Military vs the NFL

Flame away, but I don't agree with this. From all the times people have posted, reposted, and shared this picture on Facebook, I have yet to agree with it. I'm aware this puts me in the minority, but I don't agree with the statement, even though I would greatly benefit from it.

I totally understand why people are all like 'hell, yeah!' when they read this. Our service members only make up 1% of the population, but they take on the job of protecting the entire country. And it's not a little country. We have been at war for over a decade, but there hasn't been a shortage of people signing up to defend their country. They work long hours, spend countless hours away from their families, yet there are more than enough people out there who willingly want to do the job that so many scoff at. 

Now. Professional athletes. I agree that they get paid a ridiculous amount of money. Athletes, however, have a skill. I'm not defending them, but they have a skill that a lot of us don't have. A lot of athletes play through high school (only about 0.2% of high school players make it to the NFL), then play in college, and then they hope and pray to make it to the big leagues. The average annual salary of a NFL player in 2010 was $1.1 million. That takes into account rookies and the big names. Sure, that sounds like a lot, but all we ever hear about are the big numbers. Peyton Manning made 18 million last year and Tom Brady averages the same amount (or so Google said). But, a million? Depending on where you live, that's not always so much.  So anyways, I got off track, they do make more than the average person. These guys have a talent and a skill though. 

I have no athletic ability whatsoever and couldn't fake it if I wanted to. I probably could join the Army though. I think I'm too old for the other branches, but not the Army! The military won't take everyone, but you have a far greater chance of joining than becoming a professional football player.

If we paid the military more than $1.1 million a year, it would cheapen what they do. People join the military knowing what they are getting into. They are aware we are at war and they could more than likely deploy. A lot of people don't have the guts to do that. I don't. Heck, I don't even want to have to take a PT test. If they were paid that much, people would line up to join. For the money. They wouldn't be joining for their country, to defend it, to keep it free, or to better the lives of others. They would be joining for the money, plain and simple. How can we hail them as hero's when they are only in it for the cash? Would we love Superman as much if he was just a guy who thought the money sounded good? People know what they will get paid going in. It's not a lot, you won't get rich, but you can easily survive, especially when you consider the benefits. People with character, integrity, and a sense of patriotism join the military (at least I like to think so). Upping the salary just cheapens the job.