Arthur yearns to return to his old self; Kenny and his mom try to return to civilian life; Adam attempts to create an organization to help vets.
Correction, I meant to type "Every single Service Member that returns from deployment will not have PTSD".
I am in the Army as a Mental Health Specialist and work on an Inpatient Psychiatric Unit. I can say that PTSD is real, however, every single Service Member that returns from a deployment will have PTSD. Too many people claim to have PTSD when in reality they only have symptoms, or what's known as "Acute Stress Reaction". Also, since when did PTSD become only about going to "war"? It can be caused by ANY traumatic experience... from **** to abuse to even witnessing someone die in a car accident. It is NOT a war disorder. Why not show a variety? :]
My grandpa was in Vietnam. You can never really truly completely over come PTSD, he still has nightmares. And it's been decades later, he still sees a physic, he's been on meds for years, he's restricted what he watches on TV and he still has the nightmares. When he came home from Vietnam my grandma said he turned to drinking.. he was a severe alcoholic and drinking only made his delusions and nightmares worse. Drinking made him angry and violent, grandma said it took one act of violence he almost committed against her to make him stop drinking. My Uncle (my grandpa's brother) was also in Vietnam he's got the SAME problems, only when he took to drinking he became extremely violent, he had very bad hallucinations where he thought he was still in Vietnam and he'd get out his guns. It's years later and both no longer drink, because of how violent it made them, but they still suffer with extreme PTSD. It'll never go away, they only thing you can do is learn to live with it and take the steps to lessen the affects. One night my grandpa forgot to take his heart meds and I had to wake him up and give them to you, I have to speak very loudly before I even enter his bedroom, and I'm too scared to touch him because of how it startles him. PTSD is real, and it's always been real. Where's all the **** about Nam vets? Desert Storm vets? It's not just the Iraq vets who have suffered through this.. it's ALL war vets. Unless YOU know first had what it's like to witness your family go through this then you really can't have an opinion on the subject because you don't know. Everything you do know you've made up on assumptions.
Good god, people...stop writing essays on this board. Annoying.
Everyone is entitled to there freedom of speech and to think the way they think. But my reason for joining the army is not noble nor is it to fight my reason was to get out of a life that was literally going no where. PTSD is real and I have fellow battle buddies dealing with it everyday. I have been in the army for years and i have reenlisted for another 3 years. My reason for reenlisting was to make sure i did not go back to the life I had before the army and my other reason is for my 10 month old daughter who relies on me to make sure she has everything she needs and she does not have to know what food stamps, wic or even welfare is. But I am a soldier and when I am called to serve I will do it. I really do not care what people think of soldiers because I know one thing we serve we fight and when we look to are left and rght you have your bothers or sister in arms fighting next to you. I support not only soldiers who deal with their PTSD but also there fiamlies who deal with the soldier and show them that even though they do not understand they do have support from the people who love them the most.
I feel sorry for these guys but they knew what they were signing up to do come on now
Ugh, people are so upsetting, Why are you writing bad things about the US military! That's not what this is suppost to be! PTSD is a real thing, I know I have seen my husband deal with it. ANd anyone that says this is fake is crazy! I have seen the huge change in my husband after his second tour in Iraq. I have never seen a grown man hit the floor and yell mortar over thunder before! And that was just 2 weeks ago. He hasn't been deployed in 2 years now! And you have never seen a man all of a sudden sit up and freak out looking for his Kevlar and falck. You have no idea unless you live it. Quit judging them. They have lived though hell and back. And for all you who think that they only join for college, That's just not true I know not one person that did it for that reason. I ones I know joined because they believe in America, and that our country needs to be protected from terriorist. And many people are oblivisus to the fact that terrorist live everywhere. Not just in Iraq or afganistan. They are in the US and all over. And once they get strong enough they will attack again. Part of the reason some men never get help is because of people like you that say there is no reason for war and that they are faking. Quit putting them down. No one should be put down.
no matter how you feel about the war....we need to support these Soldiers and not desert them in their time of need. These stories make me feel so sad. They served their country and now their country is not serving them! How Sad!!!!!
With rehtoric like that you should be a politician. I too can use words from a dictionary, that does not fit the meaning of "educated". I will end this debate with the fact that the corrupt United Naitons is headquartered in New York City, NY, that's a state in the United States, it has an office in Geneva. All that high priced education, and nothing to show for it, give me your address and I will mail you world map.
Look...people can say what they want about the government and their propaganda but I think saying soldiers are "puppets" is a really blow! How would I know right? Well, I am a 20 year old girl in the U.S Army and I leave for Iraq in mid-June. As much as people like to think we're all worshipers of the government and believe in everything they do including going to war in Iraq and Afghanistan YOU COULDN'T BE MORE WRONG!! Dont get me wrong here we love that we are fighting for our country and will do anything including give up our own lives if it comes to that to protect the people of the United States but there are so many of us that just dont understand 3/4 of the **** the government does! Do all of us in the service agree with these wars? HELL NO! And with that said the puppet thing is not cool at all. If you were to go up to every service member you saw and asked why they joined I guarantee it is not to be a puppet or to agree and love all the missions our "fantastic, loving, government" sends us on. It is to do great things for our country, to go to school and make something of ourselves, to support our families because there aren't any good jobs anymore, to become a better person, to prove to yourself that you are strong mentally and physically, to give some honor to your last name, the list is ENDLESS as to why people like me and my battle buddies join the service. I just can't believe what this world is coming to. Being able to have and voice your own opinion is a great right and without it, we wouldnt be ourselves but to say hurtful, mean, and very offensive things to people who have served and gone through hell and back is just wrong. I would LOVE to see you do 1 day in basic training..just ONE DAY! And if I could I would pull some strings to get you there to do that because I promise you, after just living a single day in the life of a soldier you would probally never say anything like that again! We leave EVERYTHING! We get sent off to do training and deployments and all kinds of things and during that we don't have our family, our close friends, our pets, **** even a lot of our simple things from home like a damn hair straightener or pillow! You just get the call and leave everyone and everything you love at home. And as I said before we do volunteer for this job and love it and are so proud of what we do but saying things like we're puppets is so ****** up because it always seems to come from the people who have been given everything and wouldn't know hard work and what it's like to strive to make something of themselves if it bit them right in the ass! So you just go ahead and take this freedom you have that we and many, many other vets have fought for. It is our gift to you and hopefully someday you will learn to appreciate it and not take it for granted! I know I never will! With that I would like to say god bless you and thank you to all of the veterans and service members today! And for those suffereing from P.T.S.D...I pray for you and hope that you can get back on your feet and continue with a happy and fulfilling life:D
First of all, don't use the feeble copout "no offense", I find nothing more acutely agitating than people who use that phrase and proceed to follow it with something that is as barefacedly ignorant as your fantastic oration. Secondly, the only concrete disparity between Switzerland and the United States is its size (although with a force of 3.5 trained military professionals who can be mobilized with a 48 hour notice, I'd venture to guess she's a pretty worthy adversary). I'm not going to go into a long, drawn out explanation of Switzerland's past (of which you're blissfully unaware, clearly), nor its status within the UN (which, believe it or not, is a lot more sound than that of the U.S., oh, wait the UN IS BASED IN GENEVA), nor will I touch on the fact that Switzerland conducts relations between the United States and both Iran and Cuba, among other lands, because American cannot seem to wake up and realize that the refusal to recognize said states is a senseless, foolhardy and childish political bane. It probably wouldn't even be precipitous for me to mention Switzerland's economic status, which has been beyond ours both before, and most certainly after America's most recent, profound market fumble. If I discussed any of these things at length, neither of you simpletons would be able to comprehend, much less muster a coherent response, as everything with which anyone here has been able to combat me has been an overly simplified call for patriotism which you barely understand yourselves. That's what this is all founded upon, your anger is based on the supposition of fear, that I'm a turncoat, or an ignoramus, neither of which are valid points. But, I'll humor your simple idioms. I will extrapolate upon is the fundamental reason why I compared the two nations. Switzerland is the world's oldest and most successful democratic state, having been founded in 1219, and continually operating on a far sharper level than the United States's poor excuse for democracy has managed to bluster, ever since. In fact, our very constitution (remember? The document we chicane ourselves into supposing is still being honored), was based on Switzerland's constitution, there are phrases taken down in our constitution that are written in Switzerland's constitution VERBATIM. Benjamin Franklin, the man we today revere as one of America's fathers was so deeply impressed by the ideas of the men that ran this country, that he fancied that one day his budding America would come to live by Switzerland's example, apparently he was wrong. Our illustrious (and, many keep reminding me, "best", "number one") country was BASED UPON Switzerland. Switzerland, in its "modesty" is far more apt in its democracy, it keeps to its word, it keeps to its relations with other States. Switzerland does not violate international treaties, or call to bloody war under false pretenses. Although, it seems, these points have been completely mute in your imbecilic arguments. Your pallid excuse for an argument pains me, that you have been so inclined to only appraise countries based on their "size" is appalling. And, actually, the "size" of an economy has nothing to do with its success, or have you not seen that in today's climate? And, Elyssa, that "favorite little cousin" I was talking about who went to Iraq, was killed in Al Kut in 2005, but, go ahead and keep up on that high horse. Don't confront me with emotional appeals, keep that **** to yourself, I've been there, but I'm also a great deal more aware of the international situation than any of you, apparently. My opinions come from experience, not from FOX news, nor do they come from a stilted educational system, to which you both seem to have been privy.
No offense Tizzaylor but is it a rational concept to compare Switzerland to the United States? Absolutely not. Switzerland is more comparable to Colorado than the entire USA. You can find the same quality of life in Colorado/Utah/Wyoming/Idaho/Washington/Oregon/Vermont/New Hampshire/Maine/Mass/ than you can in Switzerland. You are comparing aardvarks to pomegranates’ here, pretty shortsighted in my honest opinion. For every negative outcome the USA gets when compared to Switzerland you can spin-doctor 20 positive aspects that would make Switzerland look like a section of Disneyland in the overall comparison to the USA. I'll take a guess and say a fraction of a morsel of the USA, let’s say metro Chicago, would have a larger economy than the entire country of Switzerland. Not saying Switzerland isn't a great place, simply saying it’s a misguided argument. We tried the isolationist route once, it didn't work, we have an obligation to act, because we can, now many people may spite us and disagree with where and when we choose to act, such as invading Iraq and not intervening in the Darfur region, however the United States is a large corporation, designed to make money and safeguard it's people, so we must choose to do what is best for our country, Iraq had oil, the Darfur region does not. I am active duty military and have had the opportunity to travel abroad to various countries, and I will always hold true to my belief that while the United States has its problems, we offer great opportunities for people, just as Switzerland does, however because of their size and stature on this planet Switzerland has the benefit of being able to take the easy road, while the United States cannot, so as a nation we must get our hands dirty based upon or actions as a nation and on the actions of other nations. I want to assure you that every country watches its people, it would be dumb not to, because regardless of how large and fruitful the tree is there are always bad apples. Having worked in the civilian and military intelligence field for over 15 years I want to assure you that every country does bad things and has skeletons in its closet, just as the Swiss do. Google Information Service of the Confederation (Informationsdienst des Bundes), and you will see that very little is public of this organization.
Tizzaylor- I would LOVE to see you go to the funeral of a 18 year old soldier who joined the army so that he could get a college education because his family couldnt afford to pay for it just to have his life ended in Iraq and tell his family "im sorry for the loss of your "puppet" but he should have had more "background on the situation", SUCKS FOR HIM!" Cause that's the way your coming across on here. I totally get what your saying, and I for one think that the government is SUPER shady in alot of ways. What has opened my eyes to that is the fact that my fiance is in the army and serving in Iraq for the second time. Im pregnant and everyday I deal with the fact that my fiance is over there fighting a pointless "war" out in some dessert instead of being here with me and enjoying all that comes with having your first child. Please dont act like its such an easy "voluntary" decision. Who wants "turned your back on your country" permanently on their resume/file. I KNOW my fiance would rather be here with me! You do seem like you have some type of insight on the situation, but you also have no respect for ALL the innocent in this situation on both sides. If you did, then you would have more tact. Not out of respect for our government, but out of respect for the innocent caught up in this situation. 100% of the people I know serving in Iraq or who have served did not join the service because they said to themselves one day "i want to go to Iraq and be a voluntary force in a war that has nothing to do with me". Have some empathy for the people who did what they had to do and unfortunately are paying for it now. WHO ARE WE TO JUDGE. I truly believe that you can not judge another until you have walked in their shoes. I for one am EXTREMELY THANKFUL for all that are serving today. If they have the balls to fight a "pointless war" based solely off of the idea that to them they are fighting for this country (you and I) then I believe when a REAL war with a REAL purpose arises it'll be those same brave soldiers fighting because of that same idea. I know I couldnt fight in ANY war, and Im thankful there are people who are willing to do that for me and my future.
Again, being completely misunderstood. In no way am I "bashing" those who have "throughout history" fought valorously for my hard-won right to say my piece. Thank you, Revolutionary Vets, thank you, WW Vets, I am completely thrilled to be a citizen (though an expat) of a country in which that is possible (even though we tend to conveniently forget that our country is by NO MEANS the one with the most liberal freedom of speech on the planet) to say what I want (though, here, we are again conveniently omitting that there are, indeed, limits to our "free" speech). And, you're completely wrong about "not having the experience" of knowing anyone who went into that most unchaste war, seeing them afterward, missing them during. Two of my most treasured friends from my childhood, an ex-boyfriend, my college roommates' husband and my favorite little cousin have ALL been on that territory (Tony and Brian are going back next October). That being said, solely because I know them personally, or am close to them, which I am, does not mean I support their decisions or their unwarranted beliefs. I have seen their benevolence, their pride, their pugnacity first-hand, and, as I've said before, I must recognize that, these people aren't milksops; but they also are not fighting for any "rights" of mine, not today, not in the way we're running things. And, being a voluntary force as they are, they are all consciously making the decision to play war in a manner for which is utterly uncalled. My bottom 10% comment stems from the fact (in conjunction with the statistic) that, when someone becomes an infantry man, a bullet-stopper, putting themselves on the FRONT LINES, from what I've seen, read and researched, no one is putting themselves in the position to understand WHY they're there--blindly lead, as it were. Military classes do not, and should not count for "education" as pertains to this issue, it should be a fair and impartial informational portal apprising them of the background to the situation, but no one seems to give a damn about that. As for your husband, I think you've got stones, I unquestionably would not be able to handle the kind of heartache it must take to watch my husband go off to war (THREE TIMES?!), for a 6-12 month (minimum) stint, missing him, not hearing his voice, sleeping alone in that bed, watching the changes after he comes back, absolutely not. But, Alexander and I are lucky enough to live in a country (Switzerland) that is, for all intents and purposes, keeping its hands off other peoples' affairs, other countries' governments, doesn't send tanks rumbling down to the ME. Guess what? We're a hell of a lot more free than America could ever hope to be, both tangibly and in matters of free public opinion, media relations, and for the time-being, financially, without patrolling the world, looking for problems and solutions that we think we have the right to define. And, by possessing "tact", you mean to hold my tongue, to attempt to smooth feathers, not salt wounds, to avoid to offend anyone, and that would be renouncing that most sacred right for which I should be so very, very thankful.
The great thing about being an American is that we all have the right to our different opinions no matter whether they are considered "right" or "wrong". Being a 25 year old wife to a 2 time Afghanistan vet who is about to go back again, the thing that disappoints me the most is that someone has decided to start spouting ideas on the subject regardless of actually having any experience with it. I tend to disagree with a lot of what the military has done to vets and what they make them do in combat everyday, and I'm not saying that anyone should be pro government, but what I would like to see is more compassion to those who gave (and who still give) their lives to the IDEA of something better than themselves. Some do have bloated heads about what they've done, but most of that is a coping mechanism. Do not mistake me as condoning it, but it's a truth. I think it sad that individuals feel it necessary to put down others, online of all places, to get their feelings out about the subject. Please continue to hold true to the opinions that you have because that is your absolute RIGHT to have them, but don't come on here and bash the individuals that throughout history have made that right possible and who, unflinchingly, defend it today. It's not easy to love somone and not speak to them for months while in combat and have them come home with bullet wounds, scars on their faces from shrapnel, and not able to look at helicopters in a video game because his Black Hawk was shot down into a river while doing surveillance on terrorists bombing one of their own civilian villages. I'm not pitying myself for marrying an individual who gets put in these situations, but I think it rather ignorant to not have the experience of this kind yet still have the gall to tell others that those they love come from the bottom 10% of high schools and that they must have the brain the size of a thumbtack to put together a gun. It's prudent to be a bit more civil and to possess tact when talking about the subject to those who may read this and have it close to their hearts. By the way "Whsky" is for Whiskey, the military phonetic spelling for "W" (not because she necessarily likes whiskey) along with the rest of her name which is essentially Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot. So it has nothing to do with being classy or unclassy.
They aren't "valiant", and they very much are puppets, but if your prerogative is to be some patriotic martyr, selflessly supporting these servicemen, nodding to the political views of mom and pop, I can sure see how you'd be persuaded to see otherwise. From where does this misguided, malformed, unread viewpoint stem? Perhaps your ignorant championing of, I'd venture to guess, a former classmate, a neighbor's son, someone you vaguely knew, (all for quite the amaurotic purpose) who was duped into signing onto a contract obliging them to put up arms and "fight" for this most noble cause. I'm not saying they aren't brave, I'll give them that, but they're ignorant, misguided, and, yes, they are most wholly puppets of the regime. As for your comment about Congress's power to declare war, I find it completely erroneous. To which point was that meant to be an appendage, "Whsky"? Where have YOU travelled? How many "true war stories" have you heard in Denver at the PFChang's? My "sheltered bubble" undoubtedly includes a *bit* more than your gallant call for patriotism (however feeble and mistaken it may be) would like to suggest. How much time have YOU spent out of the U.S.? Have you ever lived in an Arab country? Can you even find Qatar, Doha or B'hrain on a map without googling it? I think perhaps a large mirror is needed before you point your finger. And this "poor knowledge" you cite is intriguing, seeing as though these intrepid "service members" you deify come from the bottom 10% of their high school graduating class. It really is impressive to fit a gun together like a lego and swallow unquestioningly the idioms and ideologies disseminated by your superiors, or by government officials. That's REAL knowledge, isn't it? That's TRUE patriotism and stalwart service, a mute puppet, the pet playthings of a lobbyist. Man, "Whsky" (classy name, by the way), you SURE showed me.
I'm not going to personally call any one out but this is ridiculous. How dare any one lower valiant service members to something as puppets. If you disagree with these wars, feel free to take it up with the members of Congress. Last I checked, the Constitution granted Congress the power to declare war. The service members simply do their jobs and put their life and limbs in line for the good of the country. When they take their oath, they take it to defend their country and the Constitution which includes our basic freedoms - like speech. Some of you may have traveled to those parts of the world but how long have you stayed there? How many stories have you heard? How many different parts have you gone to? Get a good variety before you jump to conclusions. However, I'm already impressed someone lasted that long away from their sheltered bubble of a life. I'm glad some people go out of their way to correct homophones of someone that can assemble and disassemble an M16 with their eyes shut in less than 30 seconds. Poor knowledge and close minds if you ask me.
some of you people are too stupid
Mancy is right, Mps-how about you read a few books or take a trip to another part of the world, maybe register for JSTOR or LexusNexus and see the scholarly articles pertaining to your holy war, as opposed to the **** that was fed to you in the service. And, you know what? I've traveled to that area of the world, I'VE SEEN those people in dire straits, so don't pull that card with me, and our omnipotent government doesn't need to be "taking responsibility" for these "actions", as your poor grammar calls them. And no one died for our Freedom of Speech, Mps, not since the Revolutionary War or DDay--and most certainly NOT in this farce of a war. Also, I find it ironic, in your statement against Mancy, "your as dumb as you sound", apparently you're the dumb one, Mps--the way you should have spelled that, should you have had the goal to sound intellectually superior would have been "YOU'RE as dumb as you sound." But, hey, what can I expect from one of our government's puppets?
What i did was right. and you know what i dont regret any of it. I wish i could go back there. Mancy your as dumb as you sound. Murder people. HA your an idiot. So someone shooting at me is innocent. Guess those that blew up the towers are innocent. Your probably one of those that just sit on your butt at home eatting chips and watching it on TV knowing nothing about the people or the culture over there nor why we are there, This country was already in poverty. You would know this if you was there. again IF you was there, but im sick of wasting my time on childish people.Enjoy your freedom of speech many died for it. Ill just keep taking your tax dollars. MsBojangels im sorry to hear about your son. I have seen that the ARMY and the goverment has been taking responsibility for these actions. I hope that they will do the same for your son I hope he gets the treatment he needs and deserves.