"happy to be there"

[coffeenap]

That is what the nice man said to me today, after telling me he knows two people in Iraq right now, in the military. I said, "Oh, I am sorry, and hope they are ok." He said, with a little wave and a smile, "Oh, they are happy to be there".

Happy to be there? Today?

:cry:

[Mz Pip]

1. I kind of doubt anyone is "happy"

to be there. It's not like a fucking party.

THe nice man wants to believe his friends are "happy" over there because if they weren't then he might have to question the war and that would just make his little pea brained head explode.

Ignorance is bliss with these folks.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[coffeenap]

6. My mouth hung open, and

he just walked away holding his daughter's hand.

[calimary]

11. Mind-blowing, isn't it - what a disconnect there is. How divided we are

as a nation. Have we been THIS badly divided since - oh, maybe - the Civil War era? I certainly haven't lived that long, but I'm 52, and I do remember back a little, and I've never seen it like this. It's like there's a parallel universe or some negative/positive duality existing here - where people see things so different - so opposite. Sometimes it seems to me as though we're not even speaking the same language, or breathing the same air.

[BlueEyedSon]

2. Clueless, with a capital "K"

[coffeenap]

7. Yes, and it is unforgiveable to be clueless any more.nt

[Alleycat]

3. Their home life must really suck

I know they have to be there because they signed up and agreed to serve when and where needed but "happy". I never heard one of the soliders I know who served say that. They may have said it was our duty, we had to do what we had to do but just about everone said it sucked and they were happy to be home. I think about our troops each and every day and can't imagine what it must be like. I too hope they stay as safe as possible and can come home soon.

[coffeenap]

8. I can't imagine either. nt

[Lex]

4. How clueless is that guy? (rhetorical question)

They may be proud to serve, but "happy" to be there? I imagine that at the very least they have families and loved ones they'd like to be with instead.

[coffeenap]

9. Absolutely. Happy? Happy is what he was doing--safely and

calmly picking up his daughter from school. That is happiness.

[Jacobin]

5. Well, actually there are some

soldier of fortune, adventure seekers who just love guns, blood and guts and think they are bullet proof and they'll come home as a hero, after having worked at Burger King for two years after high school and looking for some prestige.

I know a couple

[coffeenap]

10. I can't help but predict they will not feel the same when they

come home.