Emotion Quote by Chris Hedges
““They program you to have no emotion – like if somebody sitting next to you gets killed you just have to carry on doing your job and shut up,‘ Steve Annabell, a British veteran of the Falkan War … ‘When you leave the service, when you come back from a situation like that, there’s no button they can press to switch your emotions back on. So you walk around like a zombie. They don’t deprogram you. If you become a problem they just sweep you under the carpet.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: "The War on the Mind", Chris Hedges, 2015
The quote describes how military conditioning suppresses soldiers' emotions, leaving them numb and unable to reconnect after service, and how institutions ignore the resulting trauma.
In simple terms: Military training can numb emotions, causing lasting alienation and ignored trauma.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and address emotional suppression in veterans.
Themes
military
trauma
mental health
institutional neglect
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
testimonial
critical
observational
When to use this quote
- veteran counseling
- peer support groups
- policy reform
- public awareness campaigns
Key Concepts
psychological conditioning
emotional numbness
post‑service reintegration
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies better support emotionally numb veterans?
- What mechanisms can restore emotional health after trauma?
A Different Perspective
The quote may overgeneralize all military experiences and ignore resilience and coping strategies.
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