Farewell America

[Chas_svo]

It doesn't make me better than anyone that I served my country. All the negative aftermath of war will be with me until I die BUT it was my decision to join, just like everyone else in today's military.

We are used to the general populace not understanding a damn thing about what we go through, they're too busy watching Jersey Shore to give a shit nor do they understand about sacrificing yourself for a greater cause. Even though that's pretty hard to say with the OIF OEF veterans because even we don't understand what good came out of those two wars. That's why we feel our opinion is elevated above most, hence why it bleeds over when talking about where this country is at/going on this board.

Please don't lump all of us into that group. If this were true, Obummer would have 100% of the votes, if not 108%.

Many appreciate your service and try to understand where you are coming from.

Besides that, I'm still counting on numb nuts (nay nay) to keep running his mouth until you, or someone else that is short-tempered, to pound his good for nothing skull in.

Carry on.

[inline 6]

Thats a fair way of putting it. It just rubs me the wrong way so badly when I am around or hear it and this thread stinks of it.

[BMCSean]

I understand that perfectly. Just quit acting like you got up everyday, picked up your rifle, and protected US soil. I see this complex mostly with the younger generation veterans. You want all this praise and sucking of the cock everywhere you go like you killed 100 taliban trying to take the Alamo. None of you are better than anyone for signing up knowing the consequences of what they might ask you to do. That's all, imma get off my soap box now. It's nothing personal with you. It's more of an observation.

Even as a veteran of OIF/OEF I agree with you, but I do feel the type of veterans you are referencing are the minority. Obviously it is a volunteer military and we all joined for our own reasons, but even in the military you have a similar contigency to the civilian population (thugs, drug dealers, pedophiles, etc..) still exist in uniform.
It has always pissed me off to have people around like that, they give the regular guys a bad wrap but there is not an easy way to weed them out. It is usually the younger guys who have a harder time coping with the aftermath of combat that have the "Better than everyone/badass" complex. Perfect example; one of my best friends in high school was the nicest guy you could ever meet, joined the Marines and became a .50 cal gunner. He was sent over immediately after training and stuck on convoys for a year. One day his convoy hit an IED and he had to pull his friends out of a burning Humvee, he said as he was pulling them out he could feel their bones shifting around and they were all dead. When he returned he was the biggest asshole, he lost all of his friends because of the way he treated everyone, with the "I'm better than you attitude". He spent years going to therapy and has repaired some of the relationships but is still kind of a jerk, another good friend went into the marines also and also did a year tour but had a different experience and is still the same guy he was before.

It does piss people off (including me) when they act like that but you have to realize that even though they "volunteered" for it doesn't mean they were really ready for what would happen, and it is more of a defense mechanism than anything.

[inline 6]

I understand that perfectly. Just quit acting like you got up everyday, picked up your rifle, and protected US soil. I see this complex mostly with the younger generation veterans. You want all this praise and sucking of the cock everywhere you go like you killed 100 taliban trying to take the Alamo. None of you are better than anyone for signing up knowing the consequences of what they might ask you to do. That's all, imma get off my soap box now. It's nothing personal with you. It's more of an observation.

[Up0n0ne]

LOL in actually thinking the system actually cared who the poeple voted for, counted the actual votes, or that it was legit election. China owns Australia now, probably close to the top of my list as the last place to move.
Pretty sure carbon taxes are already there as well. I would seriously reconsider.

[bucky]

Good luck OP,

I am a lot older than you but have spent the last 12 years traveling and I'm not talking about 5 star hotels in London and Paris. Although i've never been to Australia yet i have been extensively thru SE Asia. If you get a chance, take a backpack and your passport and head up to Malaysia, Philippines, and into Vietnam and Cambodia. I will bet everything i have that your attitude about America will change. Hey, I fucking hate the direction this country has taken also but its still the best country on earth. We can still right the ship here.

[Cannon]

Not to mention that none of them are fighting wars for "our" freedoms and last time I checked they signed up for it.

That's such a ignorant way to view our military. We don't choose what wars to fight... We sign up to serve our country and are perfectly willing to die for YOUR freedom, they don't ask us to go fight bullshit wars they just send us in.

[inline 6]

Not to mention that none of them are fighting wars for "our" freedoms and last time I checked they signed up for it.

[Frank]

I am surprised at the way this thread has gone as I was entirely sure I would be strictly chastised. I appreciate both the praise and criticism of my decision, but I feel that this is the best thing for me to do at this point in my life. I am young, not tied down by a family, wife, debt, or anything of the sort. Worst case scenario is that I go down under, dislike it and then return. After all I am leaving everything I have ever known behind; My friends, my family, my job, my possessions (save for what I can fit inside two bags), and a culture I am familiar with in favor of a new and strange place where I hope I can succeed on my own.

What do you have lined up? School? A job prospect? Any contacts there? Just wondering.

[Cannon]

Your opinion does matter. It's people who talk like service elevates their opinion above others and then use it as the basis of an argument that annoy me. My dad wouldn't speak more than a sentence about Vietnam for 20 years after he got back. I know what you guys go through, however it is very poor form to criticize someone exercising their freedom just because you don't agree with the decisions they are making. I've never once heard my father speak in disgust about his military service due to some life decision another person was making. It seriously pisses me the fuck off when former military use that as a crutch for validation of their own opinion.

It doesn't make me better than anyone that I served my country. All the negative aftermath of war will be with me until I die BUT it was my decision to join, just like everyone else in today's military.

We are used to the general populace not understanding a damn thing about what we go through, they're too busy watching Jersey Shore to give a shit nor do they understand about sacrificing yourself for a greater cause. Even though that's pretty hard to say with the OIF OEF veterans because even we don't understand what good came out of those two wars. That's why we feel our opinion is elevated above most, hence why it bleeds over when talking about where this country is at/going on this board.

Have you ever been shot at? Do you wake up at night drenched in sweat, heart racing from a dream you had about all the fire fights/hand to hand combat you've been through? Do you suddenly snap back into reality not understanding why you're in your kitchen at 3 am with your Ka-Bar looking for an insurgent? I do... You're a smart guy, I know by reading your posts so maybe you can understand why I feel like my opinion about this country and where it is going is important. I'm hindered the rest of my life, I'll never be the same again from defending this country. We've sacrificed for America so we believe our opinion matters.

Your opinion does matter. It's people who talk like service elevates their opinion above others and then use it as the basis of an argument that annoy me. My dad wouldn't speak more than a sentence about Vietnam for 20 years after he got back. I know what you guys go through, however it is very poor form to criticize someone exercising their freedom just because you don't agree with the decisions they are making. I've never once heard my father speak in disgust about his military service due to some life decision another person was making. It seriously pisses me the fuck off when former military use that as a crutch for validation of their own opinion.

[Ruffdaddy]

Have you ever been shot at? Do you wake up at night drenched in sweat, heart racing from a dream you had about all the fire fights/hand to hand combat you've been through? Do you suddenly snap back into reality not understanding why you're in your kitchen at 3 am with your Ka-Bar looking for an insurgent? I do... You're a smart guy, I know by reading your posts so maybe you can understand why I feel like my opinion about this country and where it is going is important. I'm hindered the rest of my life, I'll never be the same again from defending this country. We've sacrificed for America so we believe our opinion matters.

People will always see things different ways. But asking someone to see something your way because you did something they didn't ask of you and may not agree with is never going to work. I still don't know that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were ever about fighting for our freedom...and if it even did more good than harm.

[Forever_frost]

Have you ever been shot at? Do you wake up at night drenched in sweat, heart racing from a dream you had about all the fire fights/hand to hand combat you've been through? Do you suddenly snap back into reality not understanding why you're in your kitchen at 3 am with your Ka-Bar looking for an insurgent? I do... You're a smart guy, I know by reading your posts so maybe you can understand why I feel like my opinion about this country and where it is going is important. I'm hindered the rest of my life, I'll never be the same again from defending this country. We've sacrificed for America so we believe our opinion matters.

Yeah, same here. Except it's my Benchmade or rifle. Did learn I can still clear a room in my sleep though

[Forever_frost]

I am surprised at the way this thread has gone as I was entirely sure I would be strictly chastised. I appreciate both the praise and criticism of my decision, but I feel that this is the best thing for me to do at this point in my life. I am young, not tied down by a family, wife, debt, or anything of the sort. Worst case scenario is that I go down under, dislike it and then return. After all I am leaving everything I have ever known behind; My friends, my family, my job, my possessions (save for what I can fit inside two bags), and a culture I am familiar with in favor of a new and strange place where I hope I can succeed on my own.

I did something similar. Right out of basic to Korea. Check out other cultures, visit New Zealand while you're down there. It's a quick trip.

[Cannon]

Cut the holier than thou bullshit. Those freedoms INCLUDE every decision he is making. Are you going to say the same thing to people who voted for Obama? I love how service to this country(PAID)is like some gold card to elevate veterans positions above someone they don't agree with. Find an actual position and argue it, not some wishy washy "Race Card" to make your point with.

Have you ever been shot at? Do you wake up at night drenched in sweat, heart racing from a dream you had about all the fire fights/hand to hand combat you've been through? Do you suddenly snap back into reality not understanding why you're in your kitchen at 3 am with your Ka-Bar looking for an insurgent? I do... You're a smart guy, I know by reading your posts so maybe you can understand why I feel like my opinion about this country and where it is going is important. I'm hindered the rest of my life, I'll never be the same again from defending this country. We've sacrificed for America so we believe our opinion matters.