It's an interesting concept, the love of self. CS Lewis asks, if someone treated you the way you treated yourself or others, could you ever forgive them? But you can forgive yourself. This shows an immense amount of self love.

The context was slightly different, if I recall, as he was talking about loving our neighbors.

If it is related to god then it is not interesting:3

Pretty sure there should have been a "done" somewhere in there.

I read what you wrote and I just completely disagree with your opinion and everything you said. Its just extremely naive and optimistic and you pretty much just casually overlook everything wrong waning on a few minor (and non-existing) benefits. Plus the benefits you outline are not due to US soldiers. They are because of a social change in a conservative country. If anything, the soldiers just worsen the situation. Plus saying something stupid like "The NATO has done its best to bring a country out of damn-near medieval times" is so wrong and retarded its inconceivable. Saying that just made me pretty much question the credibility of anything you say, since that statement is wrong and stupid in so many ways. I can't be asked engaging in a full bloated argument, but I suggest you research information yourself with an open mind and disregard biased sources like bbc news and fox news. The deep web and wikileaks would be a good start. From there you can get a wide picture of both sides of the argument, dismiss what you think might be conspiracy, agree with what you want to agree with and actually gain an experienced, unbiased and logical point of view for yourself. Each country pushes its own agenda subliminally be it in advertising or more commonly in education, so a lot of the times your view is biased even if you try and be impartial. That is with everyone including myself.

I referred to people like you in this part of my argument: " A surprising number of people share this view, but don't speak out otherwise they will probably be alienated and seen as scum for not being grateful for men supposedly "risking their lives for their country"." and I have already explained my reasoning. Its not about gratitude. Even if they don't shed blood, I still won't have to. The war they fight in is pointless. Some of them are fighting for the wrong reasons. I don't want to completely state how I feel and I'm trying to be nice about it giving both sides of the situation, otherwise it will just turn into a flame war.

But is it pointless though? I can see how it may appear futile to forge a democracy in western fashion in Afghanistan, due to the illiteracy and the poverty. But think about it, there is a woman in the Afghan parliament. Already by 2003 1,2 million girls were in school in Afghanistan.

If you can look away from the war on terror bit, and the occational western soldier who snaps due to the pressure of being in a combat zone in the provinces the Taliban still is strong (I seem to recall that they are strongest in the poorest, most illiterate provinces), I wouldn't call the war in Afghanistan pointless.

The NATO has done its best to bring a country out of damn-near medieval times. So in my opinion, the only pointless thing is withdrawing without finishing the job.

But I don't know, Broseph, could be I'm just a warmongering asshole yanking your chain.

I read what you wrote and I just completely disagree with your opinion and everything you said. Its just extremely naive and optimistic and you pretty much just casually overlook everything wrong waning on a few minor (and non-existing) benefits. Plus the benefits you outline are not due to US soldiers. They are because of a social change in a conservative country. If anything, the soldiers just worsen the situation. Plus saying something stupid like "The NATO has done its best to bring a country out of damn-near medieval times" is so wrong and retarded its inconceivable. Saying that just made me pretty much question the credibility of anything you say, since that statement is wrong and stupid in so many ways. I can't be asked engaging in a full bloated argument, but I suggest you research information yourself with an open mind and disregard biased sources like bbc news and fox news. The deep web and wikileaks would be a good start. From there you can get a wide picture of both sides of the argument, dismiss what you think might be conspiracy, agree with what you want to agree with and actually gain an experienced, unbiased and logical point of view for yourself. Each country pushes its own agenda subliminally be it in advertising or more commonly in education, so a lot of the times your view is biased even if you try and be impartial. That is with everyone including myself.

And letting drunk friends pay his pizza ...

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. OP is a dick

That would make more sense...
But yes, I approve of your choice.