November 26, 2025 – 09:00

I am not ex military. For years I’ve struggled with the decision not to join. Many of my aquantences, and my own sons are ex military, and I feel like my decision not to join between 1977 and 1990 was a mistake. It isn’t.

I remember reading an introduction to red badge of courage years ago, in 1985, which stated that we almost romanticize war as a culture in media just before getting into a massive war akin to the Civil War, and we are pretty close to doing that now.

The way WWII led to Korea, led to Vietnam, and on and on until we get to Iraq and Afghanistan. They kill us in Lebanon and in turn we invade Grenada and Panama.

Not joining was not a mistake.

The USA, and I apologize for bursting the bubble to those who think otherwise, is not to have a standing professional Army. We played fiscal games to justify the clause by saying that we have to refund it every year so it is kit a standing army. Only a bunch of lawyers would come up with that line of bullshit.

No, not joining the post Vietnam illegal army was not a mistake. It saved my ability to see what is going on..