@big_louse this I actually can relate to as well. I felt that way about my time in the Venezuela of Chavez. But everyone remembers their "first" revolution fondly, I suppose ;).
It was also from pain and loss and grief after the passing of black Cherokee woman that led me to spend the latter half of last decade operating across east Africa and the mid-east for the singular purpose of taking down Erik Prince, so I do get your second point, too.