Can everyone stop comparing medical professionals to soldiers? Please?

Soldiers aren't deployed without basic PPE and and at least the basic tools to get the job done. Medical professionals are right now. Soldiers are subject to unlimited liability. Medical professionals aren't.

I get that people are trying to valourize and recognize the efforts of medical professionals right now. And they deserve it. They also deserve the tools, equipment, and pay to do it and do it safely. Comparing them to soldiers ignores that they're being shortchanged.

It also makes the sacrifices they're making to try to do their jobs "acceptable". They aren't. No nurse should have to go into a COVID ward without PPE. No medical professional should have to place themselves at risk because of poor planning and inadequate funding.

So instead of conflating them with soldiers, get angry. Write to your politicians. Vote. Organize. Use this amazing internet we're all on to get shit going on. Because that's what will help them. It will help them now, and in the future.

This is for all the pedantic shitstains who are spooling up about the body armour shortage in Iraq between 2002-2006: FUCK OFF WITH YOUR SHIT. The USA and others deployed to Iraq not expecting to be sucked into asymmetric warfare; and went equipped accordingly.

Your shitass experience while subject to unlimited liability is not the same as medical professionals who are not subject to unlimited liability who are not being provided with even the most basic or protection. Did you have a helmet? Congrats. You had more appropriate PPE than..

...a frontline medical professional being told to work in a COVID ward without a mask and face-shield.

So take your "But in Iraq..." hot take, shove it directly up your ass, and GO FUCK YOURSELF.

For those wanting to play the "You don't know!" card: here's me in Afghanistan back in 2008, then again in 2009-10. Did Bosnia way back in the day too. 20+ years now of reserve service, with ~7 of those being full time service.