Cancel Culture Can Be Detrimental to Veterans

So many veterans struggle with the way society is once we get out. Veterans are known for their hard ass perspective on issues. They are subjected to people’s misconceptions on a continual basis. One of the toughest thing’s veterans deal with is walking the fine line of being ourselves and dealing with cancel culture. A veteran’s sense of humor can appear to be insensitive to some. It is hard when you see people being criticized and losing their jobs for making what others perceive as inappropriate comments.  Veterans are known for calling out people and continue to struggle in this environment. They try not to cross that line, but it can be an issue for some. It all starts because veterans have different ways of looking at things than the average civilian.  

Most veterans have a dark sense of humor or look on life that is not understood by civilians. Most veterans have been put in situations where they had to deal with life and death on a consistent basis, even taking someone's life if necessary. When you spend time with veterans you realize they often put a positive spin on things because they need to maintain their sanity. Many veterans have been blown up, have head injuries, or missing limbs. They need to laugh at inappropriate things in order to handle their situation. These veterans do not want people to look at them is being injured, they want them to look at them as being a whole person. So many people struggle seeing these veterans as a whole person, all they see is their injury. So many injured veterans turn to their dark and inappropriate sense of humor in order to survive. That is what civilians do not understand. Even if you had never been blown up or injured most veterans or their families know someone who has made inappropriate comments and know where it comes from and overlook it. We understand why they are making the comments they are.  

Veterans struggle with being politically correct because they need it to emotionally survive. That is why cancel culture in our society is so hard for veterans to deal with. Some veterans struggle with what people think where others don't care because they have seen the worst humankind can put out. We have seen our friends killed, maimed, discarded by society, so we struggle with caring about how people feel about getting their feelings hurt. I know it can appear to be a little cold and callous, but some veterans feel they need it to emotionally survive.

Cancel culture is hard on veterans and probably affects us more the most people realize. Some veterans often use that lack of political correctness because they feel people have become weak and unable to emotionally work through the tough times. Veterans say inappropriate things at times because they believe it's necessary because of what we've been through and what civilians believe is important.

In my job I ask veterans daily how they “feel “about certain situations. I can get away with it because I understand it. Sometimes my veteran clients open and sometimes they don't. Sometimes they dodge discussing their feelings because it is too painful. They just want to discuss why people don't understand them. The reality is veterans have had deal with life and death situations some civilians cannot fathom. Veterans have lost loved ones in violent situations that cause them pain. Some veterans struggle to understand why so many people get upset at what veterans perceive as inconsequential issues. Some veterans have seen the worst humanity can show them and really don't care about how you feel because they do not believe you care to understand why they are OK with making inappropriate comments. 

For questions or comments, you can contact me at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit my website at www.afterdutyvets.com, and subscribe to my YouTube channel After Duty Vets or like us on Facebook at After Duty Vets.