To the lady who yelled at me for using a Military ID,

You’re welcome. That’s right, I am not saying that to be sarcastic, I am saying that out of the bottom of my heart. You are welcome. I am saying that because of the millions of veterans and current servicemen who have risked their lives on a daily basis so that you could have the right to say what you did. They sacrificed and died, so that you could have the right to scream at me in the middle of a store and tell me that my parents are baby killers and should be blown up for the crimes they have committed.

You’re welcome. You’re welcome for the roof over your head and the safety that your kids feel at night. You’re welcome, for the fact that you get to live in a country of democracy and choice. You’re welcome for the right to get an education, to vote, to dress how you please, and do as you wish. You are welcome, for the sacrifices that so many have made in order to pave the road for all that you own.

If I were to tell you a secret, I hate my military ID too. If I had a choice, I would throw it all away. The discounts, the holidays, the free health care. I agree, it sucks. I would never have used the card in the first place, if I could have the luxury of watching the news and not think “how many brave americans are going to die because of this action, or because of this policy.” If I could, I would go back in time and I wouldn’t have even given my family the option of these benefits if it meant that my mother could see her husband on every anniversary. If I had the choice, I would pay back every dollar I have ever saved off a 10% military discount at only certain locations, if that meant that my stepdad would be home for every christmas and every birthday. If I could, I would pay back every dollar I ever saved and then double it, if it meant that I would never know the feeling of staring at a door wondering if my stepdad would ever walk through it again. I would give up everything and more to not have gone through the sacrifices my family went through just so you can yell at me in the middle of a store.

However, I went through that, all of that. And the funny thing is, although I wish I could change it, I don’t regret it. I don’t regret it because I can look at my mom and my dad and my step dad, and I can say that I am proud. I am proud of my step dad for giving up everything, every day for 20 years to serve his country. No one asked him to do that, he wasn’t forced into this life, he choose this life because sometimes doing good comes at a price. Sometimes protecting strangers comes at the price of your family, your goals, and your life.

If you don’t like the military, if you do not stand by their actions, don’t take it out on the men and women who sacrifice for your stupidity on issues. Take it out on the politicians you elect, the politicians who could care less who dies and lives.

You’re mad at Trump because he spreads hate, but what about the hate you just spread. The hatred in your soul that allowed you to yell at an innocent college girl because her views might have been different than yours. You’re mad at Trump because he disrespects women or those with different sexualities, but I have to ask if you can be mad at yourself for disrespecting all military members. You’re mad at me because I am different than you, but does that give me the right to be mad at you for being different than me?

So you are welcome. You’re welcome for never having to know the true meaning of sacrifice because my parents, and our soldiers, have already made that sacrifice for you.

Sincerely,