[Walter gives him a look.] Epperson: The biggest threat to our rights and freedoms isn’t Al-Qaeda, ISIS, North Korea, or any of those motherfuckers. The biggest threat to the American way of life is Americans! It’s us and the garbage we keep putting into office. They’ll legislate our rights away from under our feet and then what? The fuck we going to defend? [He sighs, frustrated and tired.] Do I really gotta get into this? Just let me sign the declination form and I’ll go.
[Walters raises an eyebrow at him. He tries a different angle.] Walters: Is this is about Trump? Look, we’re soldiers, man. We can vote, sure, but elections can go either way and we don’t get to clock out when we’re unhappy with the results. People felt the same about Obama. Twice. Things might be different in 2020, who knows? Our system is far from perfect, sure, but it’s all we got, and it’s worth preserving to fix. America was never a finished product; we’ve been a work-in-progress since 1776. Surely you agree, right? Epperson: If I can’t “clock out,” why am I in this office with you trying to convince me to stay? [Silence.] Epperson: It’s not just about Trump either. It was the things I saw in Iraq and the Middle East. Leadership’s toxic Army-wide. Dudes of all ranks blowing their brains out with an effective rate of fire of 22 per day. All these push-up videos on Facebook and Instagram, these little marathons y’all run, ain’t doing shit to address the real problem: military culture. I don’t want to be a part of it anymore. Nothing changes.
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