First I'll address the fact that the whole article calls Jenner a man, which is bullshit. The American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association, as well as the vast majority of the medical communities in the developed world all agree - Trans women are women, and trans men are men. Just because you don't understand the research doesn't mean it is somehow false impossible - Just like even though you don't understand astrophysics doesn't mean that getting a man-made object to pluto is impossible.

Trans women are women, trans men are men - Shit ain't complicated.

moving on from that -

I don't think Jenner deserves the award - But I don't think that the soldier in the meme image deserves it either. Terminal Lance made a great comment on the subject:

My brother's a vet. He did a job, he went overseas, lost some friends, gained some psychological trauma, and got paid. When he returned home Like any government employee, he received (and continues to receive) medical care - surgery number 4 on an ankle the army fucked up - as well as psychological help. He's not a hero, he's just a guy who got paid good money to go into a dangerous work environment. The way I see it, benefits for soldiers are just a dedicated wing of WSIB

Where I'm from, we respect veterans, and honour them - they are given extra respect, seen as members of standing in their communities, and often drink for free - But we do not idolize them, like you folks seem to in the US. I always found that odd considering the number of veterans on the street in America. I see the US treatment of vets much like the way the Viennese treated Mozart - Generous with their applause, stingy with their wallets.

More than anything, that's what bothered me about this article - more Hoorah USMC to the detriment of all others, all the while conveniently glossing over the fact that the vast majority that the US public does for their service people is thank them for their service and spit in their hands as payment.