This could be a sensitive subject, and it could invite a lot of people to kick off and call me naive and idealistic, but regardless...
I have spent a fair amount of time reading these boards logged and not. Before I became a member and after. I have noticed that when discussing places like Kndahar, or things like op Medusa or any of those of us who have fallen, there is a lot of anger and resentment. I am not saying that's wrong. I know people deal with loss and stress in a myriad of different ways. What I am wondering is whether or not as a general question the soldiers here on this forum meant it when they joined. Did most of you enlist with the idea of a steady paycheck or a new world of adventure? Maybe the idea that you wanted to go out and blow s*** up for the sake of blowing s*** up? Did anyone join with the idea that they wanted to fight for something bigger? The idea that maybe you were willing to risk your life for something bigger then your own life? Fight and risk dieing so that someone you never met in a country far away could live a safer, better life? I know that was a big part of why I joined (not the only reason mind) and that if something happened to me I would want people to know I would be here anyways. I would rather be doing something I believe in at the worst times then being anywhere else at the best. Am I alone or do we just forget...
Mods - I wasn't quite sure where to put this. I hope this is the place.
I have spent a fair amount of time reading these boards logged and not. Before I became a member and after. I have noticed that when discussing places like Kndahar, or things like op Medusa or any of those of us who have fallen, there is a lot of anger and resentment. I am not saying that's wrong. I know people deal with loss and stress in a myriad of different ways. What I am wondering is whether or not as a general question the soldiers here on this forum meant it when they joined. Did most of you enlist with the idea of a steady paycheck or a new world of adventure? Maybe the idea that you wanted to go out and blow s*** up for the sake of blowing s*** up? Did anyone join with the idea that they wanted to fight for something bigger? The idea that maybe you were willing to risk your life for something bigger then your own life? Fight and risk dieing so that someone you never met in a country far away could live a safer, better life? I know that was a big part of why I joined (not the only reason mind) and that if something happened to me I would want people to know I would be here anyways. I would rather be doing something I believe in at the worst times then being anywhere else at the best. Am I alone or do we just forget...
Mods - I wasn't quite sure where to put this. I hope this is the place.