History shows the need for independent criticism of governments and its policies as a safeguard against oppression and tyranny. That is the role that the media plays. But, how does the release of ordinary people’s names who will now never live in safety again further the cause of a free and open press?

Why is it that HBO can recreate the Roman Empire with extreme historical accuracy yet “Army Wives” cannot manage to secure a beret correctly on a commanding officer’s head? Any soldier past or present knows what I am talking about. Many Marines I know will stop watching a show as soon as they screw up the marine uniform or confuse tactics of the Army with the Marine Corps. In spite of thier million dollar budgets, Hollywood just does not understand the military.

First Lieutenant Andrea Wolfe is collecting data from former and current military members of all branches who have deployed to Iraq and/or Afghanistan. Wolfe chose to focus her research on an area that is central to the military: deployments.

Few people would say that parenthood is easy. However, it is even more difficult when you are a parent with PTSD. I know firsthand just how difficult being a parent with PTSD is and have my angry daughters to prove it.

When you have children parenting with PTSD can be difficult. In fact at times it can seem impossible. If you cannot reach past the battlefield or the trauma, there is no way you can reach out to your children and be of much assistance. That should never stop you from trying though. I keep trying all the time but it doesn’t make me feel better when I look back knowing I should have done better.

What many of us who have been to war learn to understand is that, even when we have traumatic experiences dealing with life and death, once the war is over for us and we return home those feelings do not go away. All too often, like with myself, we become closed off emotionally to our loved ones and friends. We even go to such lengths as to learn to press down or bury our reactions and emotions our others. For me in particular, this meant I pressed down the parts of my character that hurt if I showed emotions.

Roy Smith speaks with Dr. Jessica Stern, who served as a staff member at the National Security Council during the Clinton Administration, about her new book “Denial” and her experiences with PTSD.

Ah, Memorial Day! For most, it is a day off work or, if you are a child, it means no school. Even better, Memorial Day always falls on a Monday. Any work week which starts on a Tuesday is usually the start of a good work week. However, for some, it is more than just BBQs and no work but instead our perspectives have changed where our feelings on Memorial Day has come to mean so much more.

It may be hard to fathom why those like me with PTSD would be angry and jealous of you. I understand and will give you my best effort to explain it. Put simply, some of us have lost the ability to enjoy the good things in everyday life and society.

Everyone with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, has a “moment of clarity”. A moment when they realize they are not the same person they used to be and the world has changed forever from their perspective. For those like me, the diagnosis for many years was simply an acronym which meant I had to attend counseling sessions, medical appointments, and take medications.