Taking Flak

[Eagle]

Hi,

This is my forst post here though I've been lurking for a while. I decided a while ago that I wanted to join the marines reserve ( I know there is a seperate bit for reserve topics but I think this would be relevant for FT as well). My parents were really understanding and supportive and have been great. My wife and i have really talked it over and she is backing me as well. I spent a lot of time thinking about this decision and am completely happy with it. I've always been very active, out of doors person except for last few years when i've been stuck in a fecking office.

Anyway, you would not believe the bull i have had to put up with from my younger brother and sister. I am sick to death of hearing their drivel about Iraq and Blair and Bush. They really can;t get their heads round it and they are so blinkered it's unbelieveable. I've got to the point where i just don;t want to talk about it to them anymore. I made the mistake of mentioning that I was thinking about doing this to a neighbour several months ago as well - same reaction.

I'm not doing this becasue of Iraq or any moral or political bull. I really don;t care about it. Not interested. And all the most vehement opinions and tirades come from people who know NOTHING about what is actually going on there.

I don't tell anyone now because I know all I'm going to get is flak. Like their lives are so perfect! I've decided I'm just not going to discuss it with them anymore. If only becuase i'm so sick of hearing their moralistic wet behind the ears whingeing. I used to be a selfr righteous little so and so and when i lok back I think "what a twonk".

So does anyone have any tips for dealing with this kind of thing? or have you experienced it yourself?

[Frank S.]

We used to have a saying in my outfit: "we don't dispute, we execute".
People who don't like government policy can and must vote.

This is never going to change.

[harry hackedoff]

Frank was in charge of a Death Squad, in the Waffen SS
"Ve dont dees pute, ve, ow you say, hexacoote"
soiree mon ami

[Eagle]

I'll remember that one! Thanks.
Course the next thing they'll say is either
A - OMG do you really want to kill people
B - I'm worried you'll get killed
or my personal favourite
C - Do you really think you can handle that?


I guess what I'm really wondering is whether there is any point in even getting into a discussion about these things.

At this point i'm really thinking the answer is no. At least, not the way I've been going about it. I need to find a way to address peoples concerns about me without opening up a huge moral debate.

I've tried directing poeple to the RM section of the Navy website for more info about what I'm doing and was wondering if anyone can reccommend any other positive portayals of what the marines are about and why you'd want to be one?

[themattmeister]

I know what you mean bud, I get flak and I haven't even done a PRMC yet.

It really does annoy me that people think that the Iraq situation is the be all and end all of British foreign policy.

They also seriously think that in there fluffy, pink, half baked lefty world an armed force is not needed atall.

My solution is don't talk to anyone about it.

What a sad world we live in.

[leighrogers]

Im glad others get this too.

Beginning to frustrate me to the same point.

Reactions are the same as you get by the sounds of it

Still, I guess those that need to understand it do - and thats good enough for me.

[sneaky beaky]

Eagle

Maybe I can put a different perspective on your problems.

1. You join the forces. You have no input to the political decision to go to Iraq.

2. A lot of the guys serving in Iraq do not agree with the reason for being there - but they are service men and do as they are directed.

3. As far as discussing it, you can say that you don't agree with the war in Iraq (or not!!) but that it is your duty (and it is!) to serve there.

Sneaky