By Madison S. Hughes (09.24.2008)
After twenty-three years of military service in the U.S. Army, I realized that I just got tired of being around so many closed-minded, fascist, obnoxious, xenophobic, misogynistic, overconfident, arrogant, anti-intellectual, bigoted, Conservative, self-righteous, jingoistic, militaristic, redneck Republicans that thump the bible and drape themselves in the flag. I could go on, but life is too short.
Always Question Authority 
Yes, military deaths are an extremely touchy subject & at the moment the UK is going through a poppy day of remembrance but actually does not seem to end. I’m actually researching wars, those that are justified, if any, & what my stance is in all this. Someone made a very touching, to me, remark which was, rather than say Remembrance we should say Sorry! I missed military call up by one year in UK and still wonder whether so many conflicts were justified, & more importantly, for the right reasons? I’ve come to realise we are treated like mushrooms, kept in the dark & fed BS!
Madison, I hope I didn’t offend you. That was not my intention. I was merely seeking more insight into why you hold the beliefs you do.
Tafacory,
Oh no, I did not get offended. I welcome your comments anytime. I realize my comments may come off as harsh sometimes, but I assure you they are not meant to be venomous; I am just straight forward, and a little more passionate than need be sometimes.
Keep your comments coming; I truly enjoy our correspondence.
In Reason,
Madison
I wonder, where does such hostility come from? What kind of awful experiences have you had with such people?
Hello Tafacory,
Hostility may be a bit strong to describe my twenty-three years of observation. Usually truth comes with a bit of a sting; however, I make no apology for it.
I guess I could tighten my shot group, and say that while these adjectives described the U.S. Army in general, I must say I am describing the officer corps in particular.
Maybe the nearly two years I spent in the desert realizing that I was not there defending our country’s freedom, or democracy, but instead the corporate interests of the plutocracy of which we are citizens.
Maybe it was the realization that we were lied into a “war” of choice followed by a decade long illegal occupation by a bunch of war criminals that will not be held to account.
Maybe it is because presently we have 1,562 U.S. Military deaths in Afghanistan.
Maybe it is because presently we have 11,191 U.S. Military wounded in Afghanistan.
Maybe it is because presently we have 4,466 U.S. Military deaths in Iraq.
Maybe it is because presently we have 33,080 U.S. Military wounded in Iraq.
Maybe it is because presently we have 655,000 (some have estimated over one million) Iraqi deaths in Iraq.
So, when all is said and done, I would not say that it was “awful experiences” as much as it was direct observation. Of course as far as you are concerned, this is merely anecdotal evidence as opposed to empirical evidence, but that is my story.
I hope this helps.
In Reason,
Madison