You, as I, have a right to our opinion.
As I look back over my 69 years I have found my views on many things have changed. My world is no longer black and white (no pun intended)but full of greys.
Forgiveness is as much for ones self as the ones we forgive.
In this case the man did not do me any harm and so it is presumptuous of me to “forgive” him or any of the other thousands of young people that choose a different path then I did. I no longer hold any animosity towards any of them.
There is one exception however, Jane Fonda gone way beyond protesting the war. In my eyes she was a traitor and should have been tried as such. I have vowed to piss on her grave but I am afraid that line will be very long indeed.
This is of course one persons opinion and is not meant as criticism in any way.
You’re fortunate to have developed that magnamity. I haven’t.
I was fully aware that we were fully involved in a difficult fight and there were long periods where we lost people every day, day after day. When I came home, I saw lots of able-bodied males wandering around enjoying the carefree life and I was deeply resentful.
I volunteered for another tour and was badly hurt. I lost even more friends over there while our countrymen made up even more excuses.
Mohammed Ali gave the wrong example to the men of our generation and I will always denounce him and all the others who let us bear that burden by ourselves.