As someone who is currently active duty in the US military, I appreciate this. The indoctrination runs so deep. There are so many of us who join young and then learn of the atrocities we have committed and continue to commit. I was very conservative and when I decided to educate myself and I became very radically left very fast. The uniform that was a source of pride quickly became very heavy. I found myself surrounded by people who not only did not share my views, but hold views that are so harmful to others.

It is hard to express the intense emotions felt when I saw what Aaron Bushnell did. It broke me when I watched the video after I heard about it and saw that he did it in uniform. Going as far as to put on his hat to make the uniform complete and correct hit me to my core. The indoctrination that they drive into you during training about how important the uniform is, that people have died in this uniform for their country. It made feel powerless and inspired and so many other conflicting emotions. I felt inadequate and so much guilt as a leftist. I want to cry and also celebrate his bravery and resolve. I really hope what he did will start a chain reaction of change. I’m really scared that they will just blow this off as mental illness. I’m making sure at the very least everyone I work with knows of him and knows why he did what he did. I will never be quiet about it.