Why Are Military Men Who Have Been To Iraq So Convinced Others Do Not Understand?

Question

that there are others who although they may not LIVE there, are very familiar with this ancient country which was originally called Mesopotamia, the cradle of civilization, masters of math and science.
Seems like soldiers who have been there believe they are the only ones who understand that particular culture.
Wrong.

Answer 1

Well some people are more familiar with the Iraq. I for one am familiar with Iraq's history because my parents were born there and am Assyrian. Soldiers that serve in Iraq begin to appreciate the history others have learned about. Making their respect for Iraq's (Mesopotamia) history tangible.

Answer 2

I think your the one who has it wrong. I've been to Iraq and I'm currently serving in Afghanistan. We don't think we have an exclusive on Iraq culture and history. We know we have an exclusive on Americans soldiers in Iraq and doing our jobs. Mesopotamia what a while ago. Things change. The cradle of civilization is now a free fire war zone. Put down the ancient history book and come see. BTW! When you get there you will probably have a new understanding of the new culture in Iraq and will probably also want to be standing behind one or more of those soldiers you just insulted.

Answer 3

I really think you've misunderstood someone. I know quite a few people who have served or are currently serving in Iraq, and they've never said anything like that. I agree with several of the other posters - what they probably mean is that we can't understand what the military goes through over there. And they're right - we can't. I have no idea what it's like to be shot at, and prefer to remain ignorant of such things. I am very grateful that we have so many intelligent, brave men and women who are willing to put themselves in the line of fire so the rest us can live freely.

Answer 4

It's NOT about Iraq. It's about the same reason most soldiers have ALWAYS felt civilians don't understand...

I am a civilian, but I have listened very intently to many veterans in and out of my family. Regardless of the time they served (WW II, Korean Conflict, Vietnam, Desert Shield/Storm), I see that being "under the gun" in war changes people. They look at themselves before and after and see they are now an entirely different person. It shifts their worldview so radically that they feel no one who hasn't been there can REALLY know. To them, a civilian can learn facts about a war, but never know The Facts.

That's the way I observe it (IMNSHO). Please add the usual "grain of salt," and all that...

Answer 5

They mean that nobody here understands what they went through. Nobody really understands the sacrifice they are making. While most people in their age group are off in college or working in offices or wasting their lives away, servicemen and women are getting shot at and blown up. They're losing their best friends every day. They're awake for days at a time in highly stressful situations.

Only a veteran can understand what our boys over there are going through. As a Marine veteran myself, I've lost alot of brothers in Iraq. Every few weeks I hear about someone in my unit, or someone I've trained with or taught a class to at some point dying over there. I see people at schools on the news crying because one graduate from there died, while I know at least 100 people who have. Can a civilian understand that?

Yes, the culture of Iraq is wonderful. The people of Iraq are good, honest people. I have terrible sympathy for them and what they're going through and the loss of their culture as a result of us being there. Most of the people deployed to Iraq have the same feelings but when someone is throwing a grenade at you, shooting at you, planting bombs aimed toward you, and any other atrocity; you have no choice but to fight the same people that you have so much respect for.

Answer 6

Its not that we understand the longstanding culture, we understand what is happening now to that culture. With first hand accounts on how daily Iraqi civilians treat their ancestories, we have the right to say we understand their culture. We live it for a year. Take a year outta your life and go live in the woods, and when you come out and say you understand how the trees move and the deers migrate, I will not question whether your forrest is different from the one in my back yard.

Answer 7

Because 3/4 of this ungrateful country would rather protest the war than support our troops. I am an ex-special forces myself. I ran into the same thing when i got out. Everyone wanted to debate what i did for this country, instead of how i risked my life to defend this country. So it is just that the people are ignorant. Don't take it personal.

Answer 8

They feel a civilian can not know what they have been thru. I dont think it has anything to do with the culture. They are in a war zone and trying to stay alive, not study the culture. War changes them in many ways-some good -some bad. God Bless them all!

Answer 9

I don't think they mean "culture." I think that they mean to say that other people (who are not in the service) don't know what being in the middle of a war is like. And, they are very right. I'm sure they know that other people can research the cultures and customs and all of that jazz. What they are trying to say is that other people don't understand what they're having to go through.

Answer 10

Have you been there? I think you are misinterpreting things.. I think it's impossible to understand what they see and to understand from their point of view. Anybody can study something.. but it takes a real hero to do what those guys and women do. You should have more respect for the people who protect your right to have an opinion like this.