General Discussion

lostnfound

(17,450 posts)

23. "I really can't understand..." It's good to recognize one's own weaknesses.

Sat May 23, 2015, 06:07 AM

May 2015

I find that reading a whole lot of fiction over the years has helped me understand that there's all kinds of human beings in the world and all kinds of motivations.

The world includes -
Scared young men that want to actually live before they die...
People who enlist because they have nothing else to do..
Kamikazes that are willing to go on suicide missions for the sake of "honor"..
People who recognize the futility of dying for a lost cause..
People who recognize the benefit of living and regrouping to fight another day..
People who fight in one part of the country who left behind obligations to family in another part of the country, who made solemn promises to little kids that they would be coming home..
People who genuinely believe they can do more good by living than by dying.

Courage in the face of hopeless odds might be a virtue or it might be a sign of counterproductive insanity depending on the circumstances.

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I really can't comprehend armies fleeing. Ultimate cowardice. [View all] alphafemale May 2015 OP

This message was self-deleted by its author rjsquirrel May 2015 #1

These squirrels don't even seem to try. alphafemale May 2015 #2

Go prove it. I'm sure they wouldn't turn down such a steadfast recruit. Scootaloo May 2015 #4

....please don't hurt me. alphafemale May 2015 #5

This message was self-deleted by its author rjsquirrel May 2015 #11

Do you say things like this to people often? sammythecat May 2015 #33

Oh good grief. Codeine May 2015 #35

Your priorities are scary. phil89 May 2015 #59

What are you fighting for? panader0 May 2015 #70

What is your EDC? ileus May 2015 #86

And what situations have you ever been in where this was even a question? RedCappedBandit May 2015 #92

I was smart enough to avoid situations where I may have to kill people. phil89 May 2015 #101

Who are you and what makes you think I'm at all mystified by your behavior? nt RedCappedBandit May 2015 #115

Every situation is different Sherman A1 May 2015 #3

who are you talkin about? reddread May 2015 #6

Maybe those troops know their own leaders and their own situation better than you Fumesucker May 2015 #7

This message was self-deleted by its author rjsquirrel May 2015 #12

I can't comprehend any one joining an army n/t malaise May 2015 #8

This message was self-deleted by its author rjsquirrel May 2015 #13

Wow, most people would not join the army! akbacchus_BC May 2015 #18

+1 valerief May 2015 #29

How about the Abraham Lincoln Brigade? DemocratSinceBirth May 2015 #40

50,000 American troops deserted in the European theater in WWII Human101948 May 2015 #9

This message was self-deleted by its author rjsquirrel May 2015 #16

"he who fight and run away, lives to fight another day" Jesus Malverde May 2015 #10

You do not understsnd these people or that part of the world AngryAmish May 2015 #14

This message was self-deleted by its author rjsquirrel May 2015 #17

You are forgetting that kings and queens married first cousins in Europe! akbacchus_BC May 2015 #20

I agree it something I could never picture doing. My brother, sister and I were really close to our StevieM May 2015 #62

I understand what you are saying but once there is akbacchus_BC May 2015 #110

The media do not really report the true story! akbacchus_BC May 2015 #15

So many brave warriors on the internets! RandiFan1290 May 2015 #19

Dooziest of the Doozies! Maybe AlphaFemale forgot her sarcasm icon? Divernan May 2015 #51

Astoundingly accurate etherealtruth May 2015 #87

As a vet, this has got to be one of the more pompous statements I've seen on DU. Katashi_itto May 2015 #21

"To no man . . . rjsquirrel May 2015 #22

A truly great book. cwydro May 2015 #24

I recommend "Going After Cacciato" and "Catch 22". In the former, a soldier in combat dies KingCharlemagne May 2015 #48

I've read the Red Badge of Courage cwydro May 2015 #50

Add Johnny Got His Gun to that list TM99 May 2015 #81

Only those that have lived it DustyJoe May 2015 #104

"I really can't understand..." It's good to recognize one's own weaknesses. lostnfound May 2015 #23

Don't forget the heartless assholes who exploit them all for their own gain. nt valerief May 2015 #30

Well, see, it isn't like the old days, with POW camps. It's being caught and BEHEADED. WinkyDink May 2015 #25

Or being placed in a cage cwydro May 2015 #27

Just because you're in an army doesn't necessarily give you a reason to fight and die. hobbit709 May 2015 #26

Draftees make pretty good soldiers 1939 May 2015 #89

This is a joke, right? NuclearDem May 2015 #28

I suspect the IP watches too many movies and has faced few, if any actual threats to life and limb TheKentuckian May 2015 #31

Pretty fucking easy to post tough talk on the net. 99Forever May 2015 #32

Everyone is a hardcore badass on The Electronic Arguing Machine. Codeine May 2015 #36

Hitler didn't allow his armies to retreat in the east AgingAmerican May 2015 #34

How many dead Russians did it take to slaughter one German? 1939 May 2015 #90

Oh shit! Codeine May 2015 #37

This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words May 2015 #38

If they aren't willing to defend their own country, then... JaneyVee May 2015 #39

I guess I'm the only one who agrees eissa May 2015 #41

I see what you are saying. StevieM May 2015 #63

Happy Memorial Day. What was your draft number? n/t lumberjack_jeff May 2015 #42

All I will further say on this is that people unwilling to defend themselves? alphafemale May 2015 #43

People pile on, not as if this is a discussion board. edgineered May 2015 #53

Many topics are worthy of discussion sarisataka May 2015 #57

Looked again, but still couldn't find edgineered May 2015 #61

That's how posters on the internet roll, unfortunately... DemocratSinceBirth May 2015 #83

The war criminal Bush created that mess. joshcryer May 2015 #77

Ever hear of Kasserin Pass? MohRokTah May 2015 #44

How dare you! Americans don't FLEE! BillZBubb May 2015 #79

I thought of writing a reply sarisataka May 2015 #45

Ahh... the Hitler invading Russia strategy... Oktober May 2015 #46

Hitler was totally incompetent when it came to the invasion of Russia. StevieM May 2015 #64

I agree. Actually, I think his big mistake was going to war against Russia in the first place. DanTex May 2015 #76

That's an interesting point. A good argument can be made that he should have first finished off StevieM May 2015 #80

It's a bit of a shame that actual historians mostly consider it unscholarly and unprofessional to DanTex May 2015 #88

To finish off Great Britain would have required an invasion Germany was incapable of performing. Lurks Often May 2015 #97

A big K&R for your post!! I really enjoyed reading about the historical situations you described. StevieM May 2015 #100

Regarding Russia, probably not Lurks Often May 2015 #112

A quote from our hand-to-hand/bayonet instructor in the marines. Tierra_y_Libertad May 2015 #47

Interesting DashOneBravo May 2015 #74

This message was self-deleted by its author nadinbrzezinski May 2015 #49

She's a regular Monty Python black knight Divernan May 2015 #54

This message was self-deleted by its author nadinbrzezinski May 2015 #56

Message auto-removed Name removed May 2015 #52

Sounds like good sense to me. Then you live to fight another day. Cleita May 2015 #55

They've begun the counter already. joshcryer May 2015 #66

Really? workinclasszero May 2015 #58

I doubt that there has ever been an army that did not retreat at some point or other. jwirr May 2015 #60

Don't let MSM propaganda get to you. joshcryer May 2015 #65

And when have you ever faced an enemy army, oh great brave one? nt raccoon May 2015 #67

... Spider Jerusalem May 2015 #68

Do you know that the Syrian Army "swore to defend" anyone except Assad? brooklynite May 2015 #69

Army kid on the bus today mentioned his buddy who has gone silent reddread May 2015 #73

I'm gonna guess that after we devasted their country, ruined their infrastructure, and basically Erich Bloodaxe BSN May 2015 #71

if they're coming over the hill to take your head? you might shimmy your ass in the other direction spanone May 2015 #72

Ft Benning DashOneBravo May 2015 #75

I haven't heard that term in forever. historylovr May 2015 #108

Read some military history, then you may understand it. BillZBubb May 2015 #78

You've obviously never read Montesquieu. malthaussen May 2015 #82

your headline would be more accurate TheSarcastinator May 2015 #84

DUzy~! Katashi_itto May 2015 #85

You don't think Washington, Grant or Eisenhower ever executed a strategic retreat? Nye Bevan May 2015 #91

I knew I had heard this sort of shit somewhere before DisgustipatedinCA May 2015 #93

Let's You and Him Fight, Eh? MineralMan May 2015 #94

The Iraqi Army has been a disgrace. I read 200 ISIS fighters drove them out of Ramadi. Comrade Grumpy May 2015 #95

lol 9/10 leeroysphitz May 2015 #96

I usually like your posts. cwydro May 2015 #98

Meh...I've seen better drive by OPs. Rex May 2015 #99

If you think you think I give an ever loving fuck about your opinions..... alphafemale May 2015 #102

LOL, you just replied to yourself. Classic! nt Logical May 2015 #114

Now. How many attackers in this thread are also against Net Bullying or whatever you call it. alphafemale May 2015 #103

My apologies if you feel I bullied you nadinbrzezinski May 2015 #105

I DO NOT FEEL BULLIED!!! alphafemale May 2015 #106

I have and that is that. nadinbrzezinski May 2015 #107

Go immerse yourself in a war zone, then you'll comprehend. [n/t] Maedhros May 2015 #109

Malaki purged the Iraqi army of Sunnis BainsBane May 2015 #111

LOL, so easy for you to say! People like you crack me up. nt Logical May 2015 #113

Not according to the BBC...reporter said it was a "STUPID" mistake ...the Gloria May 2015 #116