I was a psych nurse, and a bunch of guys in outpatient shared a story about a friend who overdosed fatally after a year clean. Their pain and sadness were palpable. Then I remembered what some of these same guys had taught me: sometimes you’re powerless. (Nurses hate this as a rule.) I’m sorry for your struggle. I feel my own frustration that I have absolutely zero to offer you. But I will keep coming back and sitting with you as you post these columns. It’s all I have to give you right now. I’m genuinely sorry.
Count me as one of the ones that wil say it--I'm sorry we couldn't save them. It is beyond my understanding why people in leadership will not speak openly and honestly about this. Even in the face of seeing the huge impact it is having on recruitment--- (in their self interest to address then) and the impact it has had/will continue to have on the moral injury of our veterans ---(in the interest of our own honor and lives of our troops). I have no more words for this.
We cannot be an untrustworthy nation. I've been aware of this but it has been a while since I've read anything new. Perhaps more people need to take this personally, as I do. As I get older (just 52, really), I increasingly view our government as a reflection of myself and all of us, and thus take it personally that we are less trustworthy.
First, thanks for reading, Donald. I appreciate it. And I also appreciate your comments. We are a stronger nation with our allies. And that is built on trust. We will need all the allies we can get as we pivot toward true great power competition. The unipolar moment is over.
I was a psych nurse, and a bunch of guys in outpatient shared a story about a friend who overdosed fatally after a year clean. Their pain and sadness were palpable. Then I remembered what some of these same guys had taught me: sometimes you’re powerless. (Nurses hate this as a rule.) I’m sorry for your struggle. I feel my own frustration that I have absolutely zero to offer you. But I will keep coming back and sitting with you as you post these columns. It’s all I have to give you right now. I’m genuinely sorry.
Count me as one of the ones that wil say it--I'm sorry we couldn't save them. It is beyond my understanding why people in leadership will not speak openly and honestly about this. Even in the face of seeing the huge impact it is having on recruitment--- (in their self interest to address then) and the impact it has had/will continue to have on the moral injury of our veterans ---(in the interest of our own honor and lives of our troops). I have no more words for this.
We cannot be an untrustworthy nation. I've been aware of this but it has been a while since I've read anything new. Perhaps more people need to take this personally, as I do. As I get older (just 52, really), I increasingly view our government as a reflection of myself and all of us, and thus take it personally that we are less trustworthy.
First, thanks for reading, Donald. I appreciate it. And I also appreciate your comments. We are a stronger nation with our allies. And that is built on trust. We will need all the allies we can get as we pivot toward true great power competition. The unipolar moment is over.