I’m really getting a little tired of wars. Vietnam nearly killed my dad, which would have rendered me non-existant. As it is, it left him permanantly disabled and in a state frequent neurological pain. And now I get a call from my best friend from high school who informs me that I should call her because she’s “going away” soon. Great. I know how to read behind the lines with her. She’s been deployed many, many times. Gone over to what she lovingly describes as “the sandbox” and come back and NEVER felt the need to warn me ahead of time.
Listen, I know all you service people are doing what you’re getting paid for. I know it’s a little exciting to FINALLY get to put all your training into effect (Oswald…that’s you. Bomb squad?!? Ahhh!!!) . But it royally sucks for those of us who love you to have to sit here and have no idea what the hell is going on. My friend’s job allows her even LESS ability to tell me where she’s going and how much danger she’s really going to be in. I hate this. Maybe I’m just selfish, but I’d really like the people I am fond of to not get dismembered or killed while NOT directly defending the freedom of the country they fight for. Afghanistan was one thing. Again, I know you guys follow the boss’s orders. It doesn’t stop me from hating the man for putting MY people in a dark ally in Bagdad with an M16 and a mission.
Call me clueless, call me idealistic, but the fact of the matter is that I am TIRED of it. I’ve had to live with the aftereffects of war my whole life. And my dad has DELT with his trauma. He’s a mental health clinician who works with Vets, he is a specialist with PTSD. So it could be WAY worse. But every time a helicopter flew overhead (and we were in the flight path of the then-local air force base, so this was often) he HAD to run outside to see if it was the type that air lifted him out of the field where he would have bled to death. EVERY time a helicopter flew overhead. And he’s SO fucking lucky by comparison. We ran into a client of his once when we were having lunch together. This 50 year old man who looked like a young Santa turns to me and COMPLETELY serious says “Your father brought me back into the world.” The guy had been suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Shock Disorder, formerly known as “shell shock”) for 25 years before he went in for appointments with my dad.
I don’t care what your political stance, or opinion on the legitimacy of this particular conflict. I think the one agreed-upon factor is that War Sucks. It robbed my father of his innocence and logic defies why it didn’t rob him of the ability to walk. My dad has a “Fuck War” patch that he sewed onto his motorcycle vest which I think sums up his rant nicely. Fuck War, man.
I agree completely. My dad was also in 'Nam–no physical injuries, but psychological scars. And one of Shadez’s and mine’s APO brothers is being sent in–he’s a Marine Reserve.
People say they want war? War just sucks. Fuck it all.
I am not pro-war, despite what some people may think- I feel that if it comes down to a fistfight among nations then there has been a cruicial communication/ethical/common-sense breakdown somewhere along the line.
But I also worry that a nation that is so against war is susceptible to other nations who hate them. I don’t protest the potential war with Iraq because I feel like Saddam Hussein has been screwing with us for ten years, thinking, “oh, they don’t have the guts to stop us”. Sometimes it seems difficult to show resolve to nations that are totally uncooperative. I’m sure Saddam’s regime would like nothing more than see us a smoking crater on the planet. With Iraq possibly having chemical/nuclear weapons, and the North Koreans posessing nuclear weapons and developing the means to deliver them, I feel the world has gotten a lot smaller and more dangerous. I don’t want our nation to be held accountable for any global brutality/bullying, but I don’t want us to have to be the one to have to retaliate agressions made by other nations.
First of all, Service Members are always doing what they’re paid to do (defend their country). Second, the idea is to use armed conflict as a last resort. Third, you apparently don’t keep up with either reality or the daily news: Iraq daily (or nearly daily) locks radar on coalition aircraft and gets the inevitable response for that violation.
Yeah, she’s talking about me. My “Air Force nickname” is Oswald. As in ‘Lee Harvey’. . .
Swiddles, I have to respectfully agree with you, but also have to respectfully tell you that it’ll be okay. I know your father is a Vietnam vet. I know you’ve got good friends (I count myself as one of 'em) that may be headed “over yonder” for whatever reason.
I just want you to know one thing: I don’t get up every morning and say, “I’m gonna nuke a bunch of people! Wooo!”. I don’t get up every morning and pray for war (I joke about it, but it really is just a joke). I don’t look forward to armed hostilities. I don’t look forward to being someone else’s target.
But there is one thing I do look forward to: I’m not an overtly religious man, but every morning I do get up and thank my God that I am able to do something worthwhile with the life I’ve been given, and that I can stand with my toes on the line in the sand to help keep another 20 assholes from flying airliners into skyscrapers. I don’t directly keep domestic assholes, Taliban, or Communists from hurting you, but I help. And that is why I put myself on the line.
I truly hate to disagree with one of my good friends. However, I have a job to do. I thank you for sounding off about how silly it may seem to be, but the fact that you can freely sound off about it is one of the direct reasons I happily jump out of bed every morning.
The other type of war, though… not particularly attracted to it. My Dad was in the Occupation (Europe) and had some memoires, photos, and memories of what he saw… :::shudder::: And he wasn’t in combat.
I admire and honor those who choose to fight for the free world (whatever that really is), but I don’t hold any grudge against anyone not wanting their family or friends to go. That’s one of the great things about freedom, isn’t it? What was that quote about freedom? “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance” ??? Yes, war sucks. But, so does anarchy and strife. As you can all see, I’m having a tough time making a profound point. This is a rough world. Wars happen. People die. It sucks.
I don’t give a rodent’s rear if she’s talking about Active Duty, Reservist, or National Guard. All three groups are always doing what they’re being paid to do. Those in the Guard and the Reserves are always keeping ready to defend their country.
And, Thespos: WTF did I say jack about being upset about one’s loved ones being put in harm’s way?
Nobody’s disputing that. There was no assertion that anyone in the armed forces wasn’t doing exactly what they’re paid to do. So what’s your beef?
You didn’t. Just trying to keep you on track. Swiddles’ post appears to be about being upset about people being sent away to war, not about whether or not the war is justified, which is where you appeared to be headed with your comments. Sorry if you thought I was trying to put words in your mouth.
SPOOFE, between your post, the alternate reading of the title of this thread, and Mel Brooks, I now have a mental picture of a scene from a really bad porno movie starring Rick Moranis as Dark Helmet. Consider this post my revenge.
Swiddles, I do sympathize with you. My great-grandfather got married, then almost immediately went off to fight World War I. He didn’t return. My grandfather got married then almost immediately went off to fight World War II. To my grandmother’s relief, he did return. My little brother was stationed in Germany during Operation Desert Storm. I am glad he didn’t get sent to Kuwait until after it was over, but there are reservists from my home county who didn’t come back. I also worked as a temporary receptionist last week so that a woman could say good-bye to her husband who’d been called up.
I love America with a depth and passion which sometimes surprises me. I chose this country, and I do not regret that choice nor will I. I don’t like the way we seem to be heading for a war, and I wish I knew how to stop it. Still I have great respect for those who have chosen to serve. I hope they don’t have to go at all, and I wish there was some way they could all return safely. War is necessary sometimes, but still, I agree with you. It sucks.
Oh, and on scrolling up, I just realized where the Mel Brooks came from. ** Sejal_Traurig**, I hereby plant in your brain an image of Rick Moranis in a Darth Vader helmet, black socks, and nothing else!!!
CJ
I didn’t think you were, I observed that you were putting words in my mouth, THespos. Where you think I appeared to be heading is exactly that: what you think, not what you observed. Next time, stick with what you actually observe.
For example: I actually observed that SwimmingRiddles made a comment about us military types “finally” getting to do what we’re “paid to do.” I actually posted a comment that addressed that and that only.
