Apocalypto....I am now officially "Violenced OUT"

[Cacia]

The "contractors" are well despised by every active duty USA or USMC that I know.

I will hand you that mdb...but don't you think much of it is envy regarding money and autonomy?

I have heard very negative remarks about Blackwater from Marines...but the truth is they are often doing jobs that our military is stretched too thin to do. Oh...we have heard some offers. I will be honest and say I am open to the money, more than JB. I probably even believe more in the "the cause" of spreading democracy than most military people will verbalize, at least.

Your post Viet Nam time in La Jolla--very poignant and I agree with the explanation.

It is all very confusing and I am a bit obsessed with the whole thing, to be honest. JB does not want to dive anymore--something has changed. I am putting this out there to you, my friends because being real is all there is in life. So, please don't go away in a huff over something that matters way less than your friendship and being here for me and everyone else who needs your intensity. Okay?

He forgets to tell me things,... leaves the grill on. Almost plowed through pedestrians in the crosswalk.

But, life goes on and violence is and always will be part of the human condition. I am looking for some answers, a way to align your beliefs and your daily life in a way that is not cynical.

It was criminal.

WHY do you say this? maybe we did not know any better. Can't you give the people that make up the government the benefit of the doubt? Why not assume that most people are doing the best that they can?
Why do you not say "it was unfortunate"...I really want to know the answer to this. Surely, you don't think it intentional?

I liked it but didn't think it great.. she, on the otherhand, thought it was awesome. We are married now.

Well, I hope/bet you have a lot of interesting conversations. It's very boring to agree on everything.

A first date movie, lol. You did not kill yourself doing too much first date research, huh?

 

[mdb]

Catherine: My wish is that you and JB find peace and happiness. This forum is not the place, IMO, to continue this discussion.

 

[Kevrumbo]

If she can find others who can empathize with what she's experiencing through here, then sure & why not . . .this forum can and be should be used.

My Father, a Korean War Veteran and Silver Star Recipient, has been suffering from PTSD for over fifty-five years. Together with gerontological senility and possible developing dementia, I'm thinking of having his Driver's License taken away permanently now. . .

 

[mdb]

If she can find others who can empathize with what she's experiencing through here, then sure & why not . . .this forum can and be should be used.

My Father, a Korean War Veteran and Silver Star Recipient, has been suffering from PTSD for over fifty-five years. Together with gerontological senility and possible developing dementia, I'm thinking of having his Driver's License taken away permanently now. . .

Kevrumbo: My Father, who will be 90 next month, and all my Uncles, served, they served in Italy, Normandy, the battle of the Bulge, some landed in the Pacific and on and on.

We took my Dads Driver's License away five years ago. it was a tough call but very necessary. One of us makes a personal visit every week.

If this forum can help old or new vets, if it helps Catherine and her Marine Capt., I agree, it should be used.

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

He forgets to tell me things,... leaves the grill on. Almost plowed through pedestrians in the crosswalk.

Jesus... I wonder if this is also a symptom. My memory, especially short-term, is completely shot. I've almost gone straight through red lights, and I'm ordinarily a careful and conscientious driver. These little things crop up a lot... The memory thing really bothers me a lot.

Any of you other vets experience this?

 

[Tom Smedley]

I spent 26 years on active duty and have been a contractor for 12 years. I am certainly not overpaid and I'm not allowed to carry my pistol when I go to work on base. I work with a great bunch of active duty guys and if they despise me they never told me. Most come to my house for parties and I go to theirs. We also go out and have some drinks at times.

I maintain both the unsecured and secured internet better described as "the reins of command" and is super valuable for keeping contact with the folks back home.

I'm sorry you think I'm despicable because I think that I do a good job and I feel that I have accomplished something when I go home each day. My team coordinated restoral of air traffic control to New Orleans Airport after Katrina among other projects. I am in daily contact with the folks in the ZI among others worldwide.

I have shot lots of ammunition in the direction of vehicles and buildings but in my mind they were all unoccupied.

Lets go back to this OVERPAID BS - Tell me how I can get in on some of that. Money - cash money - some of that would be nice.

BTW - I don't think you're despicable.

You mean the over paid mercenaries, the macho hired guns, etc.

The so called "contractors" are well despised by every active duty USA or USMC folks that I know. They are despicable. These poor sad souls may be "in the action" so what? They are just overpaid killers. The whole "contractor" issue is a very sick and sorry chapter for our beloved country.

 

[Rick Murchison]

Jesus... I wonder if this is also a symptom. My memory, especially short-term, is completely shot. I've almost gone straight through red lights, and I'm ordinarily a careful and conscientious driver. These little things crop up a lot... The memory thing really bothers me a lot.

Any of you other vets experience this?

Certainly the inattention, and the part of short-term memory loss that's due to "drifting¹" may be attributable to "big event (combat) experiences," but most of it falls under, as my mama says, "my forgetter gets better every day."
Rick

1. drifting - uncommanded mental shift to events in the past which may be so consuming that the present is (largly) ignored. An odd thing about a drift is that the drifter may not be truly conscious of any specific past event that's the focus of the drift; put another way, the drift may not have a specific focus. While the drifter usually retains enough contact with the present to function (respond to red lights, speed limit, stay on his feet, etc), details are easily lost - missed turns, dropped portions of conversations, etc, are common. Drifting isn't necessarily harmful - usually just an irritant - unless the drifter drifts so far that he becomes unable to respond to important stimuli such as traffic signals. (This is strictly Uncle Ricky's analysis from observation and not to be construed as anything from any reputable psychoweenie)

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

Thanks, Uncle Ricky. It's mostly just annoying. I was having a conversation with a friend of mine, and told her a story about something... The conversation went on for a few minutes, and I began telling her something that happened to me. She said, "Hey, you just told me about this. Are you okay?" It took me completely by surprise. I don't drift very often, but the times when I do, I feel a little embarrassed about it, and irritated with myself. Most of the time, I end up saying, "Damn... What's the matter with me?" Sucks...

 

[Tom Smedley]

This is abnormal?????

Certainly the inattention, and the part of short-term memory loss that's due to "drifting¹" may be attributable to "big event (combat) experiences," but most of it falls under, as my mama says, "my forgetter gets better every day."
Rick

1. drifting - uncommanded mental shift to events in the past which may be so consuming that the present is (largly) ignored. An odd thing about a drift is that the drifter may not be truly conscious of any specific past event that's the focus of the drift; put another way, the drift may not have a specific focus. While the drifter usually retains enough contact with the present to function (respond to red lights, speed limit, stay on his feet, etc), details are easily lost - missed turns, dropped portions of conversations, etc, are common. Drifting isn't necessarily harmful - usually just an irritant - unless the drifter drifts so far that he becomes unable to respond to important stimuli such as traffic signals. (This is strictly Uncle Ricky's analysis from observation and not to be construed as anything from any reputable psychoweenie)

 

[Rick Murchison]

This is abnormal?????

Well, not for really old farts!

Rick