It's something that should have it's own word to describe. It probably does. You spend your whole life growing up, watching the romanticism of it all with John Wayne, Steve McQueen, Clint Eastwood or Robert Mitchum. I could play in my backyard for hours, with a bang bang or a yell at the top my lungs. The idea was something that I fell in love with at a young age, and could only imagine what it would actually be like. Combat. War. The Military. Fighting for one's country, for freedom, for a just cause.
I never thought that all of that glory, all of the cliche sayings and the fight for freedom could ever feel like this. It starts with you thanking me for my service. Unless you yourself are a Veteran, respectfully, stop it. It doesn't mean anything to me. You have no idea what you're even thanking me for. It's something you'll never understand, it's something that changes one whose been there drastically. It changes your views on the world so instantaneously that it often scares you that you could ever have been the man that you were before the experience.
Of course, I could never say that directly to your face. I know your heart is in the right place, but it certainly doesn't do me any favors. The truth of the matter is, you think perhaps when you join, or before or even part way through serving this country, that you're doing something truly special. Truly remarkable. And in a way, you are. But not the way you would think. The problem is, you realize what a bunch of bullshit all of this is. This country doesn't have a sliver, an ounce of understanding of what it is to be free. We have become so blinded by our own ignorance's that we expect that simply because we are American we are deserving of everything. Our entitlement is irreproachable. We inherently believe that our government should take care of us. That all of this, it's safe, it's easy. There's food, water, power, safety.
This is a crock. It's a dream that we are too close to waking up from. The reality will be a nightmare.
As a Veteran, you can't imagine how easily I have become embarrassed for my service to this country. I'm proud to have met the brothers whose bond has been strengthened with me in the harshest realms of sacrifice and hard work. My pride in being 'American' is something that I have started to separate myself from. The vast rift being created is one that leaves me feeling lost. The ignorance runs unshackled, and on days I give more respect to the enemies who have tried to kill me. Because, although they may have been ignorant, they didn't have the option of anything else. And in that consideration, with all that they knew in their lives, they were willing to die for it. Their Freedom was worth dying for. Tom Brokaw would agree, the shouldered weight of the nation is on too few.
The harshest part of all of this is not my separation in pride of being an American. It's the rift that is happening between the so, or now called Americans. This most recent election caused such turmoil in our nation that no matter who would win, no right can be done. There will be such blinded joy from the winning side that all wishes will eagerly be granted by supporters. Conversely, there will be an insurmountable hate from the losing side and supporters that all will be opposed. No growth, no compromise and the Union, not more perfect.
Is it worth defending?
As long as our government is administered for the good of the people, and is regulated by their will; as long as it secures to us the rights of persons and of property, liberty of conscience and of the press, it will be worth defending. -Andrew Jackson
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