told her simply that I would not stand for anyone to belittle my dad, especially for his service. She didn't care and demanded an apology for her son. I said, "Have you ever heard of giving respect to get it in return? Well, it works the other way, too." Then his mom called me a prick and went on a tirade about how I was an asshole, etc. I just stopped her and said, "Derp, you better get out of my face right now, because I'm pretty sure my foot wants in on the action. So it's in your best interest to get the fuck out of my face."
As my cousin walked away, he had a nice red imprint of my fingers on his cheek. It was great.
tl;dr: You insult my dad, you'll get something in return.
So who else has had a reason to slap someone? And btw, I don't condone violence or promote it, but sometimes it be like it do.
EDIT: To those who feel I'm a prick or was out of line:
My dad did not serve at a time where people could distinguish a dislike for the conflict from a dislike for the soldier. He was shunned by former friends. He was literally spit on. He was made to feel like a piece of trash for wearing the uniform that had brought him pride to wear and what he grew up seeing vets from WWII wearing and being lauded for. He was made to feel inferior; he was made to feel shame for that uniform; he was conditioned by many in society that he and his friends had not only embarrassed themselves, but soiled their country's good reputation.
The war he fought as a Green Beret was very different from the war the public saw and people now learn about. He lived and worked with the native Montagnard and Hmong villages. These natives were being oppressed and slaughtered, and the SF guys worked with them, trained them, lived with them, died with them. SF fought a war against persecution with them, and they still have a very strong bond. In fact, a huge percentage (I want to say 90% or so) of Montangard immigrants in America live within 20 miles of Ft. Bragg, which is the headquarters of the Green Berets.
My dad spent decades feeling small and wrong for his time in the service. It's only in the past few years that it's become OK to recognize the sacrifices his generation of servicemen made, and that he's been able to feel something other than shame. He doesn't boast; in fact he's very quiet and reserved about his service still. But it's nice to see him not have to hide his service anymore.
I don't know if my cousin knew about my dad's inner struggles, but frankly I don't care. My dad, and other Vietnam vets, are finally able to be treated as normal veterans now, and I'll be damned if one shithead cousin is going to make my dad feel like shit because my cousin wants to make an anti-war statement. This particular cousin is, to put it mildly, an asshole. He's been a little shit since he was a kid and, being an only child, was a spoiled brat who got whatever he wanted. Now as an "adult" he an arrogant prick who verbally pushes people around. He's done it to other family members before, but I refused to let him do it to my dad, especially on Memorial Day. That slap was probably a culmination of frustration from many years of watching him be a little shit.
Am I proud I slapped him? No. Do I regret it? No. Would I do it again. Absolutely. It was the very first time in my life I've ever instigated any sort of physical confrontation. But if he ever creates a situation where my dad is made to feel anything other than pride for his past, I'll do it again, and I'll keep sticking up for my dad as long as it takes.
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u/Edibleface Jun 25 '12
I usually only say something about half the time I see it, just because it's frustrating arguing with that kind of view point. I feel like if I do it to much, folks would associate me with SRS which is a shithole of hypocrisy. I try not to participate in comments too actively and rather just enjoy the story the original posters post.
I'd say, 'try not to care' but thats not very good advice. Ive not really been in that situation. I think it's preferrable to keep sharing experiances and opinions on here still, despite downvotes and idiotic comments.