Quote:
Originally Posted by Platapus
Because we have voluntarily taken an oath of honour to serve the civilian leadership of our country.
- Whether we agree with the politician or not is irrelevant.
- Whether our political party of choice is in power or not is irrelevant.
- Whether we believe or do not believe in the specific action is irrelevant.
- Whether our personal morals agree or disagree with the government's is irrelevant.
- Whether our government appreciates or does not appreciate our service is irrelevant.
- Whether our government rewards us or ignores us is irrelevant.
We "military folks" have taken an oath on our personal honour to serve. This is why no one is, or should be forced to serve. To some it is a duty to serve, to others it is a honour to serve. To some it is a desire to serve. To all, it is service upon our honour.
To those who have not served, it may be difficult to understand. And I don't mean that in an insulting manner at all. Service to your country is difficult to understand even for those who serve. But we do it, because we feel that it is, for myriad reasons, the right thing for us to do.
Personally, I never look down at someone who chooses not to serve, nor do I especially encourage someone to serve. I don't even think I have any special feeling of pride for serving my country, in one form or another, for going on 30 years. My service to my country goes far deeper than pride or patriotism for I am neither a prideful nor a patriotic man . It goes to a level that defies words. My service to my country just is.
Perhaps you may understand it a little better now, but if you don't, that's OK too.
|
My 2 cents along these thoughts.
Nobody goes to war thinking their the bad guy. But that's how our society usually judges things. Good guys and bad guys. Well, if nobody goes to war thinking their the bad guys, who's to say is the bad guy? Them? Us? Who's standards do we use to make that determination? Theirs? Ours? Is there some universal standard, and how's to make THAT determination?
I dwelled on that alot. I have been to alot of places and done many things i didn't agree with. So, the answer i came upon was this:
It's all relative to perception, and you have to make a stand in the world somewhere, and we are NOT always right. Many times we are wrong. But, as Right or as wrong as we may be, It is still MY country, It is still MY home, and this i would defend.