Bleh

[avball]

I'm having a rough time right now. That same calling I felt that brought me to enlist in the first place hasn't died out, nor has my personal shame that I was issued a challenge to be a Recon Marine and fled from it. On the other hand, if I can get surgery/rehab/whatever it takes to get back, I will be most likely be deployed to war at least twice

Comments

[northernflights]

I have nothing but respect for your work, and I admire your will to re-enlist: not just because it's hard-core, but because I believe that in the end you can never go wrong by following your heart. I also care very deeply for our country and its future, and I am deeply concerned that our leadership might be repeating past mistakes, squandering the strength of the U.S. Armed Forces -- built as it is on the foundation of courage and honor exemplified by your commitment to the Marine Corps -- in pursuit of ends far less noble than the men and women who have given their lives in service. As a citizen, I feel like it's my responsibility to "question why" in large part because I respect those who have surrendered that freedom.

As for political views in general, I'm one hell of an Independent. As Americans, we all ought to be libertarians at heart: the foundational principle of a free nation is the idea that people have the right to live as they choose, so long as they don't harm others in doing so. For whatever crazy reason, people disagree fanatically as to where that line is drawn. I find it bizarre that "liberals" and "conservatives" are each expected to believe in some rights and freedoms but not others: these completely arbitrary partisan political lines drawn have destroyed people's ability to think about these issues in any kind of an authentic way. The Constitution is clear on these matters: we're best to err on the side of freedom and move on.

What about the real issues? We're in almost total denial about being nearly ten trillion dollars in debt, practically every factory in America has moved to China or is on its way there, and the U.S. military has won two wars that we subsequently lost again due to blatant mismanagement and neglect. I have no illusions that one political party or another will make it better: I just know that what's going on now is completely out of control, and that we're on a path that makes me wonder whether our children and grandchildren will be able to say with any confidence that they live in a free and prosperous nation or world.

If I could press a button to make both the Democrats and the Republicans disappear overnight, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

As for your duty to your wife: it sounds like a conversation best had with her, but I have a feeling that she's in a very good position to understand your thoughts and feelings and responsibilities.

[avball]

Thank you. It's so seldom I meet somebody I peg as a "liberal" and find out they are actually thinking... makes me feel bad for interpreting you that way ;)

I suppose I just get really used to "filtering" a lot of what the "Bush haters" have to say most of the time because it is so constant lately (not without cause).

Anyhow, thanks for your support and understanding. It seems the more we talk, the more like minded we seem to be (perhaps despite appearances - at least to me).