I started The Parthian Shot back in 2007. I had almost 6 consistent readers (thanks family). I have zero expectations of more this time around, but I'm tired of the nonsense that posting on Facebook brings and I think getting all of this stuff in my head out into the open is probably a good thing.
I've unpublished everything from 2007-9 so as not to distract from "modern life". I may revisit those posts and republish at some point, it might be interesting and cathartic to compare and contrast 28 year-old Trav with 38 year-old Trav. You're welcome to participate provided your comments are civil, constructive, based in actual fact (cite your sources), and generally promote a positive exchange of ideas. There is no such thing as free speech here, except as I consider it worthwhile.
These rules are for you, not me. It's my page, I do what I want. Here we go...
It's Not That Simple
I've been mulling over various social causes and issues for many moons, probably even years, trying to wrap my head around what I think and believe - and why - without resorting to baser instincts or childish beliefs. I'm still not sure I am managing very well. But now there is another clarification on policy, so it's time to start fleshing it out and unpacking what it all means to me.
First of all, it should go without saying that People are People. Apparently it doesn't, because I'm seeing a LOT of hate and discontent in social media feeds and on the news - from both sides. Which is disheartening, to say the least. Please try to remember that what we choose to eat, where we choose to pray, who we choose to love, or how we perceive ourselves in the deepest parts of our souls should have zero impact on whether or not we are treated with a basic level of human dignity and respect, and loved. Your morality may not mirror that of your closest friends or neighbors, and it doesn't necessarily have to, but we all found the strength to wake up one more day, the courage to step out into the world. All things considered, can we not just love each other for that, at least?
I think it's absolutely true that the current president has failed to approach MOST of his policy initiatives, positions, and decisions the right way, and his delivery of those policies and positions has been unusually and especially atrocious. It's almost as if he's trying to point out every day just how broken our system has become, like his purpose while in office is to annoy and disrupt and badger until everyone is so tired of the current system that we scrap it completely and start over. But that's a whole different post, or at least might become one. Stay tuned.
Unfortunately, he IS the President. As such, he IS the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces - administratively and operationally. They ARE "his generals", the men and women in uniform ARE "his service-members". I'm glad I don't have to follow him, and I'd probably refuse a recall to active duty with him in that chair just as quickly as I would have done with his predecessor. But right now, he does get to make the call, and it IS based - at least in part - on what those responsible for outfitting and training the military are telling him. There are a lot of obstacles, administratively, logistically, and operationally. Whether right or wrong, moral or not, there is no such thing as a "right" to serve in the military. You have the right to apply and be given equal consideration, but if your participation presents a burden for the larger group, you may be rejected.
And people are rejected for, or discharged from, military service every day for so many different reasons. Various physical, mental, or emotional conditions, the level of achieved education, marital/parental status, credit worthiness, choice of spouse (yes, it's true)... The list goes on. Most of those reasons for rejection or discharge have some root in avoiding additional encumbrance, cost, or infrastructure and lessening exterior distractions so leaders at all levels can focus on winning battles. Let me be clear about my personal feelings - your life is not a burden, you are not a burden, you are loved. With that being clear, the choices one has made, intends to make, or may choose to make in the future might actually constitute a real, tangible burden - meaning those choices have prevented the continued contribution to the overall success of the group.
So, if an applicant approaches their calling to serve from that perspective - to make adjustments and adhere to the requirements of the group rather than demanding the group make exceptions to accommodate the individual - I think far fewer people will have concerns, legitimate or otherwise.
Finally, I don't care which parts you have. I don't care how you prefer to have sex, as long as it's consensual. I don't care where you pee, what your voice sounds like, what kind of underwear you prefer... Can you get 'sight alignment, sight picture, slow-steady-squeeze' while exploiting your natural respiratory pause? Can you do it while being fired upon? When your buddy gets hit, do you have the capacity to pick his fat, gear-laden ass up and put him in the truck or run him down the road? If so, welcome to the team. Thanks for coming, we need you, let's get started! Just remember you're here to serve the team, not the other way around. The military doesn't exist to allow individuals an opportunity for personal expression - it's here to kill people and break shit. Plain and simple. At the end of the day, the war is won by the side that killed the most people and broke the most shit. Everything else is secondary.
Simply put, if you're here to help the Team and fight the fight - suit up - there are boots and canteens in the corner and you can grab a Go Girl kit on the way out.
But if you're just here to help yourself, to push some political or social agenda, or in any way make the team less effective - please pound sand and GTFO - the real fighters have shit to do.
Thanks for reading.
