I was still a dumb lib back then. But my radicalization has really peeled opened my eyes to my part in continuing colonialism in Africa and imperialism in the Middle East.
But if I had never served, a lot of the understanding I have would not exist. Or how the military functions and how fucked up and clueless everyone is. Or how so many are working class being recruited for the basic conditions we as leftists want for everyone. Housing, job, sense of purpose, food, etc.
Just hard tackling all of this stuff and thoughts sometimes.
I mean, look at that in the context of the old sub. Nobody wants to turn away vets who actually understand, but there were so many struggle sessions on that sub where people earnestly argued that all vets were absolved because of the predatory nature of recruitment, which is absolute dogshit.