So In My Travels...
To go through the steps,
Just to qualify myself deserving
Of receiving a paycheck...
Has never set well,
With my personal philosophy.
There should be more to one's existence,
Than an exploitation to salivate...
In the licking of fingers and lips,
After dining and wining at an exclusive...
Invitation only gluttonous feast.
It's much like performing a service,
In the military.
I was there because of patriotism.
Not because I wanted to learn,
Acts of discipline.
Even though many lessons were taught.
Besides defense mechanisms.
I admit I have issues,
With those who seek college degrees.
Most of them skipping a service in the military.
Only to earn a degree to seek high paying salaries.
With no commitment to leave an impression...
On others with the teaching of skills to please.
And those of military experience,
Have much to offer.
And...
With a commitment unquestioned in existence
So in my travels...
I observe those of devoted integrities,
Demoted to obscurities and judgements passed.
As those of a self righteousness defend their travesties.
And this as seen is very clear to me.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Related quotes
My Service to This Country
If there is any experience I've had in my life,
I am most proudest to have accomplished.
Would be my service to this country,
In the military!
In the military,
I experienced true friendship.
Strict discipline.
And was taught 'why' and reasons,
I should and must respect.
The men and women from all walks of life,
Were dedicated and loyal.
And all could trust what was done,
Was to benefit the cause...
Of what was correct and upright!
Those without this experience,
Seem to be superficial, selfish.
Lacking a self respect and/or common sense.
And the military is the only institution,
Where young people grow...
Acquiring a maturity not on the common man bestowed.
And those who treat the ones of military experience...
As people who protect their interests,
And then can easily dispose.
Make foolish judgements based on temptations and whims.
And their insecurities are taken for granted!
And this clearly shows.
If there is any experience I've had in my life,
I am most proudest to have accomplished.
Would be my service to this country,
In the military!
And glad upon my life,
This has been bestowed!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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I Am A Veteran
I am a veteran.
Once a young patriot who had volunteered,
To join the military.
And it was clear a sacrificing of my life,
Was a possibility.
And yet the thought of it did not frighten me.
I am a veteran.
I did not decide,
To slide over onto Candadian borders...
Thinking I could avoid my responsibility.
With an escaping of a draft I did not receive.
I wanted to protect those deserving of freedom.
I am a veteran.
One of the Vietnam War Era.
I didn't walk the halls of an Ivy League college.
To party in between studying for a degree.
No!
But I did take college courses and studied diligently,
While also performing my military duties.
I am a veteran.
One who is Black 'and' American AND proud to be.
But as a veteran I have learned,
The battles I continue to fight...
Are needlessly fought on the streets of my own country.
With people who did not serve a duty at all...
But feel they are more deserving of entitlements,
And a respect not shown to me.
Yes...
I AM a veteran.
But yet I am expected to support,
Those who feed their greed.
As I am perceived,
Not to be worthy!
And so hard it is for me not to believe,
The color of my skin is the reason for that.
I am a veteran.
Conditioned to aware of the facts.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Also in the new constitution, we want to lower the voting age from 20 years to 18 years and also gradually implement a voluntary military service in replacement of the current compulsory military service.
quote by Chen Shui-bian
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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If I Am Not Committed To Its Existence
My life!
And the total living,
Of the experience of it...
Has afforded me the many lessons,
Learned and given...
By being discipline, observant and listening.
Although I admit those teachings,
Did not sink in to begin...
Until my opinions,
Of how others lived their lives...
Beyond and outside of my vision,
Ceased to end my judgements passed.
And that is when my life,
Began a whole new adventure....
On a more personal path.
Without my nose being in someone else's business.
Or believed I had 'all' the answers,
When too many questions I had...
About my own existence that took top position.
And with God's assistance...
I learned how to shut my mouth.
And with my eyes and ears open,
I grew to know when and how to pay attention.
Allowing me to grow to know that which I am still learning.
To live and let live to leave alone if that is God's wish!
Especially if I am not committed to its existence.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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We have to learn to think in a new way. We have to learn to ask ourselves, not what steps can be taken to give military victory to whatever group we prefer, for there no longer are such steps; the question we have to ask ourselves is: what steps can be taken to prevent a military contest of which the issue must be disastrous to all parties?
quote by Bertrand Russell
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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An Old Soldier's Closet
The old soldier's closet holds memorabilia
in which he enjoys to reminisce and browse,
and thoughts of his military service to the
Nation gradually begins to rouse.
This is a closet where moth balls abound
with hangers of uniforms from former bases
still neatly pressed and offering him
an imaginary trip to former world places.
The old soldier's uniforms hanging there
suggests an earlier military styling
and instantly his present thoughts
with his past service is reconciling.
Staring at all the military paraphernalia
transfers him from this modern plane -
with teary eyes and a spirit of humbleness,
he is a dedicated soldier again.
poem by Joseph T. Renaldi
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Many of our nation's great leaders began their careers at a service academy. I encourage anyone interested in a rewarding college experience or military career to apply as soon as possible.
quote by Chris Cannon
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A young man who does not have what it takes to perform military service is not likely to have what it takes to make a living. Today's military rejects include tomorrow's hard-core unemployed.
quote by John F. Kennedy
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I saw courage both in the Vietnam War and in the struggle to stop it. I learned that patriotism includes protest, not just military service.
quote by John F. Kerry
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Listening and Making Attempts
From Listening and making attempts,
That is how one is known to grow.
I can not expound on something sound,
I have not in my mind yet to know.
And maturing through my life I've found,
A teaching of this that has taught me so.
I can only speak with authority,
From those steps I've taken...
Whether or not,
A direction headed was meant to be.
And where I have not ventured or seen,
Would be difficult for me to fake as reality.
A competence I have chosen for me.
But from my own acquired abilities.
And if I should offend anyone by this?
That is on them to seek a defense.
And not to be an adapted extension,
Of my own existence I still live to experience.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Military Man
The fightings over now
Theres nowhere left to run
My ammunitions out
Id better put down my gun
And as I face this life of fear
Id better keep my conscience clear
Inside my mind Im out of it
And I aint never coming back
Chorus:
So dont come running here to find me
cos Im a military man
And as I spin this wheel of fortune
In my military world
Im a military man
The architects of time
Are calling me
But I dont believe it
Necessarily
And as I face this life of fear
Break the chains
That bind me here
Inside my head Im out of it
But Im still never coming back
Chorus
Im a military man
Just a military man yes I am
song performed by by Asia
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I grew up in a military family, and there's something about that military-style uniform, all cleaned up, a brutal control effort the military necessarily breeds.
quote by Max Cannon
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If military movies were automatically successful we'd make nothing but military movies. But seriously, patriotism is one thing that all Americans have in common.
quote by Tommy Lee Jones
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Since far fewer people are recruited to serve in a voluntary military, the connection between America and its military is increasingly tenuous and less personal.
quote by John McHugh
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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My Old Footlocker
My footlocker holds another world
in which I like to travel,
And my thoughts seem to be real
as slowly they begin to unravel.
An old military footlocker tightly packed
with memorabilia of former bases
look travel-packed and offers me
a fantasy ticket to former places.
Outmoded garb folded neatly
suggesting early military styling,
and instantly my present thoughts
with military service are reconciling.
A footlocker filled with many memories
transfers me from this present plane -
with eyes half closed, in humbleness,
I am a soldier again.
poem by Joseph T. Renaldi
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They Keep To Themselves Exclusively
The only ones who advocate wars and fighting,
Are those who seek images of being victorious...
To ignore the ones who leave their blood,
Left to be forgotten on foreign battlefields.
While those who charade their greatness,
Choose to use their expertise...
In dividing people and also those who have enlisted,
To serve in the military...
With choices to feed their own greeds.
That leaves them deciding who is entitled...
To share a feast they did not earn,
They keep to themselves exclusively.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Requiring military hospitals to perform elective abortions exposes the physicians, the nurses, the military personnel to move against their own personal convictions of life in many cases.
quote by Rick Renzi
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I heard an Israeli speaking on Palestinian human rights issues, an interesting guy, and he said ""There's no military solution to terrorism. If there were, Israel would be the safest place in the world. But there's no military solution.""
quote by Bradley Whitford
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Taught To Be Professionally Combative
I would not categorize myself,
By using any means of limitation.
Some who live without missions,
Or causes...
Would not understand my commitment.
Nor do I campaign my efforts.
I will say I am direct.
Pleasant and respectful to a fault.
However...
I do not mind coming face to face,
Or nose to nose...
With anyone who assumes,
My life has not been lived...
Without challenges.
I prefer to be peaceful.
But...
I also have been taught to be,
Professionally combative!
Both as a performing artist,
As an ex-military man...
AND having survived marriage.
So...
I am mentally equipped to deal,
With anyone on several levels.
And living alone on my own...
In a few distant cities,
Has given me a lot of insight.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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I believe that detente was having almost the opposite effect of what was intended. What was intended was to sort of end the contest for power and to stop Soviet expansion, especially by military means and the military build-up, the military contest.
quote by Jeane Kirkpatrick
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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