The only place where a war can continue to be fought is in the heart and the mind of the
person who had been in that war.
Number one, I think Jerry is a very brave man and he's one of us.
He's a combat vet.
He's a Marine.
And he was an infantry.
And so whatever he said, I listened to him because he's been there, done that, know that.
I feel that anybody else that hasn't done it, you know, the hell they talking about.
So therefore, by him, he's walk to walk so he can talk to talk.
I had no idea of the journey I was embarking on.
War is, it's insane.
In order to survive in combat, human beings have to emotionally shut down.
Bottom line, the people who fight wars are boys and girls.
They in no way were prepared for how grotesque combat was going to become.
He asked me if, you know, I could forgive others and I said, yeah, I can do that.
He says, do you believe that God forgave you and I said, yes, I believe that.
And then he said, can you forgive yourself?
And I said, no.
The truth and shame can walk hand in hand.
And there's enough assholes out there who are ready to shame us for what is.
Humanity is a peace producing virtue.
Jerry's forgiveness seems to be based on the belief in a God who is all forgiving.
And if he can forgive you, you should be able to forgive yourself.
And that's, that's what being a human being is all about.
I still carry a lot of a lot of guilt and shame for things I did do for things I didn't do.
But I'm learning to live with that in a way that I don't want it to take take my life away from me.
People are committing suicide every day.
And the military is paying lip service.
The families of combat vets know what PTSD is all about.
Their, their son or daughter come, comes home and they go in their room and they don't come out.
I had a choice.
I could live the rest of my life deservedly feeling like shit.
Or I could forgive myself and be free.
Thank you for watching.
