Quote:
Originally Posted by Stealhead
August quote comes from a speech by T. Roosevelt generally called "The man in the Arena" he may be thinking of what Sailor Steve was saying to you because Steve has experienced war and you have not.He might also be trying to say ignore Skybird(he is the critic and your in the arena)
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Am I? To me it seems I am much more in care for own side'S fioghting soldiers than quite some others, it also seems to me that I have far lkess illusions about the nature of war and thus are at the same time more unforgiving in detemrination how to fight wars - but also are far more hesitent to get wars started over questionable motives. Some of the military opoerations and wars you have seen since 2001 would not have happened if it would have been up to me. And the fewer wars/operations still being carried out - let'S say they would hjave been fought very very differently.
Does this make me a war monger or a warner of war?
In literature and movies, there is sometimes this cliche brought up, the proud warrior drawing blank his knife, but not needing to fight this time and so cutting his own hand so that it bleeds before putting the blade back into its shed. But actually, the symbolism in this often used idea to me makes sense, if you interpret it this way: do not be easy in pulling your weapon, do not ready yourself for lethal fighting and war if you are not determined, unforgivingly, to indeed shed blood.
In other words: be careful and be not easy about calling for war. But once you draw your blade, than be determined, and not be about theatralic gestures.
The dilletancy of the Bush administraiton about Iraq was the one crime they committed. The other was their easymindedness and carelessness and the intolerable motives by which they unleashed it. That's why I have called Bush a traitor to his own soldiers back then: he abused the naivety of many soldiers who got blinded over their well-meant willingness to serve their country and
defend freedom and democracy (oh with this magic spell you can catch the souls of young men so very easily, can't you) and all that. The war was about anything but that.
You hear that, Red-October-who-wants-to-serve?
Be aware of the treacherous master you are willing to give the power to decide over your life. It's precious, you should not accept just any criminal dirtbag to play around with it. You said you "know" about the horror of war, due to the stories told by your grandfathers. You do not know the horror because you read a book about it, or hear somebody talking about it. You know nothing as long as you have not been there and have seen it yourself - and then horror is staring back and deep into yourself. Don't be so eager to meet it. And don't be so foolish to think you are prepared for it. When you return home, you bring some of it back with you, hidden inside of you for the rest of your life. If that is still worth it for you, then at least be certain of the cause for which you make that sacrifice. By not differing between your idealistic desire and the real-political intention of your masters - politicians and corporations - you not only sell your soul and life under value, but you also could easily end up as a helper for the cause of "evil", helping right the opposite of what you hoped you would achieve.
Serving you can in so many functions. btw. As a Autobahn emergency ambulance medic, those guys see terrible things, I can tell you. As a firefighter. Policeman. Doctor. And so many other, less sensationally sounding jobs. Not to mention voluntary engagements and wellfare projects you can pick up. Soldiers are not the better humans, nor are they worse.
What'S more precious to you: serving the needs, or your hunger for glory deriving from your exclusively military definition of "serving"?
And finally, a question for which some will hate me again or attack me over my "cynism" again. You should ask yourself whether the higher cause or community you want to serve - indeed deserves your engagement. That point is often too much taken for granted so that it must not be questioned at all. And I found not questioning it to be very bad advise. Maybe that is the reason why I am such a grim comrade today, but I refuse to cry over the death of illusions I formerly had, for the only solid basis to make decisions, is realism - not wishful thinking, exaggerated hopes or irrational fears.