Lives Aren’t Counted on a Scoreboard

Guest Opinion by Joshua McKee

We don’t talk about the things we had to do.

We don’t sit around counting lives like a scoreboard, or speak about death like it was some game won 21–0. Men who have truly been there understand something others never will, there is no victory in taking a human life, even when war leaves you no choice.

We don’t brag about the medals earned in blood. We know exactly what they cost. If we speak about those moments at all, it is usually short, broken sentences, eyes looking away, voices catching in our throats. Most of us spend our lives trying to forget the faces, the sounds, the weight of it all.

A human life is sacred. Protecting life is what matters. Taking one, even in combat, leaves something behind that never fully leaves you. The burden stays long after the uniform comes off.

The quiet men sitting among other veterans, the operators who carry themselves without needing attention, often carry the heaviest scars. Real warriors understand the cost of violence, which is why they rarely glorify it. They carry it silently because they know exactly what it means.

These days, too many people pretend. They throw around stories of killing like catchphrases, desperate to sound dangerous or important. But those who truly lived it can hear the difference immediately. Because the men who actually bore that burden do not wear it proudly, they carry it heavily.

To those brothers still carrying the weight of what had to be done, may you find peace in knowing real warriors never glorified it.

The above originally appeared on Facebook. It is reprinted here by permission.

Joshua McKee is a Green Beret Veteran, Bronze Star recipient and constitutional conservative running for Congress in his first political outing. He formerly was a candidate in AL-01, where he was endorsed by Veterans for America First, Green Beret PAC, Border Patriot PAC and GatorPAC. With the announcement of special primaries in Alabama’s 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th Congressional districts, he qualified for the special primary in AL-02. His campaign has focused on bringing America First, mission-focused leadership to Washington to secure the border and protect Alabama's values.

For more information on McKee and his campaign, visit https://mckeeforcongress.com.

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