posted on Mar, 3 2010 @ 11:17 AM
As a current member of the United States Army, I would like to post something: This is horrifying and painful to watch, probably more-so for me than
most of you who have commented, BUT to stereotype ALL of us based on that is not what I believe is the appropriate response.
I, myself, am in a huge dilemma. I joined at the young age of 17 years old. I thought the "war on terror" was just that. I was a naive kid who was
not very spiritual at the time, and I thought with my impulses. I was a product of my environment (no excuse, but hear me out) and I signed the dotted
line without much thought. I did not pick a combat job because I am not interested in combat, but I also realized there was a chance of it no matter
what (again, this is back when I was a young kid with impulse-driven thought). I am not saying those who believe in this war are wrong. I am just
saying I gobbled up what the media told me and blindly followed my impulses without studying the war itself.
Then I got to college and joined ROTC. I used to be a heavy drinker and decided to turn around my grades and get involved in something. I have never
done anything really besides attend national guard drills here in country one weekend a month, and since brothers in arms are close, I decided to join
the program. The program itself is good and there are a lot of really good people who would not want to do anything such as displayed on that video.
My problem is this: Over the summer I begun to change my beliefs. Things happened (not military related) that opened my eyes to the world around me. I
see it in a different way now. I never knew if I could kill someone even back when I joined, and I know now that I just cannot do it and I will not do
it. My problem is I joined ROTC and contracted before discovering my spiritual beliefs and changing my daily habits. I have been paid several thousand
dollars, and I have 2 choices here
1. Quit ROTC and owe several thousand dollars. I can ETS (not re-sign my contract) next January since it will be the end of my 6-year enlistment. or
2. Stay in with the chance of getting sent overseas and be an officer in charge of several soldiers. To do this, I would have to sign up for 8 years
national guard or 4 years active duty.
This is a very hard decision for me because of the money problem. I honestly do not know what to do. I used to think of this war differently, but now
I feel like we are all fighting an unnecessary war. I respect all my brothers in arms I interact with every day, but I am having a hard time
visualizing myself in a situation where I am obligated to go over there and participate in this. I am not a fighter, and I know this now. I have
changed since I joined, and this is honestly the first time I have opened up with this (I know this is risky with IP tracking, ect, but I am going to
have to mention it sometime to someone).
Also, I used to want to "defend this country" which I think is honorable, but now I believe we are all equal. There are those in other countries
that have committed brutal crimes, but there are those here who have as well. I don't want to "defend" anything anymore. I want world peace. I want
to stand next to anyone from anywhere and embrace feelings of love and harmony. I can't go over there and tell these people how they are going to
live their lives. I wish you all wouldn't stereotype all of us. I changed a lot since joining, and I never had any intention of doing anything as
depicted in those videos from the get-go. That's the reason I never picked a combat job. I honestly just want to become a psychologist as I have
planned on and get out of this situation, but it is not an easy decision.
Last, I want to say I respect those who do sign the dotted line to defend their country. This is not a backlash at any of them. I hang out with fellow
soldiers everyday and I respect and admire most of them. It is for some, and it is not for others. I am finding out that it is not for me, yet here I
am