I apologize about my veteran comment on the thread about gun control. You are an example of a veteran who is neither self-destructive, suicidal, or the result of brainwashing. You have built a beautiful happy family, and have always been open-minded, healthily skeptical and hungry for new ideas.

So indeed the individual is not made by the military.

thanks for the kind words, but i must admit that i am an individual product of the military - it actually brought to the surface what i already had inside me. just because i'll say FTA dont mean i would have been better off never having been - after all, i got me a walking, talking souveniere(sp) from Korea! (haha john smith!!) just think of it like this: doing time in the military amplifies what you already are deep inside, it does not turn you into something you are not (although some people might argue otherwise, i accept their verbal challenge). same for my bro-in-law serving in her majesty's royal navy!!!

tell your young man the princess and me says hello, and say orale to Dave for me! if i am ever in your part of the world, i would like to take you all out for a nice meal!

An aside, a couple AI students fought in Iraq and communicated with me. One very openly said he was taught to hate by his commanders and had to fight dehumanizing Iraqis in his mind every day. He survived, but claimed to have severe post-traumatic stress. Amazingly though, he does not hate; he has empathy. Despite what he said he was being told, his compassion for humanity remained intact. So who he really is came out, but I'm not sure if it was worth the pain.