When I was a young man, really little more than a boy, I was mostly subject to the same inducements and propaganda that all young men are subject to.
Many, many years ago, I realized that was all bullshit, and resolved that never again would I fight for King and Country, or Patriotism. Only money, or danger to someone I knew and cared about could stir me. I realized that King and Country doesn't give a shit about you, will just use you up and throw you away.
And that nebulous collection of strangers called "The People" didn't really give a shit about you, either. Any sacrifices you or your brothers made to secure "freedom" for then was a waste - they will give you mechanical and hollow "thanks for your service" out of one side of their mouths while using the other side of their mouths to throw away or sell what so much was shed to secure for them, and that without a second thought. There are no percentages in it.
After a while, I even realized that they ain't got enough money to pay you for the shit they expect you to go through fighting for pay... so that notion dropped by the wayside as well. It might be a living, but it might also be a dying... and for what? Some shiny trinkets?
Nowadays, the only thing that could possibly bestir my ancient ass to wrath would be a threat to folks I actually know, and care about. BUT make no mistake, should that event come to pass, old and decrepit as I am I'd do anything and everything still within my power to light the fires of hell on the miscreants... I'm just not going to go very far afield to light them, Not past my own county line these days, and it would have to be a hell of a provocation even at that. Most likely I wouldn't even cross my property line.
So for all those young bucks out there with dreams of finding God and Glory in righteous battles, have at it. Knock yourselves out. I'll not be there. Just one caveat - keep it off my patch. Cause if you cross into my patch, I'm just as likely to drop you like a pole-axed steer as not. If I'm in a particularly generous mood that day, I might even bury you to keep the buzzards from eating your carcass.
"Peace" only extends as far as you can enforce it with your own right arm. I've found my limits.
I've found my Valkyrie, too - Grace. She it was who hauled my decrepit carcass out of the vermin-infested cities and back to my home, "the place where I belong". And for that, I'll be forever grateful. She's one of the very few things in my world that it would be a very, very bad idea to give any grief.
.
Many, many years ago, I realized that was all bullshit, and resolved that never again would I fight for King and Country, or Patriotism. Only money, or danger to someone I knew and cared about could stir me. I realized that King and Country doesn't give a shit about you, will just use you up and throw you away.
And that nebulous collection of strangers called "The People" didn't really give a shit about you, either. Any sacrifices you or your brothers made to secure "freedom" for then was a waste - they will give you mechanical and hollow "thanks for your service" out of one side of their mouths while using the other side of their mouths to throw away or sell what so much was shed to secure for them, and that without a second thought. There are no percentages in it.
After a while, I even realized that they ain't got enough money to pay you for the shit they expect you to go through fighting for pay... so that notion dropped by the wayside as well. It might be a living, but it might also be a dying... and for what? Some shiny trinkets?
Nowadays, the only thing that could possibly bestir my ancient ass to wrath would be a threat to folks I actually know, and care about. BUT make no mistake, should that event come to pass, old and decrepit as I am I'd do anything and everything still within my power to light the fires of hell on the miscreants... I'm just not going to go very far afield to light them, Not past my own county line these days, and it would have to be a hell of a provocation even at that. Most likely I wouldn't even cross my property line.
So for all those young bucks out there with dreams of finding God and Glory in righteous battles, have at it. Knock yourselves out. I'll not be there. Just one caveat - keep it off my patch. Cause if you cross into my patch, I'm just as likely to drop you like a pole-axed steer as not. If I'm in a particularly generous mood that day, I might even bury you to keep the buzzards from eating your carcass.
"Peace" only extends as far as you can enforce it with your own right arm. I've found my limits.
I've found my Valkyrie, too - Grace. She it was who hauled my decrepit carcass out of the vermin-infested cities and back to my home, "the place where I belong". And for that, I'll be forever grateful. She's one of the very few things in my world that it would be a very, very bad idea to give any grief.
.