Something that I do not say much, but I agree, and I feel.

I just read an article in Time Magazine that states how isolated American Troops are from the rest of the public. That we are greeted with outstretched hands and sayings of gratitude, which is mainly a reflection and reaction of what not to do because of what happened in Vietnam. People like to tell me that it is different than when troops came back from Vietnam and that I wasn't there to see how troops were treated when they came back home from Vietnam. But it is a reflexive saying in response so we "don't treat troops like we did in Vietnam." But it is no different. We are exactly 1 percent of Americans over the age of 18. And the rest of the 99 percent don't understand us. They don't see us because of the vast majority of military instillation being located outside the sight of the general population. Even here in the town I live in, people know the base exists as it sits on the south-eastern part of town, but other than that, they don't see the "Military". Our Base is more known for its research facilities and R&D. Not the faces of the military. As Veterans try to talk and relate to the rest of the population about their experiences, they more and more, realize how secluded they really are. When trying to bring up the topic, the subject gets bogged down, and quickly changed to something else. The vast majority don't want to know about the experience. We are a nation that has been at war for the last decade, that wants to ignore the fact that 2.4 million of its Sons and Daughters have served overseas in combat zones. The country goes on its daily lives, more concerned over celebrity controversies than it is with its fighting men and women and the sacrifices that they actually give. We do a great job at glossing it over, and say how much we tribute to the American Service Members. But it seems to be a country thankful out of obligation than true gratitude. When I came home there may have been 5 people that were truly concerned with what I went through in a short 4 month tour in Iraq. Half of them have left and don't talk to me because of the "drama" in our lives. The escalation of things getting tough and it would be better to hit Ctrl-Alt-Delete than to actually work through issues, to understand issues. To have people tell us that we should try to talk out our problems with other countries and not revert to armed conflict. Yet these same people in their day to day actions demonstrate how they can't get along with individuals, and they act in hostile manners that are not resounding of coming to the "table" and talking out their "problems." If individuals act in such a manner, and society is a collection of individuals, how do we expect to be able to implement these "Talking" tactics to other nations. Nations that also do not agree with us. It is a hypocrisy at its very finest. Yet so many are so blind to see their very actions contradict the suggestions they make. More and more the military caste is being made to brunt a burden in which 99% of the rest of the population chooses to ignore and turn a blind eye to. And in this very article in which I am writing, many will claim that I am just a veteran wanting more. But really, I don't want "More," I want understanding. I have heard from spouses and girlfriends of fellow comrades in arms say that being in that position with a service member in combat is the hardest thing and might actually be harder than combat. That might be very true. But unlike us as Service members, they have an out, and they give up, and walk away. They just say there are greener pastures somewhere else. And when they turn their backs and walk away, Service Members don't walk away from their obligations and duty. But in a way, it isolates them even more from the rest of society. A Society that in many ways, seems to turn its back on the jobs that less then 1% of the nation men and women actually performs. ""We love our troops, and you know why we love our troops?" Asks Jack Jacobs, a retired Army Colonel. "Because we don't have to be the troops.""(1) It is a sentiment that I identify with. I have discussed this topic with my mother and my father, and some of my closest friends. My mother seems truly concerned, I think my father in some ways wants to avoid the topic all together since it reminds him to much of his times when he returned from Vietnam as a 23 year old Chief Warrant Officer 3, Huey Pilot with two tours under his belt. And with some of my closest friends, well one walked out of my life 3 years ago, no doubt partially complicated by my conflict overseas coupled with bad decisions in my life, and another stands closely beside me wanting to know more, yet acknowledging he will never really understand what I have been through. The biggest person I really rely on is my younger Cousin, who served in an MP Company and went to war in Iraq about a year and a half after I returned from Iraq. We both deal with our experiences different, and I watch him struggle, especially with conflicts with people in his personal life that don't understand or don't want to understand why the Army is so much a part of his life and why both him and I can't really see ourselves outside of the military. It is a symptom that perpetuates our gravitation to the military, that we are such a small percentage of the population and we are tired that the rest of the population would rather keep us out of sight and out of mind. The burden of many is carried by the few. And in a way, we don't see the many wanting to pick up their burden. We are guided by principles in which most do not see the rest of society even care about anymore. And I think our peers beat themselves up more than others when we slip and do not act within the bounds of these principles, when we see the vast majority of society not even see this as an issues. It unfortunately sets an opinion of superiority within the military to even its society it is sworn to protect. But it also isolates us, devoids us from ever really being able to return to that society in which we once came. Most of us do not fully want to return to that society, since we see how ignorant that society wants to remain.
"Henri Ducard: Your compassion is a weakness your enemies will not share.
Bruce Wayne: That's why it's so important. It separates us from them."
And in that very statement from Batman Begins, its sets the p residence I believe many of my fellow service members believe.