Any time a war is humanized, especially in the face of multiple failures, overt lies, and obvious mismanagement, people take it much more seriously, at least in terms of weighing the costs versus any realized or potential gain. I hope the film is as good as its intentions.
Although I was fortunate enough never to have had to face combat when I was in the Army, I can tell you, like that scene where Ryan Phillipe is being given new orders to report back to Iraq, it's a terrible feeling of helplessness when some guy with a few stripes than you gives you orders you know in your heart you're loathe to obey!
I respect your intent to go into the military, Mike, but I honestly wish you'd enjoy some independence in life and see where it takes you before you turn it over to people that look at you as little more than a number and as a means get that next promotion! The men you serve with will be your best friends...those that give the orders...well....fill in the blank!
Yea, I understand what your saying, but right now my minds set, I don't know why but I feel just a calling to duty. I can't help it. Every day it gets stronger, I become more intent on it, I can't explain why, maybe seeing war and carnage will change me but I don't think so. I feel like my place is on the battlefield, not the civilian life. Go ahead and call me crazy, most people do, but it's how I feel right now and not much is going to change it. I don't know if you can understand it, most people don't. Most people tell me the meer thought of serving is stupid and a waste of time and dangerous, but I'm not afraid of Death. If I die, I die, 's for freedom and my country. It's going to be a hard road but it's what I want right now, I want a Military Career. I don't really think about doing anything else, I want to fight, serve and if necessary die for my country. I want to be a General some day, I want to be there not here. I don't know if you understand this but it's how I feel.
I respect your feelings Mike and hope the military is where you will find yourself and your place. Don't believe for a minute, however, that there is anything glorious about dying in war. How do most Americans celebrate Memorial Day? By having cookouts and long getaways with the families...the same shit they do on the 4th of July or any other given summer weekend; they certainly don't spend it visiting the graves of the fallen, nor can the majority of them even readily recall the name of a fallen soldier. Most don't even show up at a parade to honor the living veterans that show up year after year, to pull their uniforms out of mothballs to march proudly again. As you get older, Mike, you'll realize there's not much--really--to this little bit of time we're alotted here on earth--don't be in any hurry to meet death face on. He'll find his own way to you evetually, so don't rush it.
If you have the opportunity, read a work by Goethe called "The Sorrows of Young Werther," that is if an English translation can be found. This much, personally lamented work of Goethe caused many in the day to actually commit suicide; some 2000 by one account. This speaks not of Goethe's writing ability, so much as it does the sensitivities of youth which seems often too willing to part with life prematurely.
Well, I have to call it a night, but will talk to you later.
I did my 4 in the Navy and have friends and relatives still in the military. I don't care how much we "volunteered", NOONE signed up for what Bush decided to do with this country's military and NOONE agreed to do it forever.
Yes, I know about the tragedies of Memorial day, I actually wrote a letter to the President about it because I'm disgusted at how the schools give little or no attention to it. I know theres nothing glorious about dyeing and that most people won't care, but it's just how I feel right now, that I have to serve weather it means life or death.
Well Mike, as I said...I respect and support your decision either way, but if you have to join, join either the Air Force or the Navy...they attract a better lot and you'll actually learn something. But if you really, really have to dive into the meat grinder, then join the Marines! The Army tries to hard to be as bad assed as the Marines and it's not--trust me, I know--but it is full of a lot of Marine wannabees which alaways annoyed the shit out of me!
By the way, if you're curious as to why I joined the Army instead of the Marines, it was because by bet shot, at the time, to be a linguist was with the Army. If I had joined the Air Force, I might still be there...well, maybe not...too many fucking mush-heads think queers can't fight, nor deserve the right to serve their country. Serving was hard enough and I didn't believe in that 'serve in silence' shit once I got in and saw the lay of the land!
Oh...and one other thing Mike: while it was certainly kind of you to write a letter to the "President", do you honestly think a man who sent soldiers into a war based on lies, keeps them there for multiple tours of duty over and over again, cuts their benefits when they get home or allows the injured among them to languish in filth and neglect at Walter Reed really gives a shit about Memorial Day? I'm surprised the asshole even gets out of bed long enough to place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns! In fact, the only reason he probably even shows up is for the salutes he gets!
9 comments:
Any time a war is humanized, especially in the face of multiple failures, overt lies, and obvious mismanagement, people take it much more seriously, at least in terms of weighing the costs versus any realized or potential gain. I hope the film is as good as its intentions.
I'll go see this movie, despite the perspective of it, it looks good.
Although I was fortunate enough never to have had to face combat when I was in the Army, I can tell you, like that scene where Ryan Phillipe is being given new orders to report back to Iraq, it's a terrible feeling of helplessness when some guy with a few stripes than you gives you orders you know in your heart you're loathe to obey!
I respect your intent to go into the military, Mike, but I honestly wish you'd enjoy some independence in life and see where it takes you before you turn it over to people that look at you as little more than a number and as a means get that next promotion! The men you serve with will be your best friends...those that give the orders...well....fill in the blank!
Yea, I understand what your saying, but right now my minds set, I don't know why but I feel just a calling to duty. I can't help it. Every day it gets stronger, I become more intent on it, I can't explain why, maybe seeing war and carnage will change me but I don't think so. I feel like my place is on the battlefield, not the civilian life. Go ahead and call me crazy, most people do, but it's how I feel right now and not much is going to change it. I don't know if you can understand it, most people don't. Most people tell me the meer thought of serving is stupid and a waste of time and dangerous, but I'm not afraid of Death. If I die, I die, 's for freedom and my country. It's going to be a hard road but it's what I want right now, I want a Military Career. I don't really think about doing anything else, I want to fight, serve and if necessary die for my country. I want to be a General some day, I want to be there not here. I don't know if you understand this but it's how I feel.
I respect your feelings Mike and hope the military is where you will find yourself and your place. Don't believe for a minute, however, that there is anything glorious about dying in war. How do most Americans celebrate Memorial Day? By having cookouts and long getaways with the families...the same shit they do on the 4th of July or any other given summer weekend; they certainly don't spend it visiting the graves of the fallen, nor can the majority of them even readily recall the name of a fallen soldier. Most don't even show up at a parade to honor the living veterans that show up year after year, to pull their uniforms out of mothballs to march proudly again. As you get older, Mike, you'll realize there's not much--really--to this little bit of time we're alotted here on earth--don't be in any hurry to meet death face on. He'll find his own way to you evetually, so don't rush it.
If you have the opportunity, read a work by Goethe called "The Sorrows of Young Werther," that is if an English translation can be found. This much, personally lamented work of Goethe caused many in the day to actually commit suicide; some 2000 by one account. This speaks not of Goethe's writing ability, so much as it does the sensitivities of youth which seems often too willing to part with life prematurely.
Well, I have to call it a night, but will talk to you later.
I did my 4 in the Navy and have friends and relatives still in the military. I don't care how much we "volunteered", NOONE signed up for what Bush decided to do with this country's military and NOONE agreed to do it forever.
Yes, I know about the tragedies of Memorial day, I actually wrote a letter to the President about it because I'm disgusted at how the schools give little or no attention to it. I know theres nothing glorious about dyeing and that most people won't care, but it's just how I feel right now, that I have to serve weather it means life or death.
Well Mike, as I said...I respect and support your decision either way, but if you have to join, join either the Air Force or the Navy...they attract a better lot and you'll actually learn something. But if you really, really have to dive into the meat grinder, then join the Marines! The Army tries to hard to be as bad assed as the Marines and it's not--trust me, I know--but it is full of a lot of Marine wannabees which alaways annoyed the shit out of me!
By the way, if you're curious as to why I joined the Army instead of the Marines, it was because by bet shot, at the time, to be a linguist was with the Army. If I had joined the Air Force, I might still be there...well, maybe not...too many fucking mush-heads think queers can't fight, nor deserve the right to serve their country. Serving was hard enough and I didn't believe in that 'serve in silence' shit once I got in and saw the lay of the land!
Oh...and one other thing Mike: while it was certainly kind of you to write a letter to the "President", do you honestly think a man who sent soldiers into a war based on lies, keeps them there for multiple tours of duty over and over again, cuts their benefits when they get home or allows the injured among them to languish in filth and neglect at Walter Reed really gives a shit about Memorial Day? I'm surprised the asshole even gets out of bed long enough to place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns! In fact, the only reason he probably even shows up is for the salutes he gets!
Post a Comment