Writes Christopher Salas:
8:55 am on September 5, 2012I saw the recent blog post by Matthew Postell, and after deliberating with myself about when and in what capacity to write you, I decided that this was probably the best time. I enlisted in the Marine Corps after 1 year of college, hoping to be the one kid at my school who got to destroy the enemies of America while the other kids just drank beer and racked up student loans. I absolutely wanted to kill bad guys, and that’s how I would prove my manhood. I believed in the absolute power of government, of the State, and the military (redundant much?) I believed that it was my duty as a man to give something back to the country that gave me Internet, groceries, “freedom,” and other perceived gifts from the State. I even believed so much in the State that I went so far as to say that rights should only be given to man AFTER he had given some sort of service to county, state, or State government, be it civil or military service.
What’s interesting is that this feeling only applied to foreign policy, not my own private and personal policy; I shied away from confrontation only because I didn’t want to fight people. I am nice, humble, forgiving, accommodating, and understanding. This attitude stayed this way right up until I got married and had children. I desired peace. Then, I decided to learn who was running as GOP candidates in August 2011 and came across the good doctor, Ron Paul. I was smitten. I began to quickly change my stance on war, hate, and “service” and “duty.” I now desire peace, love, communication, and above all, Liberty and Freedom. I will keep this short, as you surely know where the personal transformation is going.
In the end, I left the Marine Corps because I became “too libertarian for the Marines,” as I like to tell people. My opinions even got me into a little trouble, which finally solidified my decision to leave. Now, I look to increase the liberties and freedoms of my family; I’m a young libertarian learning how the world really works.
