Thank You for Your Service?
As with all blogposts, this one will resonate strongly, moderately, mildly or not at all with some of you. Please note that although I am using the United States armed forces as the central organizing element, you can deduce obvious and important non-military conclusions from what I write here. Although I will try to be as objective as I can, having spent four years as a Marine, you legitimately can question some of what I am about to say. During my psychology practice of over 40 years, I have treated thousands of patients with all kinds of cognitive and emotional challenges. Many were veterans from World War II, Korea, Viet Nam, and the Middle East. Only those from “Nam” returned to face jeers, bias, or indifference. And, although I have heard the same basic complaint from all veterans of all the wars, those from Viet Nam have voiced it most often and most stridently. The complaint is about being told “Thank you for your service.” Surprised?...