War is ever present in our society. Not only do we have to say goodbye as we send our loved ones overseas to protect us and fight to help resolve issues in foreign lands, we have to watch them fighting on TV and read in newspapers about how many deaths and bombings are occurring overseas.
As if personal experiences and the media’s impact doesn’t take a big enough toll on families and friends back home, a surprising amount of those fighting overseas seem to only add to their loved ones’ worries.
I have had friends who are overseas chat with me on Facebook like normal and then begin to talk about attacks they have been involved in, people they have shot or even some of their military plans. This seems to cross not only personal boundaries, but also military ones.
I have grown up in a military household my entire life being that my Dad is a U.S. Marine. I have seen him come and go from many deployments, and I have spent time with his fellow soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines. I have grown up with an understanding of what is appropriate to share, what is classified and what is just common sense to not share with civilians — especially those among your own family and friends.
This doesn’t only happen via email or Facebook, however, it also is displayed on interviews with TV and newspapers. Just recently, Prince Harry was interviewed about his four-month deployment in Afghanistan. During this interview, he confirmed he did in fact kill Taliban insurgents. As a man constantly under the spotlight, I can see why he would have openly stated this, however I still find that it may have been better left unsaid.
So, why is it those stationed overseas talk so easily about what they do?
I’m sure there are reasons for them sharing this information. Perhaps being able to talk about it helps them maintain a certain form of sanity. However, this talk still is best left on the battlefield and within their own battalions.
When I think back to my Father’s time in the Marine Corps, there was one unwritten rule: never ask a man if he has killed someone. So, why in today’s society is it okay for us to ask that intimate question? More importantly, why do those fighting feel it’s OK to share details about deaths and shootings to anyone and everyone?
Our society has become so adapted to war, and I feel it has wickedly twisted the entire reasoning for why we fight. We fight to protect our country and our freedom, not to discuss how many people we have killed doing so.