Out of my 22 year military career, I never took another person's life... [View all]

[MrScorpio]

Last edited Mon Dec 29, 2014, 11:06 AM - Edit history (1)

I have no qualms admitting to the fact that I served in an Air Force support career field. Had they put a weapon in my hand and sent me into a combat situation, it would have been one of those last resort situations. Besides, as most other military folks around here know, in the Air Force, the enlisted personnel aren't usually those who are trigger pullers anyway.

But I'm proud of the fact that I have no blood on my hands. I never considered taking anyone else's life an accomplishment worthy of serving my country.

As a matter of fact, I could of remained in the USAF for two more years before either needing a promotion or retiring. I chose to retire (partly) because I was sick of the fact that we were in an illegal war in Iraq, not to mention personal reasons.

Had I taken anyone's life for any reason, I don't know how I'd live with myself. Unlike the Army or the Marines, most US Airmen are not expected in engage enemy forces in close combat situations. It can happen, and has for people in support related, non-combat related specialties, but it's not always likely. Much of this has to do with mission and proximity. For example, old vets told me about Vietnam and when the Personnel Office was mortared. And I served with a woman who survived the Khobar Towers bombing and was awarded a Purple Heart. The closest I've ever come personally to any potential combat situation was during my 22 months in South Korea, during some times of tension with the North.

But, all in all, I consider myself extremely fortunate. I chose not to put myself in situations where I could take lives and I was lucky that those situations were never put upon me.

Before I joined the USAF, I told my one of my closest cousins, who just happened to be a US Marine at the time that I had decided to enlist. We were always very close since we were kids and she was very aware of my nature. It was she who suggested that I avoid the Army and the Marine Corps like the plague. I took her advice, of course. I served my time in the military and retained my humanity. I also had no blood on my hands during my service.

When I see people like George Zimmerman, Darren Wilson and others express NO REMORSE for the lives they've personally taken, I take them at their word. I also take it that they're people who have lost their humanity before they pulled the trigger. Taking someone else's life is a big deal. It can't be done casually and callously by those who have a deep sense of humanity. It can be taught, but I doubt that to even for those who have retained their sense of reality, they do have a sense of remorse. Taking the lives of others, for any reason, destroys one's own.

That's just basic human decency.

I would imagine that some of the most broken people walking around on this planet are those who have been made "heroes" for taking the lives of others and retain a deep sense of remorse for their own actions. Whether they're in war or on the streets in a cop's uniform.

Those that do not feel that remorse should never be allowed to be put in situations where they could take another's life. That is, if you want to abolish war and murder in our streets in the name of authority. That is, if you want to keep the people who would send them out to kill others out of power over all of us. That is, if you want peace.