I’ve always been left wing politically. I am also an eleven year veteran of the armed forces. I served four years in the U.S. Navy, and six years in the Army National Guard. Two of those six years in the Guard were active duty. The military was, overall, a great experience. I was able to pay for college, and the friends I made are like my brothers. Leaving the military after eleven years (more than half way to retirement) was one of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever had to make. But there was no way I could continue to conscionably serve.

For almost three years I dreaded getting “the call” for Iraq. What would I do? Would I fight a war that I was (am) morally and ethically against? Then again, what about my soldiers? How could I abandon them? Jail didn’t scare me. The idea of letting my brothers down did. In the end my unit was called for Operation Noble Eagle (homeland security), and I did not have to make the horrible choice. I still don’t know what I would have done. Would it be cowardice to go, or not? (My minor in philosophy doesn’t really help) DAMN THIS WAR!

I left the military for good in April of this year. I am proud of my service. I am proud of my role with NATO in the Balkans, when I was in the Navy. I am also proud (and sad) that I was able to help out in New Orleans last year (my best and worst moments). On the other hand, I am ashamed that I left my comrades at this time. Friends of mine have been mentally and physically scared by this mess in Iraq.

The people I know in the military are not really concerned with politics. They could care less about what Senator so-and-so says, what the President says, or even what you or I say. Instead the Soldiers (and Marines, Sailors, Airmen) I know are concerned about the training and welfare of their troopers. Knowing how to use a .50 caliber machine gun, how to spot an IED, how to administer emergency first aid, etc. are just more important things for a Soldier to think about. It should not be the burden of military members to point out that things are FUBARed. We, the public and by extension our public officials, are the ones who should be asking questions. But we have let them down. Our public officials, in particular, have been criminally negligent. Damn them, all of them. Support the troops? Besides flags, ribbons, and parades how have we really supported the troops? I am ashamed; of myself and my country. I am also sad; for service members and their families. But at least I can still be proud of them. That's more than I can say for the rest of us.

I urge every American to get to know a military family. Send care packages and letters to soldiers overseas. Comfort spouses and families. Support like this is neither conservative nor liberal: it’s just the right thing to do.

Very Supportive…,

I’m wondering if you read my whole letter. I was not referring to any one person specifically; I was referring to our whole society. Re-read the letter mister sensitive. On another note, I’ll let my friends in Iraq and Afghanistan know that you are “tired.” They’ll be sorry to hear that.

Oh yeah, and the Democratic Party. Like every year I’ll go and vote for the Democratic candidate, and sure enough, every year they let me down (win or lose). The only time I don’t feel like I slept with a two dollar hooker when I vote is when I pull the lever for the Green Party.

One of my supervisors in the Navy was fundamentalist Christian. He was always having bible study and Promise Keeper meetings in the berthing. One day, as a Promise Keeper meeting was breaking up, my supervisor walked by and peered down at the book I was reading: Bertrand Russell’s “Why I Am Not A Christian.” Well. He went into victim mode, babbling about how offended he was. Then, to my shock, he started preaching to me. Now, I have always respected someone’s private religious beliefs. Pray to God, Allah, the tree in your back yard, whatever. But when you push your beliefs in my face, I take this to mean that your beliefs are open season. Although he outranked me, I was sure he hadn’t studied philosophy or logic. I had. Needless to say I ended up ticking him off more. He started singling me out for all the crap duty. I would also find these weird flyers emblazoned with sunsets and biblical sayings on my rack. I suppose I could have complained to my Chief or the DIVO, but I didn’t want to make an issue of it. Besides, there are more effective ways to settle scores aboard ship. I will only say that eventually he left me alone.

I found the same kind of bullying Christianity when I was in the Army National Guard. It’s disgusting. These military Christian zealots are bullies plain and simple. With recruiting levels and retention an issue, the military should be careful not to alienate patriotic stone cold bad-ass heathens.