What do people really think of soldiers?

Everybody loves a soldier. They appreciate their willingness to lay down their lives. They dedicate monuments to them, and thank them at airports. However, I’d like to know what they really think. Sure, they appreciate them, but at the same time people seem to think of them as stupid. Do people appreciate them, or pity them? Do they truly care, or are they just thankful it means they don’t have to go themselves? Being a soldier has seemed to have lost it’s coolness. It’s no longer grand and valiant. Instead it’s stupid, dangerous, and poorly compensated. Sigh… if thank you just meant more then a little hot breath. I guess that’s a little harsh. There are many people who sincerely appreciate the army. However, most people are thinking “better him then me.”