hello everyone. I've never been to this corner. In fact I don't use the darkforum very much at all.

I know half of you are going to not like me after you read my philosophy, but I care as much as I know why I'm posting. And I have no clue as to why I even come here.

But here's my philosophy.

There's a zen to extreme discipline. I feel a pureness in the constant preperation of training. When I finish a series of push-ups, I feel at peace, when I run or do situps, and feel good. This is endorphins, combined with the feeling of having done something wortwhile.

I always feel as if I have to be moving forward, improving, becoming stronger. And that is why I am an Army man.

And when it comes to killing, a necessary part of so many of our jobs, it comes also with satisfaction. There is zen in the firing of a rifle. You have to have absolute concentration, and steady hands. You have to have unerring focus, to make the round meet the three hundred meter target.

This may sound strange to many, but I have respect for my enemy. I hate them, but at the same time they are a lot like me. I'm not talking about drafties, like Iraq's 700,000 guys, they're ametuers. They're civilians that were given a uniform and a rifle, and not much more. When they attacj more are runnning then shooting. I'm talking about the proffesional soldiers.

the Iraqi Republican guard, Saddam's 15,000 elites, they're pros. They may be dirty bastards, who are responsible for Saddam's power, but they are very strong individuals.

During operation dessert they actually put up a fight. Of course, it didn't do much good. My Army, defeated one fourth of their divisions in 96 hours. The only reason Saddam's not dead right now is because the president told us to stop after we had crossed the border. They wouldn't of stood a chance if we kept rolling. They didn't even know how to fight in the dark, they were so used to fighting more ametuers in Iran, who had the mutual agreement to go home at night. When we came they seriously expected us to do the same.

But anyway, that's my militant philosophy.

You've created your philosophy to help you cope with your actions?

No I haven't.

But I am curiouse as to why you would ask.

it sounds to me like you are justifying your power, and the respect you have of your power.......as you said you are a source of great power, you obviously seem fit and atheletic and you are a part of the greatest military in the world, yet for all those that are beneath you, you respect them not? only those that are like you do you seem to respect? hence you have some repsect for the elite iraqi soilders, but the rest.....?

I have seen this attitude reflected in my friends..one of which is in the RAF the other is a marine..it's a very elitest attitude that puts the persuit of self development above all else..the problem is that 'proving ourselves' in battle is a tradition that has been with us thousands of years. Generally the idea is simply that Might is Right, the stronger you are the more moral highground you must have because God must be on the side of the winner right? wrong. You can't justify killing because it's your job, everything you do you are directly responcible for..otherwise you become just another unfeeling monster empty of all human decency, makes you wonder what you are trying to save. People look down on the Germans because they followed Hitlers orders..well they were just following orders the same as all other armies and if you think the innocents on the other side will see you any differently you are mistaken...plus you are in thier country, of course they are going to try to defend thier homes from the invading army.

You are all very creative. I am not a mathematical function, just because i have a few characteristics doesn't mean that I have others.

Nowhere in my first post did I mention justifying anything with force. And the idea that I'm right just because I can beat them up because god's on my side, that's nuts. Where did I mention religion?

I said that there was a Zen to a discplined lifestyle. if you change a few of the specific elements this could have been written by a Yogi, a musician, or an athlete.

Concerning respecting people with a different lifestyle, of course I respect them as much as I would my own. But you are going to have more respect for people that have greater achievments, and ability. That's true for every field of practical work.

that's fair enough.

althought i don't find peace in strenous tasks myself. i find it in....being peaceful

As you can all clearly see I am very heavily tattooed, currently 36 hours of work. To me tattoos are sacred.

The pain is like purifying fire. When i feel the needle rip to the third layer of skin I feel the same way a child passing the rituals of adulthood may feel.

The permenance is what makes the tattoo so worthwhile. What you get has to be real, it becomes a part of you. Even if it is something only for decoration, the image speaks so much a bout a person.

I chose my tattoos, because the designs were powerfull images, that I felt matched me. I have been getting tattooed since I was eighteen, I'm twenty one now, and still very proud of my first piece.

They are all like badges of courage, like signatures of my boldness.

So what are your people's thoughts on tattoos?

What are my thoughts about your thoughts on tatoos or what are my personal thoughts on tatoos?

My personal thoughts are "I'll get one when I'm 50 and too old to regret it" Actually I'd like a henna coloured tat on my hand but I've found few tatooist prepared to tatoo a hand. As far as the pain factor, I figure if I could handle child birth a tat's gotta be a stroll in the park.

By the way Faler ever read 'The Way of the Peaceful Warrior' by Dan Millman. I think you'd really identify with it.

Violence is a destructive thing..the army protects through destruction..if you find peace in that then very well but as masochist said you should be able to attain peace by simply being peacefull...modern life is all about rushing, it would do all good to sit and just think for an hour or two. Sometimes doing nothing is the right thing to do.

On the subject of tatoos..I feel they don't really symbolize bravery anymore than getting your hair dyed..pain is pain and self inflicted pain for easthetic reasons is yet another shallow change to our appearance we think changes us..personaly i think women who get thier crotches waxed are much braver..i mean they don't even display it..my sister got coito ergo sum on the base of her spine..and she isn't brave at all so go figure..who do you do it for?

everyone creates a philosophy for how they react, deal and create their own life...i understand a lot of you philosophy, and while mine is the ying to your yang...it's not understood completely either...you're a warrior, in my opinion the "normal" constructs of society would not(and in some instances do not) apply, as long as you are able to distinguish your "military mentality" from the "civilian mentality" i see nothing wrong with your stance, however i am curious what your input is on concerning the recent upsurge of military men reacting aggressively and often times lethally towards their non-military relations?

I think that you are a little too egotistical, Faler, but I have to admit that I have always disliked Spartan ideals and I am blind about Iraq.

I don't think tattoos are that big of a deal, they seem to fall right in with body piercing, which doesn't phase me. I like them, but I'm not incredibly impressed.

I'm glad you decided to post your views, most people don't if they aren't fanatical or if they don't differ too much from the norm.

How exactly did you determine if a person is egotistical by reading what they hold sacred, and their ideology when you've never met this person.

And, why do you think I was trying to impress you, when I asked for other people's views on tattooing?

I wasn't expecting positive feedback on tattoos, were I am body modification is looked down upon.

To me though I hold them as sacred. This probably is because my first tattoo was don by a Voodoo cult member. he used a razorblade to carve a symbol into my skin, and rubbed charcoal into the cuts.

Oh, byt he way, Saddam's elite guard didn;t put him in power, take a history lesson, pal, the US put him there. We gave him guns, missiles and all the other tolls except soldiers, plus an amazing amount fo money... Ever heard of the Iran-Iraq war?

I'm not quiet sure what bringing that up has to do with philosophy. I'm beganing to feel like I'm taking the blame for any thing people dislike about the U.S. government. I'm just a person with a few personal views. I don't pull the strings.

1973: Iraqi government takes over foreign oil companies within country.

1979: Saddam Hussein's followers kill Iraqi President Bakr, and Hussein becomes president. He begins murdering Iraqi government officials and dissidents in his way.

1980-1988: In a border dispute, Hussein draws Iraq into an eight-year border war with Iran. Economy suffers as trade is brought to a standstill. Cease-fire declared in 1988


I remember the U.S. involvement in the Iran-Iraq war. U.S., as well as naval vessels of other nationality were stationed in the gulf in respects to international laws. Their purpose was to remain neutral but, protect oil tankers leaving the middle east, so the western economy would be affected by the war as little as possible.

And BTW, I'm not trying to be rude, but the U.S. does not supply AK-47s, Soviet Tanks and Soviet Artillery.

I must agree to your philosophy of a diciplined life leading to satisfaction. If your 'badges of courage' are self-awarded, how do you know you deserve them? Any shmoe can get a tat, not that you're a shmoe, of course.

Sigh, sorry, I've been posting for the past month on a forum that has almost no organization at all, so my indignant post about Saddam came fromt here. Anyhoo, I was just thinking about the impact of your philosophy. That is, if everyone were to take that view, we'd have an even larger, more sickeningly powerful military filled with very disciplined, very happy, but inevitably, ignorant folks. These folks could be easily exploited as they have comitted themselves to this army. This is no attack on you, but I am just pointing out the lack of any universality in your ideal.

I read a book by the Dali Lama(sic). It was called a policy of kindness. Onw of the quotes i most remembered was "their exists different religion for people with different needs."

My philosophy is not for everyone. Neither is tattooing.

And Phage, concerning the signifigence of a self awarded badge of courage. It's not the rule it's just a trend. I usually wear long sleeves, otherwise people will aproach me and start asking me questions. Many are nice, but still, I don't need it.

Even though it is self inflected, it definetly takes some degree of guts to sit down and edure prolonged pain for hours, then come back for more. And considering the fact that it's perminant, definetly means you have a willingness to commit to something you find meaningfull or aesthetic.

You really feel different when ones done, but that's just me.

I'll take your word for it, I'm not too keen on the idea of tatooing. I'm surprised that you illustrate yourself only to cover up, the idea of an image is for it to be displayed. They must be personal.

A few of you may remember me, I thought I'd revive my old thread.

I just returned from overseas. (I wasn't in the middle east)

It's so good to be back in the states. Walking on American soil again is like walking on clouds.