Memorial Day

For or against, I think it safe to say for most people that soldiers have a lousy lot. Kipling wrote a lot about the soldier, and how, in his observation, society's acceptance of those willing to do violence on their behalf was less than willing-more like something you pull out of the closet when looking for undone laundry or cleaning up something the cat did when you weren't looking. Contrary to popular belief, the military today is full of highly educated people just doing a job. 80 percent of the time its fixing parachutes, cooking really REALLY big meals, playing army in the mud, heat, and cold, sailing from point a to b and back, driving trucks around, or keeping track of stuff in some of the biggest green walmarts you've ever seen (92A, Hooah!). It's that 20 percent that everyone seems to get all riled up about. Are there unadjusted people in the military? You bet, we are all a bit crazy....I mean, we signed up to do run in when others run out-with guns. Do other countries view us as oppressors? I don't know, i'm not there-but remember, unlike working at my office I couldn't just say "screw this" and leave had I been stop-lossed and sent to the sandbox. There is a fundamental disconnect with the military today that didn't exist a generation ago. Now that the force is volunteer its someone else's job or someone else's kid(s). I think a conscription of two years of federal service of some kind-Peace Corp, NG, Air Force, Marine Reserve, AmeriCorp, whatever would go a long way towards ending that. I can look down my nose at the British Royal Family, but that kid William is a Bad Ass MF-have you ever looked at the training those Royal Marines go through? It was EXPECTED of him-and in many countries it's compulsory. I guess I get a little sick of the young people grilling and getting the extra day out of the office while watching old people limp and groan their way to the front of a bunch of tombstones to pay homage to a sacrifice that someone made, or that they had to endure someone else making.

Peace, Hope, Saftey


Support Victory!

244th QMBN
1012 QMBN, Det. 2
PFC Satterfield, Cedric
Hon. Discharged Feb, 2002