General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: One can honor military personnel without honoring war. [View all]Victor_c3
(3,557 posts)however, you have to understand that many people (myself included) joined the Army under the misguided intent that they would make the world a better place.
I was 17 in 1997 and was the total product of my upbringing when I truly internalized that the military was a tool used to make the world a better place. I thoroughly believed the motto of the Green Berets "De Opresso Liber" (or liberator of the oppressed). I saw examples of conflicts in my life up to that point (albeit wrongly in some cases) as being perfect examples of how the military was used to protect those who couldn't be protected by any other means.
I joined with the best of intentions and the purest of thoughts but sadly I found that I was to be taken advantage of. My military service brings out a strange mix of often conflicting thoughts and feelings. It is a huge part of my identity (i.e. my avatar), but at the same time I'm appalled by much of it.
Like you, I hate to see the glorification of Soldiers but at the same time I hate for my service to be ignored and forgotten. The sense of alienation that many of us returning vets feel is overwhelming and astounding at times. Even when I'm with my wife, parents, and kids I feel completely out of place, sad, and alone. I personally think that monuments for wars should focus on images of broken Soldiers and shattered families - not images of strength that stir feeling of glory.
I'm not saying that this is who you are, but anti-war types of people need to do more to incorporate and include veterans like myself at times into their cause. Blanketing veterans as part of the system to be fought against eliminates people who can be very effective at getting points across to those who push for wars.
Again, I believe that I agree with much of what you have said.