Quote Originally Posted by sfa437 View Post
Posh-

My point exactly. Maybe I didn't make my post clear enough.

There is enough guidance in those kid's lives that they would strap on 10 pounds of Semtex and some ball bearings and go high order in a crowd. Is that acceptable behavior in a normal society? Of course not. But they have someone to look up to and emulate.

My value systems vice their father's are most definitely different. I do not instill hate in my child towards anybody. I've even gone so far as to tell him, and explain to him, that those who are shooting at me here are doing what they think is right for their country and should be respected. My son gives no thought to skin color, religion or nationality whatsoever and brags he has Iraqi friends (my interpreters talk to him on Yahoo when I am on). It's sunk in too, something he'll carry for life.

My job takes me all over the planet. I could turn down GS15 pay and go back to being a police officer at 1/12th the salary. Then again there goes his basic education (back to NC), our home in NY (where my wife and I were raised), his private high school (Chaminade) and quite a few other things.

I know of very few people who would walk away from 150 a year to go back to 25 a year. 3 years of separation for a lifetime of benefit seems a fair trade.

Taking lives so your family can have more stuff with the money? Sounds reasonable to me. As much as I am all about education and knowledge at any price, I don't think killing people for it is the best route.

How about scholarships, living somewhere less expensive and budgeting by (gasp!) not buying a bunch of replica watches?