[djmcmath]

So this morning I'm driving on base, and there's a bunch of people standing out in front of the base with big signs announcing that the military is stupid, that we should have peaceful jobs instead, and that the war is a terrible thing. Make love, not war. Bring our boys home. We need peaceful jobs. Right, I remember hearing there'd be a big Mother's Day protest. This is the warmup for Monday's event, I guess.

(excessively cynical) Maybe they're right. Maybe we shouldn't be in Iraq, Afghanistan, or wherever else, not that anybody driving on this base has the authority to make a decision like that. Maybe I ought to quit this stupid job, maybe I should quit defending their right to complain. I mean, I'm getting competitive offers from the outside -- maybe it's worth it. I could give up this whole "going to sea" thing, get a pay raise, have a normal life ... Maybe we as a country should just shut down the military and forget about it, and hope that the Chinese come take over and take away our right to complain about anything. (end excessive cynicism)

(sigh) Just venting, don't mind me. On the one hand, I hate those morons, but on the other hand, I know that it's my job to protect them and they're right to disagree, no matter how stupid I think they are. I wonder if any of them realize how disheartening it is? Do they realize what effect they have on morale? Do they know what the people at this base do for them? (sigh)

I don't mean to start another big political thing, I don't want to argue about the war, and I'm not fishing for "thanks fer yer service, maan." It's just frustrating sometimes. I know people who have made some pretty significant sacrifices to do this "Navy" thing, and it's painful to get this kind of a response. I'm just venting...


Thanks for listening.


Dan