Ltdan's blog post - just when i thought i had a n order to my ramblings.......

first and foremost, upon reflection of my ramblings while at work, i may have been a little dishonest without intending to be. when i first went to iraq, didn't want to perform the mission which had been thrust upon me. i had always envisioned that i would be taking care of "the good guys". as a new and very dear friend has pointed out to me (correctly, i may add), that may not always be the side that i am on. the compassion which overcame me was a result of what i was experiencing. the compassion was a true and honest feeling however.
i had planned on discussing the toll of the war and my limited experiences with the actual iraqi people, but i received a very profound and thought-provoking PM. when i spoke yesterday of the ability of the terrorist to recruit by offering some form of payment, please do not think for a second that some irony was lost on me. while i was over there (and it continues today), the military makes it a point of emphasizing the large number of soldiers who re-enlist while serving in the combat zones. what may not be known to many people is that there is a often a bonus associated with the re-enlistment and since it takes place in a combat zone the money is tax free! could this be equated to the terrorists ploys to recruit? i would argue that it very well could be. the soldiers re-enlisting often do so just for the money and to provide for their families.
i also want to point out that in the beginning of my army career, i joined up as a part time job. i had squandered the first opportunity i had at college because i was more interested in partying and playing division I soccer. i lasted 3 years before they threw me out and i saw the military as a way to learn a skill and make a few bucks. when i joined, i thought it was only for people like me who really couldn't get a real job. i quickly learned that not all were crazed killers, nor were they all ignorant. don't get me wrong, i have met those as well. did i ever think that i would last 20 years.....HELL NO. but i thought that i have a skill that would be helpful in a time of need. thank God i found a calling in the medical field. i really enjoy what i do and i believe that i am very good at it. whether i feel right or wrong about my country's involvment in ANY conflict, as a nurse i felt that i would be able to save the life of somebody's son or daughter. i believe that i have done that many times over. i am not proud of my country in all that it does, but when i put on the uniform i vow to be there for my fellow man (combatant, non-combatant, friend, or foe) to try and ensure that they will be able to carry on. my moral compass sometimes gets lost in the magnetic fields of the world, but i continue to try my best each and every day. it is not my place to apologize for my country, but i will ensure that i will not have to apologize for my actions in any way.
these ramblings may not have not hit the screen as clear and concise as i may have liked and for that i do apologize. for anyone who has actually taken the time to read all this.........get a life!!!!!LOL.......no, thank you very much....tomorrow, perhaps the iraqis