Richard
Final Approach
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2005
- Messages
- 9,076
- Location
- West Coast Resistance
- Display Name
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Ack...city life
Ref: Bittersweet
I have wanted to write this for some time now. I haven't because I didn't want to open up a new can of worms and because I was unsure if this attempt at an apology would pass muster. Afterall, it was my poor choice of words which caused this in the first place. But as I said in my first attempt to clarify my position this is not something which can be swept under the rug. It is too important a subject to allow that.
This past wknd I had a conversation with a friend who served 2 tours in Viet Nam and continues to this day to serve in his state's ANG. He is someone I respect greatly. I confessed all I had said in order to gather his response.
He said I was merely trying to explain my personal comfort level. While I knew what I wanted to say in way of my apology I was still unsure of how to present it. It was while listening to him when the lightbulb came on for me. I was trying to explain my comfort level! But I did a poor job of it.
In my original post I took two observations and applied a creative writing technique in my attempt to point up my reason not to fly with certain persons . Not wanting to write a book and in recognition of how verbose I can be I left out some important points. It was a tenuous connection and what I left out was, in hindsight, revealed to be so vitally important. It's not about patches, pins, or emblems even though I originally mentioned that. What I had to say was not about being proud of one's service, even though I tried to use that to help illustrate what I wanted to say. Make no mistake, I am fiercly proud of those who served and would not ever think to condemn them even a little bit for their showing of that. If you would be kind enough to allow that I didn't think it through I would not disagree with that.
Several folks have said I should make this apology but warned me to be concise. That is good advice. Sometimes I don't listen to good advice and sometimes I shoot off my mouth. Examples of that can be found in my posts. But I don't apologize for those things. In this case, I don't want to limit myself to being concise because I feel too deeply about this issue. All who have read my previous words deserve the most ample apology I can summon.
My apology to y'all is for the offense I have caused you through my words. I never intended to disparage the service of any person to their country or that of their remembrance of that service and their fallen comrades. Actually, I am so respectful of all service men and women it crushes me to think that it was I who caused such insult and disrespect to you. I humbly beg your forgiveness.
I have wanted to write this for some time now. I haven't because I didn't want to open up a new can of worms and because I was unsure if this attempt at an apology would pass muster. Afterall, it was my poor choice of words which caused this in the first place. But as I said in my first attempt to clarify my position this is not something which can be swept under the rug. It is too important a subject to allow that.
This past wknd I had a conversation with a friend who served 2 tours in Viet Nam and continues to this day to serve in his state's ANG. He is someone I respect greatly. I confessed all I had said in order to gather his response.
He said I was merely trying to explain my personal comfort level. While I knew what I wanted to say in way of my apology I was still unsure of how to present it. It was while listening to him when the lightbulb came on for me. I was trying to explain my comfort level! But I did a poor job of it.
In my original post I took two observations and applied a creative writing technique in my attempt to point up my reason not to fly with certain persons . Not wanting to write a book and in recognition of how verbose I can be I left out some important points. It was a tenuous connection and what I left out was, in hindsight, revealed to be so vitally important. It's not about patches, pins, or emblems even though I originally mentioned that. What I had to say was not about being proud of one's service, even though I tried to use that to help illustrate what I wanted to say. Make no mistake, I am fiercly proud of those who served and would not ever think to condemn them even a little bit for their showing of that. If you would be kind enough to allow that I didn't think it through I would not disagree with that.
Several folks have said I should make this apology but warned me to be concise. That is good advice. Sometimes I don't listen to good advice and sometimes I shoot off my mouth. Examples of that can be found in my posts. But I don't apologize for those things. In this case, I don't want to limit myself to being concise because I feel too deeply about this issue. All who have read my previous words deserve the most ample apology I can summon.
My apology to y'all is for the offense I have caused you through my words. I never intended to disparage the service of any person to their country or that of their remembrance of that service and their fallen comrades. Actually, I am so respectful of all service men and women it crushes me to think that it was I who caused such insult and disrespect to you. I humbly beg your forgiveness.
