I Am Who I Am And I Am Judged For It

I think there are people who from time to time wish they had served. Maybe couldn't for one or more reasons. Others just look to try to insult people they know nothing about. Whatever the reason, they have nothing to do but look here. I can post dozens of pictures of me in uniform. If it was not my service it would be something else they would think I was lying about.

Small minds I guess.

@USMCGUY: There are people who are sick of being lied. I think it affects a lot.
I'm that kind of person who never thinks a priori that someone else has a reason to lie but I have to confess that I'm turning into a less credule person because of the experiences. It's sad but it is.

Reading the replies here, I'm understanding why American people have such tendency to enroll the military forces. They see respected and well considered there.
So different to what happen in my country. Different cultures.

@twistermind: It has been my experience that the VAST majority of people in the US have great respect for the military. There are however some folks (who typically although not exclusively are on the left) that do not like or care for military service.

They consider them worthless, call them criminals, or baby killers etc. By and large, folks appreciate our service men and women.

With any group there are always going to be outliers. Both good and bad. The military is all volunteer and comes from the general population so the challenges in the military usually closely resemble those in the civilian community but because we are small as an overall percentage of the population and because there are standards to get into the military, the problems aren't as pronounced.

I appreciate the acknowledgement but that isn't why I joined. I did it to see the world, serve my country, learn a job skill, and escape an impoverished area where I grew up.

@USMCGUY: Sounds reasonable.
Surely, you would hate me because I'm a pacifist but still prefer the weapons in professional hands than there spread in the population.
But, I don't want to change your post topic. :-)

@twistermind: Actually I am such a big teddy you would not believe it. I practiced Aikido from a very young age. It is entirely defensive. Not aggressive in any way. I have played many martial arts throughout the years and on of the things that it took me years of study to truly understand is why I train to fight.

Its so I never have to. In practice you learn about how to deal with attacks. Eventually you become so proficient that you are fairly capable. Eventually you respect human life to where you hope never to have to take it. If you are a true martial artist, you will identify ways to stop a fight even before it starts. If you can bring your opponent to see things from your perspective and you see from theirs there is nothing for them to attack.

If I make my enemy my friend, do I not destroy my enemy?

@USMCGUY: lol! Your enemy is past story.
It's great! And it takes discipline and control. Many times, people fail in controling themselves and are able to do terrible things that they regret then.