Men and women return from war zones and are unable to connect with their friends and family members. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (more widely known as PTSD) is rampant among veterans. Mental health is another big concern for our nation's veterans. You don't have to like where the military is sent or the causes they are sent to fight for (or against) but refusing to support our men and women in uniform is not going to do change anything and you're naive if you think it will. There are very few people in the country who have a say in where the military goes (the main person, of course, being the President of the United States). It is their choice to serve, but it is not their choice to fight no. The men and women who serve are protecting each and every one of us-regardless of whether or not you agree with every military campaign the USA becomes embroiled in. You should be thankful that there are enough volunteers to serve in the armed forces to make the draft unnecessary. If you're a pacifist you don't have to fight in our wars-a luxury that would not be afforded to you if we still lived in the era of the draft. What it is not, however, is a reason to avoid supporting our veterans. Pacifism is a noble belief and an ideal the world as a whole should strive towards. Many cite pacifism as a reason to avoid getting involved in this cause. My goal has always been to emphasize positivity and growth in my work so being able to see that my work is making a positive difference in different communities has been a great joy. They showed appreciation for my efforts in raising awareness and that interaction truly meant so much to me as I realized the importance of sharing your thoughts on an issue. For example, after writing a response article about the importance of supporting sexual assault survivors year-round I received a message on LinkedIn from an advocate based in Connecticut that provides technology that increases access to resources surrounding sexual harassment. Sharing my response articles on my Instagram allows me to connect with my friends and family as well as those outside of my close social network.

It allows me to witness the connections that people make with my content and be a part of a supportive and productive community of writers. Being able to see my responses published on Odyssey is an incredible opportunity.

I wish you all the best by mason deaver