I read the whole article, and I am not sure what the point of this is. You want to change how people think about veterans, and the way we engage with them? Now you can read my short response.

There is no way I am ever going to argue with my brother about his time served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Although my family and I might agree with you about reasons why he should have never enlisted in the first place, nobody in their right mind would dare discredit his service and bravery. He nearly died because an idiot general ordered the fuel vehicle my brother was driving to lead a convoy through a field of landmines while the landmine detection vehicle was being repaired. The idiot general thought he was fulfilling the mission set by President Obama. I agree, this is an example of the delusional thinking you speak of. My brother had no choice. Hell, they probably lied to him and told him the road was safe. Now my brother can expect a shorter lifespan and two less legs to walk on. Should I diminish his life further? He despises pity, and asks for nothing, but always demanded respect for as long as I've known him.

It isn't about placing blame on the correct people who participated in a war, it is about honoring those who were willing to give their lives to protect your rights, freedoms, and even all of our economic privileges. Are you still filling up your car with gasoline? Thank a veteran you can still afford to do that. We all know the war mongering in the Middle East is ultimately about oil prices.

Bravery and stupidity are two sides of the same coin. A lot of veterans over the years have failed to get the full benefits they deserve. It became a broken system. My dad, a war veteran, got a VA home loan, and I'm discovering what a big scam it is. I disgusts me the many unofficial services marketed to help veterans that are ultimately money grabbing scams to trick people into contracts that will suck them dry. The amount of hours they served compared the amount of compensation they receive is pathetic. It is less than the minimum wage. Many soldiers enlist because they feel inadequate and inferior to compete in the job market, and often yes they might have low IQ, but that is not their fault, or a fault needing to be insulted. Why would I ever discredit a person who has endured the tragedy of war, and prison-like living situations for countless hours for pennies on the dollar? It's like throwing rotten fruit at my mail carrier.

Do you have any family members who served time in the armed forces? When you interact with them about these ideas, is it a peaceful dialog, or is it perceived as rude and disruptive? Peace begins at home, in the heart. Thank you for reading my words.