Like LiberalRakkasan, I'm a soldier. I served in Iraq from March of '03 through April of '04.
I just want to take a quick chance to respond to the folks who are so quick to criticize us.
You're entitled to your opinions.
But that's a very simplistic stand to take, and one which allows you to feel virtuous and free of moral taint.
The fact of the matter is, the world isn't made up of stark blues and reds. Like that popular map, it's more a shade of purple. And within that shade, it's probable that a whole continuum of moral and ethical decisions can be made.
I envy your stark moral clarity, but I can't help but wonder if it doesn't have an element of fear in it--the fear that comes from not knowing, beyond a shadow of a doubt, how you would act if you were placed in a similar situation, having experienced similar things, over a period of time.
I suspect--no, I know--that within all of us, there's a savage beast, clawing at the fragile shells of our civility, and that only a sense of discipline, and the humility that comes in knowing that we're sinners all, keeps the beast at bay.
I have seen the beast in me. I did things there that I'm not proud of. I ask forgiveness of my God every day. That's all I can do--that, and continue to be the best man and husband that I can hope to be.
I thank you for your thoughts, and I thank LiberalRakkasan for his.
Arkhangel
Better Angels of our Nature
http://arkhangel.blogs.com