Drinking on The Job

I'm blogging about this while a conversation is going on on Facebook... This on is about sending our SO's things we shouldn't when it comes to deployment. Some of you may not agree with me on this, but that is fine. We are all entitled to our own opinions. However,  for those of you who disagree with me.. I'm appalled that you think it's alright. Ok, to the point.  By the way.. this is going to be a long post... so grab some popcorn.

Conversation came up about things you can't send to our boys while they are on Deployment. Things got heated. Especially for me in the end.

Someone brought up how you are not supposed to send tobacco products (dip, cigarettes, etc). Then wives got to talking about ways to sneak them.
Although, I think it's silly we are not supposed to send them these things, they have set these rules for a reason, whether it be stupid or not.. they are there. And if you break the rules and send your husband these things.. You risk getting him in trouble.
This isn't the part I got heated about. Even though I do think it's stupid to send these.

Like tobacco products, ALCOHOL is NOT ALLOWED! This is NO WAY is okay to send! There was a girl talking about how she would hide alcohol in packages to send to her husband while he was away on Deployment. I thought this was completely stupid. However, I did say "I don't think it's good for us to send them anything that breaks the rules. That is my opinion. Is it really worth the risk of getting them in trouble? It's not worth it. My husband dips, and enjoys an occasional drink. I will not send ANYTHING that will get him in trouble. You send him something that is "Not Allowed" and he gets caught.. he's the one who gets in trouble and it will show in his service records.I don't know about other branches, but with the Navy, it will reflect badly on his evals and could cause him to loose out on a promotion." Then things start to get heated.

A few others posted similar to what I said, some being a little more blunt in saying how stupid they thought it was. Then a comment that started the "Battle". (her spelling errors were left untouched)

"im sorry but for what our men do i think they deserve a sip or two or a hit or two off a smokeor a bottle. Sometimes its nice. Think about this. A high stress situation u miss your family your hot your tired and just something to make you forget for a split second what ever it may be wouldnt you want that? I think its unfair to critisize what these women have to done just because it makes their husbands happy for a little shot bottle of whiskey or a pack of smokes. Thats not fair to tell them they are in the wrong. For what our spouses do is hard. "

This rubbed me the wrong way, but I kept my composer as best as possible. My reply:
"It's ok for them to want to relax, but doing something to impair one's judgment while in a war zone, where they are fighting alongside other mean in women.. isn't the way to do it. This is their job.. and if you have a job and you are caught "Drinking on the job" do you not get fired? Yes, you do!
So, why does it make it ok for someone who is "Working".. and working with a Gun alright to drink?"

There were several other comments from other  ladies as well. But I'm not going to post them all.. there are tons. But all on the same side as I am.

Her Reply to me: "@ christina i feel sorry for you." <- That irritated me even more. She also went on to tell me I needed to "chill", That it wasn't a big deal. She went on to say things about how it doesn't affect others.. etc.

My reply: "You feel sorry for me? Because I would like to keep my husband and the men and women he serves with safe?"

Some girls who agree with me posted : "Ok I'm about to get rude........[girl's name]..... SERIOUSLY?? That was over the line. You are simply being given reasons why our opinions is that it is NOT a good idea. I pray to God that my husband is not working with someone who's wife is sending him alcohol because THERE'S A REASON THEY AREN'T SUPPOSED TO HAVE IT. It is a major safety issue for 1. YOUR spouse for 2. everyone around him. Are the risks of sending contraband seriously worth a court martial, dishonorable discharge, or DEATH?"

The girl who thinks it's ok to send it never replied to anyone BUT me. saying
"Worry about you and yours and not what some one else does. Its not your spouse and their spouse isnt deployed with yours. Worry about keeping you and yours safe not some one else. Its like you're trying to tell some one else how to raise thier kid."

A few other comments from others:
"wow acohol ? seriously ? yeah hey lets be irresponsable and send some soldiers who are in war, carry weapons and can get attacked by surprise some alc ! yay ! so when they are drunk ( which btw goes against regulations fyi) they wont be able to be 100% there for when one of those attacks happen , endangering not only themselfs but theire entire .unit....yeah definatly a good idea....btw im case no one noticed i was being sarcastic."

"uve got to understand where we are coming from, what if for some reason their tolerance isnt as high as it was before they left and u send alcohol thinking oh its ok....well think would u want to get a call saying ur soldiers been wounded badly or killed...or even find out ur best friends husband got killed because urs wasnt paying attention to ... have their back...thats why people are getting upset. would u want another wife to send it and urs get killed because they send it to their hubby??? u know u would, anybody would"

"Alcohol & guns are just a bad mixture... thats common sense."

"btw [girl's name who thinks it's ok]....just wondering, since you agree with them drinking while in a very very indeed stressful time, do you agree with them just taking a hit or two of a joint ? same thing right ? illegal just the same while deployed than a joint, so do you agree with a drunk and or high soldier to carry a gun around?"

"i think the cigs thing is ridiculous, yes. but smoking cigs doesn't impair the soldier's actions. alcohol(even a small amount) will. like one person previously stated u wouldnt drink on the job would u? well our soldiers are on the job 24/7 while they are deployed. for those of you who think i'm overreacting, well think what u want. i'm so glad the wives where i am at wouldn't ever think of being so stupid."

"call me overreacting if you want. but my husbands life and therefore my FAMILIES well being relies on every other soldier in his unit. so ONE wife sending booze affects every other wives potentially. im NOT saying you are a bad person. i AM saying you made a poor choice and still apparently dont see the issue with it. how BAD would you feel if the next time you sent booze an incident occurred and your hubby and one of his battle buddies were injured? there is a lifelong guilt trip right there"

Then the girl posted this: (the part that set me off-the highlighted parts)
"sorry drama ladies my hsuabdn isnt a soldier. Mine floats around so yes i do agree if my husband gets a shot or two! It has nothing to do with me i think of my husband first. If he asks for a pack of cigs and i cant send them but they are legal then there is something up. See its different because ... my husband doesnt walkk around with a gun instead he plays with real toys. So of course im not worried!! " 

My Reply: "[girl's name], Now I'm pissed. MY husband is in the Navy as well. He doesn't just "FLOAT AROUND" My husband works his ass off, and My husband carries a gun ON THE SHIP. So yes, YOU could be affecting MY HUSBAND directly by the stupidity of what you are doing." 

Another girl to the "Ok with Alcohol" girl:
"Wow.....so because he's on a boat you think he's safe? Sure they would have liked to have known that during Pearl Harbor. Sure hope that ship never gets called to back up an important mission." 

Me to the girl above: "I agree. And every ship can affect other ships.. their schedule, their ports.. everything." 

 I left it at that. Now going back to that thread. Am I wrong to be heated? What is your opinion on Sending your SO alcohol when you KNOW it's not allowed?