When I open Facebook, one of the things I learn is which of my former students are shipping out to Afghanistan and Iraq; I see their friends wishing them well. Two left this afternoon; I had no idea they had even gone into the military. Their friends rushed in to talk about “when you get out” and “when you get home.”
Axé.
My niece just came home from her 4th deployment. She has turned into a mean and hardened woman.
That is what it does to you.
I also think some other forms of business do that to you, and Republicanism and fundamentalism, too. But that’s minor – war is h***, especially this kind of war.