Please take a moment...

[DRKWNG]

I can't imagine what it's like to acclimate to a war zone (for months, let alone years), then try to rejoin "normal" life back home. It must be extremely difficult, and I can completely understand how many people would view normal life as utterly boring.

It's not that you come home finding things boring.  It's a lot deeper than that.  It took a fair amount of time to "acclimate" back into things after my last trip out.  More than anything I found that I had pretty much lost patience with (when seen through my eyes) the trivial concerns that most of my countrymen had.  One day, shortly after returning, I witnessed one person make a complete jackass out of them self at a local coffee bar (because they had asked for two pumps of syrup damnit!!) and then another person raise hell at a waitress later that evening because they felt their dinner should have come out quicker.  It was really frustrating, because as much as I wanted to walk up and tell these people how lucky they had it (the polite version of SHUT THE make the beast with two backs UP WHY DON'T YOU), just for the ability to have these drinks/meals prepared for them, I knew they would never understand.  Each time I "go out", and subsequently come back home, I find myself becoming more and more disappointed with what our society has become: too fat, dumb and happy with FAR to much a sense of self-entitlement. 

[DoubleEagle]

We are becoming what ancient Rome rose to and then fell from.

Dolph   

[muskrat]

We are becoming what ancient Rome rose to and then fell from.

Dolph   

+1

[zooom]

would it be a far cry for to expect the citizens of our nation to "serve" in some capacity or other for to be considered a full citizen, maybe somewhat like what Sweden and Israel do for example. I am sure there are other nations that do it, but can't name them off the top of my head right now. I am not expecting anything like what Starship Troopers was getting at, but something to instill apon our citizens exactly how lucky we are, as Ben so eloquently put it.

[RAT900]

It's not that you come home finding things boring.  It's a lot deeper than that.  It took a fair amount of time to "acclimate" back into things after my last trip out.  More than anything I found that I had pretty much lost patience with (when seen through my eyes) the trivial concerns that most of my countrymen had.  One day, shortly after returning, I witnessed one person make a complete jackass out of them self at a local coffee bar (because they had asked for two pumps of syrup damnit!!) and then another person raise hell at a waitress later that evening because they felt their dinner should have come out quicker.  It was really frustrating, because as much as I wanted to walk up and tell these people how lucky they had it (the polite version of SHUT THE make the beast with two backs UP WHY DON'T YOU), just for the ability to have these drinks/meals prepared for them, I knew they would never understand.  Each time I "go out", and subsequently come back home, I find myself becoming more and more disappointed with what our society has become: too fat, dumb and happy with FAR to much a sense of self-entitlement. 

Why I don't talk much about 9/11...

how do you describe the psychological and emotional mechanics of irrevocable change in your personal life-perspective when

you watch hundreds of people jump or get pushed out of a skyscraper
and the rest get atomized?

or describe the sound of the airplanes' impact echoing in the streets?

or the sound of two skyscrapers collapsing on themselves?

or describe the agony of fading hope in the tear-streaked faces of the families

jamming flyers at you as you cross at the police barricade in the following days?

flyers with the smiling faces of their missing loved ones

The people I worked with that day and the weeks following, those who are still around, well we are alone together

trying to internally digest the perpetually indigestible...we don't review those days at all or speak of them

I totally identify with the sense of impatience/disgust when I see people tantrum or drown in the petty piss-puddle details of daily life

you want to slap them to their senses...it isn't their fault

they will never see or know what you have seen or known

I am not sure if my anger stems from their lack of understanding as to what is truly important in life

or if I am enraged and jealous

of the relative innocence they still have

probably both

[Triple J]

would it be a far cry for to expect the citizens of our nation to "serve" in some capacity or other for to be considered a full citizen, maybe somewhat like what Sweden and Israel do for example. I am sure there are other nations that do it, but can't name them off the top of my head right now. I am not expecting anything like what Starship Troopers was getting at, but something to instill apon our citizens exactly how lucky we are, as Ben so eloquently put it.

I don't think a mandatory 2 year service would be a bad thing...for both men and women. Seems to me it would give everyone some perspective, and it may also teach those that need it responsibility. I doubt it will ever happen though.

My understanding is France is another country that requires this.

[Scotzman]

I don't think a mandatory 2 year service would be a bad thing...for both men and women. Seems to me it would give everyone some perspective, and it may also teach those that need it responsibility. I doubt it will ever happen though.

My understanding is France is another country that requires this.

Several Asian country's have this as well.

[duccarlos]

This conversation is coming dangerously close to politics...

[zooom]

This conversation is coming dangerously close to politics...

hence why I did NOT reply to triple J with the numerous reasons why it wouldn't go through in our society....

but that being said...I think public service doesn't mean politics in the sense we are treading around it...

[MendoDave]

I served from 1991 until 1999 and I can't fully relate to what these people have experienced.

[badgalbetty]

I served and have PTSD The damage done to my brain is huge. A car back fires I freak ..... my heart beat increases, I get jumpy sometimes even hitting the deck.I am nervous a lot around strange noises. I dont sleep. I am awake........... alert a lot. I notice things that dont belong in areas, I notice smells. I notice a lack of women and their kids on a street. PTSD is a real problem for a lot of us. July 4th is the day from hell as soon as the sun goes down. I been there done that. lived it ,touched it,breathed it, smelled it, and as much as I try cannot forget it. I cannot forget that really bad day when it all went wrong for me...........That is a recurring theme for me at night , as that is when it happened all those years ago............Night.
Not asking for sympathies from anyone, just asking that maybe you can help out someone in your area when they return home. Mental anguish can happen a few short weeks after trauma  or several years after. Its very real. If you have a family member serving please talk to them when they get home. If they seem withdrawn, quiet, afraid, have trouble re adjusting to life, those are super huge flags. Get them help ASAP as they may be on the road to their own personal hell. Its not pretty  and no amount of alcohol or drugs will ever replace those feelings-ever.Get your loved ones help ASAP .  Please.

[fastwin]

I am sorry for your woes. I truly wish it wasn't so. I can say "I understand" but I will never truly be able to do so. It's not the same, but it's like trying to connect with a rape victim. I will never have any idea of their personal horror. I can say "I'm sorry and I understand" until I am blue in the face and in reality it doesn't mean shit. I guess I am enlightened in that sense. My thoughts just keep going back to my deceased father in law and the talks we had. For warriors there is no change, nothing is any different today than it was 65 years ago and beyond. My heart goes out to all of you who have served in combat and suffered. You are the heroes who walk among us. That will never change either. Peace to you all.

This is a great thread.

[nllm_oo_mlln]

bump for veterans day

I read this when it was posted and didn't have anything meaningful to add

now all I want to add to the dialogue is: Thank You!

[Veloce-Fino]

Great article.

"I believe there is a tremendous amount of guilt in civilian society for not having participated in this war,''

I understand this.

[sbrguy]

the real problem is that the two sides, those that the two side of "those who serve" and those "who do not" have a hard time seeing it from the other perspective because like others say, "once you have served and fought, you are no longer the same after"

the problem is the civilians think "they should just go back to normal" and get on with their lives and don't want to hear that it will be very difficult or be burdened with guilt or the fixing of the issues.

the ones that served and are changed, really can't get the civilians to understand 100% how they feel and changed, afterall nobody can really tell someone what is going on 100% of the time accurately to another person, its just too hard.  like the situation in the coffee shop someone mentioned.

so there will be this miscommunication between the two groups.

Its truly sad, but hopefully each can "live with" the other at best case scenario.

Unfortunately, most of the time those that serve are always given "respect" by civilians, but at the same time they are somewhat forgotten about soon after the pleasentries are exchanged.

Thanks go out to Veterans that have served in any capacity.  You will probably never know the true thanks people think or feel for your work and dedication, but know that all still respect you for the job you do.