MovingTarget
Diamond Member
- Jun 22, 2003
- 8,999
- 109
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Originally posted by: shira
Originally posted by: MovingTarget
Like it or not, war changes people. You can't expect to go through something like he did and expect everything to be the same for him when he returns. You change, and the relationships with those back home will inevitably change in response to that. Talk to many in the WW2 generation and they will tell you this. I'm not saying that what he did was right, only that some of it can be explained.
Personally, I don't think that it is brought up in the media because they don't want to open up that can of worms. They would have to face the reality of what has been happening to our veterans when they return despite improved public acceptance of service (think Vietnam) and increased medical care. Physical damage can be repaired, but you can't close your eyes and pretend that everything is okay once they are discharged.
I don't see where you're getting this "war changes people" stuff. If you read the story, it's pretty clear he was a playboy before marriage, and when he saw Carol's state on his return from the service, he became a playboy again. Once McCain met rich, beautiful Cindy, Carol was history.
But I guess it was all because of post-traumatic stress of the testicles. Poor, poor, John.
Perhaps I am being misunderstood. I am not taking up for McCain. War does change people. Re-integrating back into your family and circle of friends that you had beforehand isn't easily (nor at all) done. Many veterans I've spoken to have emphasized this. It does break families in some cases.
However, that doesn't excuse McCain for the fact that he didn't man-up and take care of his wife. All I was trying to say was that if there was anything in him beforehand that made the two of them "work", that it was gone. If it wasn't there, well, he's got some 'splaining to do to his former wife. Should we hold it against him in the current campaign? Personally I am not sure of the extent to which it should or shouldn't. I'll let his positions on the issues decide my voting preference.