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Re: Breaking the military-hippy dichotomy [Re: Crasher]
    #8609399 -

Quote:
One of the worst things I did was assume I was 100% sure of who I was at 19.


I'm not sure I'd ever want to be, or ever will be 100% sure of who I am. 

Thanks, Crasher..


--------------------


I am become death, the destroyer of worlds.

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Re: Breaking the military-hippy dichotomy [Re: Crasher]
    #8609402 -

That's cool; it's good to hear that it isn't affecting you as harshly as it could be. I've heard some pretty gruesome stories about phantom limbs.
I'm just casually interested in neurological oddities like PLS. They intrigue and terrify me. :tongue: One of the many reasons I would never join the military.
I would be interested in an elaboration of your decision to join the army, though. Coming from a mind full of 'hippie-esque' principles and ideals, the idea of a peace-loving hippie turned mindless soldier interests me. (Not to say that soldiers are stupid; more that their goals are decided by people of higher authority, reducing their real decision making abilities drastically.)
What kind of mindset were you in? Which external factors changed your view of military? (If at all.) Did you agree with your country's justification for war? If not, how did you justify your own involvement in the military? etc

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Re: Breaking the military-hippy dichotomy [Re: Cameron]
    #8610857 -

There were several reasons that influenced me into joining.
My family has a strong military history, present in every conflict in the 20th/21st century. My father always pushed me towards joining, even though he hated the last few
years of his commission.

My home town (silicon valley) was filled with such radical leftist views that military service seemed like the most anti-status quo thing I could do.

Several high school friends had joined, and I felt almost obligated to go fight with them.

Afghanistan, or more specifically, the Special Forces invasion and overthrow of the taliban is really what hooked me.

So I signed up, and my aptitude tests qualified me for pretty much anything. I wanted to be in the ranger regiment, but those shiesty recruiters are all about making numbers. I was counter offered with an 18X contract, and took it.

My job took two years just to learn, and I loved my job. I was never a grunt. My career field is driven from the bottom up, not the other way around. Choice was never something that was an issue.

My feelings for the war are simple. No one should be under a repressive regime. Not the Taliban, not the Baathists, nothing. To an end, I feel this includes the current administration as well.

The principle of "freeing the oppressed" seemed very easy to embrace. It wasn't "kill em all" or anything, so really, old hippy Crasher had no qualms with the job he was working.

I met many progressive Iraqis who want what we promised, and I've seen the massive (MASSIVE) scope of work KBR (Hallibuton)does in Iraq. Honestly, the truth of the GWOT lies between war profiteering and honest liberation. Soldiers, marines, airmen, sailors, contractors and civilians go there with a thousand intentions.

It is a difficult situation to fully elaborate on, I still have mixed feelings about the full scope of our GWOT.


--------------------
Give me silence, water, hope;
Give me struggle, iron, volcanoes...

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Re: Breaking the military-hippy dichotomy [Re: Crasher]
    #8611058 -

I really enjoyed your story. It was really well written also. I've always thought of joining the army for some of the reasons that you spoke about, but I don't think I will end up doing it. Wish you the best man!


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Re: Breaking the military-hippy dichotomy [Re: SampaJasli]
    #8612811 -

I'm still waiting to see that picture of President Bush trying to steal your prosthetic hand.


--------------------
Same thing happened to me when I played Neil Armstrong in Moonshot. They found me in an alley in Burbank trying to re-enter the earth's atmosphere in an old refrigerator box.

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Re: Breaking the military-hippy dichotomy [Re: Crasher]
    #8612964 -

you really have "oops" tattooed on your stump? 

that's great! :smile:

Thanks for a good read.

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Re: Breaking the military-hippy dichotomy [Re: WakeboardrB]
    #8613320 -

WakeboardrB said:
I'm still waiting to see that picture of President Bush trying to steal your prosthetic hand.




He threw it to the nearest Secret Service guy and I had to play monkey in the middle for like 10 minutes.

But he gave me a free barrel of oil afterwards.


--------------------
Give me silence, water, hope;
Give me struggle, iron, volcanoes...

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Re: Breaking the military-hippy dichotomy [Re: Crasher]
    #8613423 -

:ilold:

barrel of oil :rofl:


--------------------
My advice is to find those things that give pleasure and do them often without too much attachment and relax and wait for the show to end.

-Icelander-

I like free markets and all. Truly I do, at least in general, but there needs to be some kind of oversight in recognition of sustainability. Life works the same way, on a bunch of sustainable systems. Why not honor what made us what we are and take some lessons? Nature FTW!

~dill705~

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Re: Breaking the military-hippy dichotomy [Re: dill705]
    #8613764 -

Interesting post.

I can kind of relate to some of what you say as I sort of went a similarish path.

I'd always been a rebelious very 'anti authority' kid but I'd always wanted to join the army since the age of about 4 (fighting was one of the few things I was good at). So i did, straight from school. Joined an elite regiment (of the British Army) with the intention of going for special forces but got injured about a year and a half in... which came just after I started to do MDMA and going to raves. The first day I did MDMA i had a massive case of "WTF AM I DOING" more MDMA I did and the longer I was in the holding platoon the more I realised the injury was my way out, that I didnt want to stop doing MDMA, didnt want to kill people for someone elses ideals, and didn't want to spend months in a military prison for doing drugs. Basically I jacked (and let them get rid of me on an injury.

I sometimes have regrets that I didn't acheive all I wanted to, but on the other hand when I look at the wars we are fighting, and why, I don't want any of that that either. It pisses me off that I have family members that have been / will be in the Gulf / Afghanistan (cuz going Helmand province soon) that are risking their lives for basically, the economy. So I was best off out I suppose. It's only my personal pride and need to prove myself that make me want to go back and prove what I am capable of. It hadn't bothered me for a long time but lately ... early midlife crisis maybe?

I know in my heart of hearts I'm well off out, and I am not good at being 'confined'. Funny kind of dual personality you can develop though. Being a raver in the army was a very odd time.


--------------------
I was confronted with the reality that the drug wasn't doing anything - it was just the catalyst. How much else was in there that I had no access to? Alexander Shulgin.

Edited by dance_factor (07/09/08 04:25 PM)

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Re: Breaking the military-hippy dichotomy [Re: dance_factor]
    #8613808 -

Great post! I'm glad you've found a similar happiness.


--------------------
Give me silence, water, hope;
Give me struggle, iron, volcanoes...

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Re: Breaking the military-hippy dichotomy [Re: Crasher]
    #8613928 -

Excellent thread!  I enjoyed all of it.

Did Bush really play monkey in the middle with your hand?  I woulda taken his eye out with my hook! :hook:


--------------------
No statements made in any post or message by myself should be construed to mean that I am now, or have ever been, participating in or considering participation in any activities in violation of any local, state, federal, or fashion police laws. All posts are works of fiction.

For well you know that its a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder.

Under closer inspection I realised it was a funky ball of tits from outer space.


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Re: Breaking the military-hippy dichotomy [Re: Crasher]
    #9082235 -

I know this topic is crazy old but it was an anjoyable and weirdly comforting read


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There is no valid reason you should be reading this

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Re: Breaking the military-hippy dichotomy [Re: Crasher]
    #9082287 -

I enjoyed that, thank you :smile:.


--------------------
"I only ever hope to reach equilibrium, in Nature's matrix, in line with the meridian" ~ Jehst

:sun: "...and I know that I have to keep breathing, as tomorrow the sun will rise, who knows what the tide will bring?" :sun:

Free Spore Ring Europe
Send any spare spore prints you might have and help the distribution :grin:

Open Source. Freedom.  GNU/Linux

Addicting is not a word.

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Re: Breaking the military-hippy dichotomy [Re: Cepheus]
    #9082502 -

Yup, good read. 

@Crasher, if you're still around:  What was your MOS as an SF soldier?  I've considered the 18X contract after finishing up my bachelor's this spring.  Also, what language were you assigned? Seems like a really cool way to go, if you're going to enlist.


--------------------
:yesnod::thumbup:

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Re: Breaking the military-hippy dichotomy [Re: skydog]
    #9087775 -

PM'ed.


--------------------
Give me silence, water, hope;
Give me struggle, iron, volcanoes...

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Re: Breaking the military-hippy dichotomy [Re: Crasher]
    #9088024 -

very cool post crasher. I was also in the army but I was 15J I worked on the birds. I had the same views as you before you joined and honestly being in the army for the short time I was in made me see how everything around us is turning into shit. Maybe it was the people I was around but man you either conform to that life style or you cant make it. I dont know if I was just stubborn or it was the fact that I had a wife and a newborn son but I wasnt ready to go fight in iraq. Long story short I made a deal with the government and I got my discharge and now I live at home with my wife and son and live a normal life. The military life wasnt for me I truly dont believe in this fucking war. But thats just me.

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Re: Breaking the military-hippy dichotomy [Re: Crasher]
    #9639337 -

I realize this post is old, but I came across it linked by Crasher and think it's important enough to bring back to the top of the index.

Crasher, thank you for posting this. I didn't know your backstory; mostly just that you were in the armed forces. This tells me a lot more. I think the best part of this is how well you have coped with the loss of a body part. I'd be proud to know someone like you, I'm sure your family and friends are.

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Re: Breaking the military-hippy dichotomy [Re: Crasher]
    #9639371 -

Sounds like you really grew up Crasher. Good for you, it's a struggle certainly, getting over the follies of youth.


--------------------
Make my Funk the P Funk, I wants to get Funked up

LAGM2024

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Re: Breaking the military-hippy dichotomy [Re: Crasher]
    #9639723 -

:thumbup:

The Dalai Lama admits, "I love George Bush."
Beeqube and ROP reported:

    The Dalai Lama, a lifelong champion of non-violence on Saturday candidly stated that terrorism cannot be tackled by applying the principle of ahimsa because the minds of terrorists are closed.

    "It is difficult to deal with terrorism through non-violence," the Tibetan spiritual leader said delivering the Madhavrao Scindia Memorial Lecture here.

    He also termed terrorism as the worst kind of violence which is not carried by a few mad people but by those who are very brilliant and educated.

    "They (terrorists) are very brilliant and educated...but a strong ill feeling is bred in them. Their minds are closed," the Dalai Lama said.

    He said that the only way to tackle terrorism is through prevention. The head of the Tibetan government-in-exile left the audience stunned when he said "I love President George W Bush." He went on to add how he and the US President instantly struck a chord in their first meeting unlike politicians who take a while to develop close ties.

The loopy peaceniks in the audience must have loved that.

http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2009/01/dalai-lama-stuns-audience-admits-i-love.html

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Re: Breaking the military-hippy dichotomy [Re: buckwheat]
    #9640164 -

You know they share a birthday (the dalai lama and George W. Bush)? I also share the same birthday which is the only reason I know that.

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