Do you believe that your exposure to other people and other places by virtue of your service has made you more tolerant?

CPT Jack Durish — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 11:32:04 -0500

There were two comment frequently heard in Vietnam: (1) Is that incoming? and (2) I wish my mother/wife/girlfriend could see this (a common reaction to seeing how the Vietnamese lived)

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2017 11:50 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 11:50:51 -0500

tolerant yes accepting no, there are way too many people in these united states that need to travel abroad and see how people live, maybe they will gain an appreciation of what we really have as compared to them, my time schools, food, safety the freedom do be, those young people in Iraq I met had none and ive got the pictures they haunt me ervery day

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jan 2 at 2017 12:25 PM

SN Greg Wright — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 12:25:47 -0500

Absolutely. It also showed me that some of the problems we have, like racism, are not just American problems, they're human ones. The Japanese are some of the most racist people on earth...although they're VERY polite about it.

Response by MSgt David Sperber made Jan 2 at 2017 12:37 PM

MSgt David Sperber — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 12:37:31 -0500

Yes. It has opened my eyes to what real suffering is.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jan 2 at 2017 12:37 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 12:37:53 -0500

Traveled to many places overseas. Some I saw only from the approach and departure ends of the runway; others, I stayed for a few days or months. I felt thankful every time the landing gear touched down in the USA whether I was the pilot or a passenger. I agree that we appreciate our freedoms and standard of living when we see how people live in other countries. I wish more people in the US could see that many of the poorest people in the USA live better than even "middle class" people in some third-world countries. It's also cautionary to see what happens when people allow a socialist dictatorship to run the country.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2017 1:30 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 13:30:50 -0500

I would have to say a absolute no because I know how bad life can suck so this new generation with there words can hurt I need a safe space type thinking makes me sick

Response by Cpl Chris Cargile made Jan 2 at 2017 3:06 PM

Cpl Chris Cargile — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 15:06:50 -0500

I traveled a good bit during my service and the primary effect it had on me was to make me appreciate America even more! A lot of the rest of the world is a shithole (at least most of the parts I visited) compared to our country. Made me wish that some of the "blame America first" crowd could live awhile there, might make 'em appreciate the US of A instead of denigrating her all the time!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2017 3:19 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 15:19:05 -0500

I sure do, Jack! I learned a lot about German culture and my own and even minored in German Studies. However, one must be openedminded. I saw many soldiers reinforce their prejudices. Some would not leave the post and instead remained the same as when they arrived.

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Jan 2 at 2017 3:19 PM

PO1 Brian Austin — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 15:19:09 -0500

Most definitely, I've learned about different peoples and culture's. And also learned that they have some of the same issues we have here in the US. I also learned how good we have it here in the US.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jan 2 at 2017 3:55 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 15:55:47 -0500

I'm more tolerant in some ways. Appreciative of what I have. Should we be less tolerant of those that tear at our Country's heart? I'm stating this to shed some light on perspectives, opinions, and orientations that MILs tend to gravitate to based on our experiences overseas. You see incredible suffering on large scale. Mass hunger is normal. Corruption is normal. Bad water is normal. Sewage on the deck is normal. When we come home, we "discover" there're a lot of clueless people out there. We have to tolerate that knowing they haven't been enlightened or struck by lighting as we have. So it's harder to be tolerant because we've seen the differences others have not. Therein is where our compassion must take the lead. One thing a MIL experience should impart is a PhD in compassion. Pursue it. Your scars will heal better for it.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2017 4:06 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 16:06:21 -0500

Yes, absolutely.

Response by PO1 Michael Fullmer made Jan 2 at 2017 5:09 PM

PO1 Michael Fullmer — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 17:09:29 -0500

It has. Varying cultures/people...I think...have given me a more rounded attitude. Also growing up in the military and traveling abroad started me out at a younger age, than a lot of my non-military peers.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2017 6:43 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 18:43:02 -0500

I agree about Vietnam. Based on my experiences, I have a hard time putting up with petty B.S. I also have a problem with people that want to be provided free things without having to work for them. I have a low tolerance for people that hate America. If it was up to me, it would be a crime to burn an American flag. Some people do not realize how good they have it in our country as opposed to most countries.

Response by SGT Aaron Atwood made Jan 2 at 2017 7:21 PM

SGT Aaron Atwood — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 19:21:11 -0500

Yes. This holds especially true for me by the time my two years in Okinawa were done.

Response by SPC Kevin Ford made Jan 2 at 2017 7:47 PM

SPC Kevin Ford — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 19:47:56 -0500

I've been to a fair amount of places and I'd say it has made me more tolerant. Some places make me happy to live in America and some we could learn a few things from too. Not everything, but a few things.

Generally I've found people are people. We won the lottery being born in a good place. That doesn't make us better or more deserving, just lucky.

Response by SMSgt Terry Rider made Jan 3 at 2017 12:10 AM

SMSgt Terry Rider — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 00:10:56 -0500

Yes, we all must realize that people in other countries don't always live like we do.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Jan 3 at 2017 9:00 AM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 09:00:17 -0500

No. If anything, I think it has made me more intolerant. I grew up in the poor neighborhoods. I paid for college out of my own pocket. I whipped myself in shape to become a Marine.

I have endured real hardships in my life and overcame those hardships through no small effort. So I have become more intolerant of people who offer up nothing but excuses and pity me stories. I've grown intolerant of people for trying to take my success away from me by saying I'm just a privileged white boy who never lived in the ghettos.

I was a pretty tolerant person before the military, but honestly I think that part of me is gone for good. Too many "I can'ts" and "You don't know what it's like" people have pushed me over the edge of tolerance.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Jan 3 at 2017 6:08 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 18:08:12 -0500

My time in the military gave me more insight into how we are all much more alike than we are different but cannot made me more tolerant? My problem has never been about Right and Left, or race, creed or faith but about right and wrong? Corruption is wrong, regardless if it is coming from rich white Atheists or anyone else? It is wrong.