Why I hate many Civilians - A Military-member's Manifesto

[Mushroom]

This is actually something I wrote over 8 years ago, and today I was reminded as to why I wrote it. And I did have to do some edits since I first wrote it, as some things have changed, like my now having served under 7 Presidents, not just 5. But the general viewpoint still has not changed. And the funny thing is, I have shown this to dozens of others in uniform, from PFC to Colonel, and they all agreed with what I said. It's just sad that so many others do not.

*****

This should not come as a surprise to many, but parts of this should be explained once again.

I largely have a pretty negative view of Civilians who treat the military with contempt, and I largely deal with them with contempt.
Now understand, this is aimed at those civilians that deal with people like me with contempt. Military, especially career military.
I see over and over some civilian (Right or Left Wing) pop in and give some really stupid comment, and all I can do is scratch my head and wonder at the stupidity that makes people actually think that way.

I mean really, do you honestly think I am going to accept orders to storm into your house and take away all of your guns?

I mean, do you honestly think that my pay is stealing food away from some starving child in the ghetto?

Yes, I classify myself as "Conservative". Mostly because I believe in Conserving the status-quo, and that change should be made gradually, not in sudden jumps and leaps that cause instability. I believe strongly in compromise, and absolutely hate the idea of either party having either all control of the Government (Executive and both of the Legislative branches), or even more importantly a "Super-Majority" in any branch of Federal or State government.

I consider myself a "Conservative", and also a "Moderate". I am a believer in compromise, and wish that both parties learned how to use it more. But even more importantly, I am so fracking sick and tired of one party demonizing the other.

I am a military person through and through. I have served off and on since the first Reagan Administration. I have served under 7 Presidents now, and do what is ordered of me. And as of yet, I have never received an order that I see as in violation of the law, or the Constitution. I may not have liked all of them, but they have been lawful, and have been carried out to the best of my ability.

I have been invited into the "Political Threads" in here many times (mostly when somebody posts something stupid in regards to something I am known to be an expert in), and have largely dipped my toe in, then left feeling that I should disinfect my toe from the filth that covered it from that dip. I am not a "political animal", and talking to me about "indoctrination" and "philosophies" largely leaves me with the feeling that I need to vomit. I could not care less about "Political Parties" or "Manifestos" (hence the sarcasm in the name of this post). My main influences are History (because the past often repeats itself), and what is a "Clear and Present Danger".

To be blunt, I really could not care less. Love me, Hate me, Despise me, it really does not matter to me. I do my job, and try to remind myself that I do so in the hopes that my children and grandchildren will never have to do so themselves. People have called me a fascist and a murderer. They have spit on me. Then again, they have thanked me for my service, and shaken my hand and even tried to pay for my meals and drinks. I do not want any of that, good or bad. I do not do what I do for personal gain, but because I honestly get personal pleasure from serving my Country, and the People of my Country.

And in also serving the People of other countries. It makes me happiest when some citizen of the country I am in at the time comes up and thanks me for being there for them. I get more personal enjoyment from that then from 1,000+ Americans telling me the same thing. Yeah, some Californian tells me I am a worthless piece of filth because I am in uniform while I put gas in my truck on my way home from a long week of work away from my wife. I could not care less, because I still remember that Kuwaiti citizen thanking me, and that means more to me then what that neo-hippie with his mind full of 420 would ever mean.

Yeah, I admit, I am writing this late on a Saturday night. I have probably had a bit more to drink then I should. Then again, for the last 2 months I have seen my wife an average of 2 days a week, and been working mostly from 6am until 8pm. And no, I do not get overtime. I am on a salary, and for living in Northern California it is ridiculously low. But I do not do what I do for money.

Frack, I left a company as a Senior Computer Technician in 2007 to go back into the military (at the age of 42). I have MCSE, Novell Certs, A+, and am on the tail end of A+, N+, CCNA, CCNE, and live in the Bay Area. Can anybody say "$60k+"?

But I would turn all that away in a heartbeat to be back on active duty, in my $30k military job.

I could not care less about praise. I could not care less about shiny things on my uniform. I have always wanted to, and still do serve my country to the best of my ability. And also any country that my own offers it's protection over.

My wife of over 35 years has put up with a lot of deployments, a lot of absences. And she sometimes even reads over my shoulder in here. And trust me, you do not want to read what she says. Ironically, in many ways she is even more militant then I am, and she is a "Democrat".

To wrap this rambling post up, my basic attitude is **** Left Wing. **** Right Wing. **** all of your mindless political nonsense. If you want to talk military, I can talk military. If you want to talk about why Missile A is better then Missile B, or why Aircraft C can be taken down by Missile C, I can do that all day long.

If you want to interject why "Mister XXXXXX YYYYYY said that blah blah blah blah", I really could not give a flying ****. Talk to me about Socialism or Fascism or Communism, or talk about the US President (ANY US President) in a less then respectful manner, and I will see you as nothing but a ****ing political hack and ignore 90% of what you say. Be it President Reagan, President Clinton, President Bush, or President Barack Obama. I may, or may not like any, none, or all of the Presidents I just listed. But they are all (or were) my Commander in Chief, and I give them all the proper respect their office demands.

Why?

If you do not get it by now, you are absolutely ****ing hopeless.

 

[sealybobo]

This is actually something I wrote over 8 years ago, and today I was reminded as to why I wrote it. And I did have to do some edits since I first wrote it, as some things have changed, like my now having served under 7 Presidents, not just 5. But the general viewpoint still has not changed. And the funny thing is, I have shown this to dozens of others in uniform, from PFC to Colonel, and they all agreed with what I said. It's just sad that so many others do not.

*****

This should not come as a surprise to many, but parts of this should be explained once again.

I largely have a pretty negative view of Civilians who treat the military with contempt, and I largely deal with them with contempt.
Now understand, this is aimed at those civilians that deal with people like me with contempt. Military, especially career military.
I see over and over some civilian (Right or Left Wing) pop in and give some really stupid comment, and all I can do is scratch my head and wonder at the stupidity that makes people actually think that way.

I mean really, do you honestly think I am going to accept orders to storm into your house and take away all of your guns?

I mean, do you honestly think that my pay is stealing food away from some starving child in the ghetto?

Yes, I classify myself as "Conservative". Mostly because I believe in Conserving the status-quo, and that change should be made gradually, not in sudden jumps and leaps that cause instability. I believe strongly in compromise, and absolutely hate the idea of either party having either all control of the Government (Executive and both of the Legislative branches), or even more importantly a "Super-Majority" in any branch of Federal or State government.

I consider myself a "Conservative", and also a "Moderate". I am a believer in compromise, and wish that both parties learned how to use it more. But even more importantly, I am so fracking sick and tired of one party demonizing the other.

I am a military person through and through. I have served off and on since the first Reagan Administration. I have served under 7 Presidents now, and do what is ordered of me. And as of yet, I have never received an order that I see as in violation of the law, or the Constitution. I may not have liked all of them, but they have been lawful, and have been carried out to the best of my ability.

I have been invited into the "Political Threads" in here many times (mostly when somebody posts something stupid in regards to something I am known to be an expert in), and have largely dipped my toe in, then left feeling that I should disinfect my toe from the filth that covered it from that dip. I am not a "political animal", and talking to me about "indoctrination" and "philosophies" largely leaves me with the feeling that I need to vomit. I could not care less about "Political Parties" or "Manifestos" (hence the sarcasm in the name of this post). My main influences are History (because the past often repeats itself), and what is a "Clear and Present Danger".

To be blunt, I really could not care less. Love me, Hate me, Despise me, it really does not matter to me. I do my job, and try to remind myself that I do so in the hopes that my children and grandchildren will never have to do so themselves. People have called me a fascist and a murderer. They have spit on me. Then again, they have thanked me for my service, and shaken my hand and even tried to pay for my meals and drinks. I do not want any of that, good or bad. I do not do what I do for personal gain, but because I honestly get personal pleasure from serving my Country, and the People of my Country.

And in also serving the People of other countries. It makes me happiest when some citizen of the country I am in at the time comes up and thanks me for being there for them. I get more personal enjoyment from that then from 1,000+ Americans telling me the same thing. Yeah, some Californian tells me I am a worthless piece of filth because I am in uniform while I put gas in my truck on my way home from a long week of work away from my wife. I could not care less, because I still remember that Kuwaiti citizen thanking me, and that means more to me then what that neo-hippie with his mind full of 420 would ever mean.

Yeah, I admit, I am writing this late on a Saturday night. I have probably had a bit more to drink then I should. Then again, for the last 2 months I have seen my wife an average of 2 days a week, and been working mostly from 6am until 8pm. And no, I do not get overtime. I am on a salary, and for living in Northern California it is ridiculously low. But I do not do what I do for money.

Frack, I left a company as a Senior Computer Technician in 2007 to go back into the military (at the age of 42). I have MCSE, Novell Certs, A+, and am on the tail end of A+, N+, CCNA, CCNE, and live in the Bay Area. Can anybody say "$60k+"?

But I would turn all that away in a heartbeat to be back on active duty, in my $30k military job.

I could not care less about praise. I could not care less about shiny things on my uniform. I have always wanted to, and still do serve my country to the best of my ability. And also any country that my own offers it's protection over.

My wife of over 35 years has put up with a lot of deployments, a lot of absences. And she sometimes even reads over my shoulder in here. And trust me, you do not want to read what she says. Ironically, in many ways she is even more militant then I am, and she is a "Democrat".

To wrap this rambling post up, my basic attitude is **** Left Wing. **** Right Wing. **** all of your mindless political nonsense. If you want to talk military, I can talk military. If you want to talk about why Missile A is better then Missile B, or why Aircraft C can be taken down by Missile C, I can do that all day long.

If you want to interject why "Mister XXXXXX YYYYYY said that blah blah blah blah", I really could not give a flying ****. Talk to me about Socialism or Fascism or Communism, or talk about the US President (ANY US President) in a less then respectful manner, and I will see you as nothing but a ****ing political hack and ignore 90% of what you say. Be it President Reagan, President Clinton, President Bush, or President Barack Obama. I may, or may not like any, none, or all of the Presidents I just listed. But they are all (or were) my Commander in Chief, and I give them all the proper respect their office demands.

Why?

If you do not get it by now, you are absolutely ****ing hopeless.

You know Jean Luke Picard from Star Trek? His father was a great military leader. But when he came home, he never amounted to much. Handyman at best. Minimum wage the rest of his life.

So it must be hard to be so important in the military. In charge of men and millions of dollars of equipment. And to be a hero in action. Then to come home and be a roofer or janitor. It must hurt.

We should have never gone into Korea, Viet Nam or Iraq.

I have disdain for the leadership who took us to these senseless wars. To put men and women at risk for bullshit. For the GLOBALISTS. But we have mad respect for the troops and our military. They were always just doing what they were told. Did you know the military voted for Biden?

P.S. I'm glad the military didn't go along with Trump's failed coup.

 

[Natural Citizen]

I largely have a pretty negative view of Civilians...

The electorate is the last line of defense between freedom and tyranny. It's their moral duty.

Civilian? Heh heh. Hardly. That's a term that seems to be thrown around far too arbitrarily. It's a term that's been twisted and turned upside down as much as the word patriotism itself. Most often by foolish men who do not understand the role of the government versus the role of the people to limit usurpers strictly. Strictly...

 

[Mushroom]

I have disdain for the leadership who took us to these senseless wars. To put men and women at risk for bullshit. For the GLOBALISTS. But we have mad respect for the troops and our military. They were always just doing what they were told. Did you know the military voted for Biden?

*shakes head and sighs*

 

[Gabe Lackmann]

So it must be hard to be so important in the military. In charge of men and millions of dollars of equipment. And to be a hero in action. Then to come home and be a roofer or janitor. It must hurt.

Nope...it's wonderful. Many of us, whose pensions pay the bills...and then some, just wanna chill. Why go out and wrestle bears in the civilian world after 20, 25, 30 years in the military? What point does it serve?
You see, at 43, I was done...because I could be.

 

[Muhammed]

This is actually something I wrote over 8 years ago, and today I was reminded as to why I wrote it. And I did have to do some edits since I first wrote it, as some things have changed, like my now having served under 7 Presidents, not just 5. But the general viewpoint still has not changed. And the funny thing is, I have shown this to dozens of others in uniform, from PFC to Colonel, and they all agreed with what I said. It's just sad that so many others do not.

*****

This should not come as a surprise to many, but parts of this should be explained once again.

I largely have a pretty negative view of Civilians who treat the military with contempt, and I largely deal with them with contempt.
Now understand, this is aimed at those civilians that deal with people like me with contempt. Military, especially career military.
I see over and over some civilian (Right or Left Wing) pop in and give some really stupid comment, and all I can do is scratch my head and wonder at the stupidity that makes people actually think that way.

I mean really, do you honestly think I am going to accept orders to storm into your house and take away all of your guns?

I mean, do you honestly think that my pay is stealing food away from some starving child in the ghetto?

Yes, I classify myself as "Conservative". Mostly because I believe in Conserving the status-quo, and that change should be made gradually, not in sudden jumps and leaps that cause instability. I believe strongly in compromise, and absolutely hate the idea of either party having either all control of the Government (Executive and both of the Legislative branches), or even more importantly a "Super-Majority" in any branch of Federal or State government.

I consider myself a "Conservative", and also a "Moderate". I am a believer in compromise, and wish that both parties learned how to use it more. But even more importantly, I am so fracking sick and tired of one party demonizing the other.

I am a military person through and through. I have served off and on since the first Reagan Administration. I have served under 7 Presidents now, and do what is ordered of me. And as of yet, I have never received an order that I see as in violation of the law, or the Constitution. I may not have liked all of them, but they have been lawful, and have been carried out to the best of my ability.

I have been invited into the "Political Threads" in here many times (mostly when somebody posts something stupid in regards to something I am known to be an expert in), and have largely dipped my toe in, then left feeling that I should disinfect my toe from the filth that covered it from that dip. I am not a "political animal", and talking to me about "indoctrination" and "philosophies" largely leaves me with the feeling that I need to vomit. I could not care less about "Political Parties" or "Manifestos" (hence the sarcasm in the name of this post). My main influences are History (because the past often repeats itself), and what is a "Clear and Present Danger".

To be blunt, I really could not care less. Love me, Hate me, Despise me, it really does not matter to me. I do my job, and try to remind myself that I do so in the hopes that my children and grandchildren will never have to do so themselves. People have called me a fascist and a murderer. They have spit on me. Then again, they have thanked me for my service, and shaken my hand and even tried to pay for my meals and drinks. I do not want any of that, good or bad. I do not do what I do for personal gain, but because I honestly get personal pleasure from serving my Country, and the People of my Country.

And in also serving the People of other countries. It makes me happiest when some citizen of the country I am in at the time comes up and thanks me for being there for them. I get more personal enjoyment from that then from 1,000+ Americans telling me the same thing. Yeah, some Californian tells me I am a worthless piece of filth because I am in uniform while I put gas in my truck on my way home from a long week of work away from my wife. I could not care less, because I still remember that Kuwaiti citizen thanking me, and that means more to me then what that neo-hippie with his mind full of 420 would ever mean.

Yeah, I admit, I am writing this late on a Saturday night. I have probably had a bit more to drink then I should. Then again, for the last 2 months I have seen my wife an average of 2 days a week, and been working mostly from 6am until 8pm. And no, I do not get overtime. I am on a salary, and for living in Northern California it is ridiculously low. But I do not do what I do for money.

Frack, I left a company as a Senior Computer Technician in 2007 to go back into the military (at the age of 42). I have MCSE, Novell Certs, A+, and am on the tail end of A+, N+, CCNA, CCNE, and live in the Bay Area. Can anybody say "$60k+"?

But I would turn all that away in a heartbeat to be back on active duty, in my $30k military job.

I could not care less about praise. I could not care less about shiny things on my uniform. I have always wanted to, and still do serve my country to the best of my ability. And also any country that my own offers it's protection over.

My wife of over 35 years has put up with a lot of deployments, a lot of absences. And she sometimes even reads over my shoulder in here. And trust me, you do not want to read what she says. Ironically, in many ways she is even more militant then I am, and she is a "Democrat".

To wrap this rambling post up, my basic attitude is **** Left Wing. **** Right Wing. **** all of your mindless political nonsense. If you want to talk military, I can talk military. If you want to talk about why Missile A is better then Missile B, or why Aircraft C can be taken down by Missile C, I can do that all day long.

If you want to interject why "Mister XXXXXX YYYYYY said that blah blah blah blah", I really could not give a flying ****. Talk to me about Socialism or Fascism or Communism, or talk about the US President (ANY US President) in a less then respectful manner, and I will see you as nothing but a ****ing political hack and ignore 90% of what you say. Be it President Reagan, President Clinton, President Bush, or President Barack Obama. I may, or may not like any, none, or all of the Presidents I just listed. But they are all (or were) my Commander in Chief, and I give them all the proper respect their office demands.

Why?

If you do not get it by now, you are absolutely ****ing hopeless.

Oozlefinch is trolling the internet again. Where have you been the couple of decades or so?

When did you get paroled?

 

[Mushroom]

Oozlefinch is trolling the internet again. Where have you been the couple of decades or so?

Uh-huh, and that is the best you can do? Tossing out insults instead of trying to discuss something?

*yawn*

 

[Muhammed]

Uh-huh, and that is the best you can do? Tossing out insults instead of trying to discuss something?

*yawn*

I'm just curious. When did you get paroled? That's the subject I brought up in our discussion.

We haven't heard from you in many years, Oozlefinch.

 

[Mushroom]

We haven't heard from you in many years, Oozlefinch.

Right here, where I normally am. Sticking to military and history topics, because I have no interest in the political crap that runs through most of this board. Which should be obvious, if you have read the above.

 

[Mushroom]

versus the role of the people to limit usurpers strictly.

Hence, why I see you as a civilian hack.

 

[Natural Citizen]

Hence, why I see you as a civilian hack.

Opinions vary. But since we're sharing them, I'll provide you with an educated opinion. I see you as nothing more than a prideful usurper fishing for some hero worship.

''Muskets'', motherfucker.

Remember that bit of history the next time you pop off about ''civilians''

 

[night_son]

This is actually something I wrote over 8 years ago, and today I was reminded as to why I wrote it. And I did have to do some edits since I first wrote it, as some things have changed, like my now having served under 7 Presidents, not just 5. But the general viewpoint still has not changed. And the funny thing is, I have shown this to dozens of others in uniform, from PFC to Colonel, and they all agreed with what I said. It's just sad that so many others do not.

*****

This should not come as a surprise to many, but parts of this should be explained once again.

I largely have a pretty negative view of Civilians who treat the military with contempt, and I largely deal with them with contempt.
Now understand, this is aimed at those civilians that deal with people like me with contempt. Military, especially career military.
I see over and over some civilian (Right or Left Wing) pop in and give some really stupid comment, and all I can do is scratch my head and wonder at the stupidity that makes people actually think that way.

I mean really, do you honestly think I am going to accept orders to storm into your house and take away all of your guns?

I mean, do you honestly think that my pay is stealing food away from some starving child in the ghetto?

Yes, I classify myself as "Conservative". Mostly because I believe in Conserving the status-quo, and that change should be made gradually, not in sudden jumps and leaps that cause instability. I believe strongly in compromise, and absolutely hate the idea of either party having either all control of the Government (Executive and both of the Legislative branches), or even more importantly a "Super-Majority" in any branch of Federal or State government.

I consider myself a "Conservative", and also a "Moderate". I am a believer in compromise, and wish that both parties learned how to use it more. But even more importantly, I am so fracking sick and tired of one party demonizing the other.

I am a military person through and through. I have served off and on since the first Reagan Administration. I have served under 7 Presidents now, and do what is ordered of me. And as of yet, I have never received an order that I see as in violation of the law, or the Constitution. I may not have liked all of them, but they have been lawful, and have been carried out to the best of my ability.

I have been invited into the "Political Threads" in here many times (mostly when somebody posts something stupid in regards to something I am known to be an expert in), and have largely dipped my toe in, then left feeling that I should disinfect my toe from the filth that covered it from that dip. I am not a "political animal", and talking to me about "indoctrination" and "philosophies" largely leaves me with the feeling that I need to vomit. I could not care less about "Political Parties" or "Manifestos" (hence the sarcasm in the name of this post). My main influences are History (because the past often repeats itself), and what is a "Clear and Present Danger".

To be blunt, I really could not care less. Love me, Hate me, Despise me, it really does not matter to me. I do my job, and try to remind myself that I do so in the hopes that my children and grandchildren will never have to do so themselves. People have called me a fascist and a murderer. They have spit on me. Then again, they have thanked me for my service, and shaken my hand and even tried to pay for my meals and drinks. I do not want any of that, good or bad. I do not do what I do for personal gain, but because I honestly get personal pleasure from serving my Country, and the People of my Country.

And in also serving the People of other countries. It makes me happiest when some citizen of the country I am in at the time comes up and thanks me for being there for them. I get more personal enjoyment from that then from 1,000+ Americans telling me the same thing. Yeah, some Californian tells me I am a worthless piece of filth because I am in uniform while I put gas in my truck on my way home from a long week of work away from my wife. I could not care less, because I still remember that Kuwaiti citizen thanking me, and that means more to me then what that neo-hippie with his mind full of 420 would ever mean.

Yeah, I admit, I am writing this late on a Saturday night. I have probably had a bit more to drink then I should. Then again, for the last 2 months I have seen my wife an average of 2 days a week, and been working mostly from 6am until 8pm. And no, I do not get overtime. I am on a salary, and for living in Northern California it is ridiculously low. But I do not do what I do for money.

Frack, I left a company as a Senior Computer Technician in 2007 to go back into the military (at the age of 42). I have MCSE, Novell Certs, A+, and am on the tail end of A+, N+, CCNA, CCNE, and live in the Bay Area. Can anybody say "$60k+"?

But I would turn all that away in a heartbeat to be back on active duty, in my $30k military job.

I could not care less about praise. I could not care less about shiny things on my uniform. I have always wanted to, and still do serve my country to the best of my ability. And also any country that my own offers it's protection over.

My wife of over 35 years has put up with a lot of deployments, a lot of absences. And she sometimes even reads over my shoulder in here. And trust me, you do not want to read what she says. Ironically, in many ways she is even more militant then I am, and she is a "Democrat".

To wrap this rambling post up, my basic attitude is **** Left Wing. **** Right Wing. **** all of your mindless political nonsense. If you want to talk military, I can talk military. If you want to talk about why Missile A is better then Missile B, or why Aircraft C can be taken down by Missile C, I can do that all day long.

If you want to interject why "Mister XXXXXX YYYYYY said that blah blah blah blah", I really could not give a flying ****. Talk to me about Socialism or Fascism or Communism, or talk about the US President (ANY US President) in a less then respectful manner, and I will see you as nothing but a ****ing political hack and ignore 90% of what you say. Be it President Reagan, President Clinton, President Bush, or President Barack Obama. I may, or may not like any, none, or all of the Presidents I just listed. But they are all (or were) my Commander in Chief, and I give them all the proper respect their office demands.

Why?

If you do not get it by now, you are absolutely ****ing hopeless.

Look, dude I can somewhat see where you're coming from. During airborne school our training battalion sergeant major drove ceaselessly into our heads how everyone who was a leg wasn't worth shit. If they weren't airborne, they weren't shit. Same thing in Ranger school—if they weren't Ranger qualified, they weren't shit. Same with every other Army school I went through. Sure, at those times, I believed it . . . I really felt that way. I was also very young, very immature, very angry and extremely ignorant of many basic life truths.

I also felt that way upon returning from a number of deployments; I felt like no civilian could "get" what I'd been through. At times . . . I despised them for their lack of understanding, their lack of gratitude. And then? Then I grew up and realized they could never "get it" because they had no fucking idea what it was like—and thank God for that.

Maybe you're just blowing off steam, maybe you're out to be a dick swinging prick. Either way, I'd advise you to ease down, grow up a little, and keep your service record in your pants.

 

[Mushroom]

I despised them for their lack of understanding, their lack of gratitude.

And as always, I generally laugh at the responses. Funny how I can say quite clearly "I treat with contempt those that treat me that way", yet some seem to think that means all.

Of course, I expect the attacks from those who see the entire world as black and white, that is all they ever do. That "if you are not with us, you are against us" mindset that I quite obviously despise. And I quite clearly also said I could not give a damn about "gratitude" either.

 

[Mushroom]

I see you as nothing more than a prideful usurper fishing for some hero worship.

 

[Natural Citizen]

Look, dude I can somewhat see where you're coming from. During airborne school our training battalion sergeant major drove ceaselessly into our heads how everyone who was a leg wasn't worth shit. If they weren't airborne, they weren't shit. Same thing in Ranger school—if they weren't Ranger qualified, they weren't shit. Same with every other Army school I went through. Sure, at those times, I believed it . . . I really felt that way. I was also very young, very immature, very angry and extremely ignorant of many basic life truths.

I also felt that way upon returning from a number of deployments; I felt like no civilian could "get" what I'd been through. At times . . . I despised them for their lack of understanding, their lack of gratitude. And then? Then I grew up and realized they could never "get it" because they had no fucking idea what it was like—and thank God for that.

Maybe you're just blowing off steam, maybe you're out to be a dick swinging prick. Either way, I'd advise you to ease down, grow up a little, and keep your service record in your pants.

There's a difference between being proud of one's military career and deriving one's identity from a military career. And that's a rather deep discussion. What I gathered from the op was the latter being put on display. The only thing that irks me more is politcizing one's military service.

I don't know if that ol boy thinks he's the only one around here who ever laced a pair of boots up or what, but it reminded me of the types who spend their nights leaning over the pool table at the bar, so everybody sees their tags fall out.

As I said, though, it's a deep discussion. There are certainly outliers. A lot of good men come back fucked up in the head after a few tours.

 

[Natural Citizen]

Anyway. There are no such things as civilians. Not in America. And the quicker the op comes around to placing his pride aside and understanding that, the better off he'll be in coming to terms with his identity in the true scheme of things. Reality simply doesn't revolve around the identity that he has created for himself through his numerous voluntary choices to re-up.

For someone who seems to want to pride himself on history, he clearly has some shortcomings with regard to it. Again...there are no such things as civilians. Not here. Not in America. There are only defenders and usurpers. Pick one. There is no in-between.

 

[sealybobo]

Nope...it's wonderful. Many of us, whose pensions pay the bills...and then some, just wanna chill. Why go out and wrestle bears in the civilian world after 20, 25, 30 years in the military? What point does it serve?
You see, at 43, I was done...because I could be.

I don't think Jean Luke's father got a pension. I think it was in England. After the war he had to come home and raise a family. And he took it out on his son and wife. Jean Luke told the story about how his father was a weekend drunk. And when he came home they could hear him singing. They knew what kind of night they were going to have based on the song he was singing.

I'm not talking about career military personal. I'm talking about guys who go serve 4 or 5 years, do really exciting and important things, are hero's, in charge of billions of dollars worth of equipment, all to come home and struggle to find a good paying job. You know the guys I'm talking about. I feel bad for them. I think employers should want to snatch them up. My buddy was in the Navy, then went to UofM and finally became a pharmacutical (SP) rep for 30 years. He's a millionaire now.

 

[sealybobo]

*shakes head and sighs*

What's wrong with what I said? I have respect for you just not the President's and politicians who send you to war to die for money. Did you support Trump? Then you know who I mean when I say GLOBALISTS. We make the world safe so Coca Cola can sell their products around the rest of the world.

 

[Blues Man]

This is actually something I wrote over 8 years ago, and today I was reminded as to why I wrote it. And I did have to do some edits since I first wrote it, as some things have changed, like my now having served under 7 Presidents, not just 5. But the general viewpoint still has not changed. And the funny thing is, I have shown this to dozens of others in uniform, from PFC to Colonel, and they all agreed with what I said. It's just sad that so many others do not.

*****

This should not come as a surprise to many, but parts of this should be explained once again.

I largely have a pretty negative view of Civilians who treat the military with contempt, and I largely deal with them with contempt.
Now understand, this is aimed at those civilians that deal with people like me with contempt. Military, especially career military.
I see over and over some civilian (Right or Left Wing) pop in and give some really stupid comment, and all I can do is scratch my head and wonder at the stupidity that makes people actually think that way.

I mean really, do you honestly think I am going to accept orders to storm into your house and take away all of your guns?

I mean, do you honestly think that my pay is stealing food away from some starving child in the ghetto?

Yes, I classify myself as "Conservative". Mostly because I believe in Conserving the status-quo, and that change should be made gradually, not in sudden jumps and leaps that cause instability. I believe strongly in compromise, and absolutely hate the idea of either party having either all control of the Government (Executive and both of the Legislative branches), or even more importantly a "Super-Majority" in any branch of Federal or State government.

I consider myself a "Conservative", and also a "Moderate". I am a believer in compromise, and wish that both parties learned how to use it more. But even more importantly, I am so fracking sick and tired of one party demonizing the other.

I am a military person through and through. I have served off and on since the first Reagan Administration. I have served under 7 Presidents now, and do what is ordered of me. And as of yet, I have never received an order that I see as in violation of the law, or the Constitution. I may not have liked all of them, but they have been lawful, and have been carried out to the best of my ability.

I have been invited into the "Political Threads" in here many times (mostly when somebody posts something stupid in regards to something I am known to be an expert in), and have largely dipped my toe in, then left feeling that I should disinfect my toe from the filth that covered it from that dip. I am not a "political animal", and talking to me about "indoctrination" and "philosophies" largely leaves me with the feeling that I need to vomit. I could not care less about "Political Parties" or "Manifestos" (hence the sarcasm in the name of this post). My main influences are History (because the past often repeats itself), and what is a "Clear and Present Danger".

To be blunt, I really could not care less. Love me, Hate me, Despise me, it really does not matter to me. I do my job, and try to remind myself that I do so in the hopes that my children and grandchildren will never have to do so themselves. People have called me a fascist and a murderer. They have spit on me. Then again, they have thanked me for my service, and shaken my hand and even tried to pay for my meals and drinks. I do not want any of that, good or bad. I do not do what I do for personal gain, but because I honestly get personal pleasure from serving my Country, and the People of my Country.

And in also serving the People of other countries. It makes me happiest when some citizen of the country I am in at the time comes up and thanks me for being there for them. I get more personal enjoyment from that then from 1,000+ Americans telling me the same thing. Yeah, some Californian tells me I am a worthless piece of filth because I am in uniform while I put gas in my truck on my way home from a long week of work away from my wife. I could not care less, because I still remember that Kuwaiti citizen thanking me, and that means more to me then what that neo-hippie with his mind full of 420 would ever mean.

Yeah, I admit, I am writing this late on a Saturday night. I have probably had a bit more to drink then I should. Then again, for the last 2 months I have seen my wife an average of 2 days a week, and been working mostly from 6am until 8pm. And no, I do not get overtime. I am on a salary, and for living in Northern California it is ridiculously low. But I do not do what I do for money.

Frack, I left a company as a Senior Computer Technician in 2007 to go back into the military (at the age of 42). I have MCSE, Novell Certs, A+, and am on the tail end of A+, N+, CCNA, CCNE, and live in the Bay Area. Can anybody say "$60k+"?

But I would turn all that away in a heartbeat to be back on active duty, in my $30k military job.

I could not care less about praise. I could not care less about shiny things on my uniform. I have always wanted to, and still do serve my country to the best of my ability. And also any country that my own offers it's protection over.

My wife of over 35 years has put up with a lot of deployments, a lot of absences. And she sometimes even reads over my shoulder in here. And trust me, you do not want to read what she says. Ironically, in many ways she is even more militant then I am, and she is a "Democrat".

To wrap this rambling post up, my basic attitude is **** Left Wing. **** Right Wing. **** all of your mindless political nonsense. If you want to talk military, I can talk military. If you want to talk about why Missile A is better then Missile B, or why Aircraft C can be taken down by Missile C, I can do that all day long.

If you want to interject why "Mister XXXXXX YYYYYY said that blah blah blah blah", I really could not give a flying ****. Talk to me about Socialism or Fascism or Communism, or talk about the US President (ANY US President) in a less then respectful manner, and I will see you as nothing but a ****ing political hack and ignore 90% of what you say. Be it President Reagan, President Clinton, President Bush, or President Barack Obama. I may, or may not like any, none, or all of the Presidents I just listed. But they are all (or were) my Commander in Chief, and I give them all the proper respect their office demands.

Why?

If you do not get it by now, you are absolutely ****ing hopeless.

It's not the soldiers, it's the leadership and the government that are the ones I hold in contempt.

 

[sealybobo]

Right here, where I normally am. Sticking to military and history topics, because I have no interest in the political crap that runs through most of this board. Which should be obvious, if you have read the above.

Talk about history repeating itself. Do you remember Republicans started a riot in 2000 to stop the recount. And it worked. They stopped the count and the Supreme Court decided Bush will be president. You know that's what Trump was trying to do. Unfortunately for him it wasn't close enough to pull it off. Google Brooks Brother Riots.

And, Trump's insurrection has striking resemblance to Hitler's Beer Hall Putch. Hitler was put in jail but later became the leader of Germany. Trump probably won't go to jail even though he should, but he may make a comeback in 2024. Now that would be history repeating itself.