Okay. .
So this is going to be hard for me to say. Because it's always been one of those things in the back of my head, one of those notions that doesn't churn - but pops up - and surprises you in such a way you think, "I can't believe I just thought that!" Here's what's been going through my head:
I've had friends and family in the military service, and some that have such a sense of pride as to what they do and a love for the United States of America and what that stands for, that you can just see it radiates, emits a certain aura that only a dedicated serviceperson could feel.
But, other than these few individuals, a very different picture has been painted that doesn't involve eagles soaring, precious U.S. values being upheld, soldiers being saved, or the glimmer of the American flag.
Instead it involves greed and ignorance.
Case in point #1:
An article in today's USA Today titled "Army major, wife, and sister accused in bribery case." An Major in the US Army accused of corruption: involving millions of dollars in bribes. On a braoder scale, The USA Today reports that there has been an increase in the number of companies that have been cut of from government contracting because of misconduct; in fact, the numbers banned have doubled since 2005.
On the involvement of his sister and wife, the USA TODAY reports, "Blake [the sister in question] told investigators that she moved to Kuwait in 2004 because her brother said she could make a lot more money there than as a teacher in suburban Dallas."
She too is being accused of bribery. A schoolteacher from Dallas "makes more money" in Kuwait: I didn't know courruptive business was the newest career move for teachers.
So what exactly does this have to do with the U.S. military? Well that's exactly the point: what place do corruption and bribery have in the vision of eagles and shimmering flags? Nothing. And yet the corruption and greed in government contracting to "rebuild" Iraq is as big a problem for the U.S. as the "war" that is happening there. Perhaps I wasn't paying attention in my history class, but I don't think remember the definition of most of the past wars to be solely about policing areas, spending and mis-spending millions and billions of dollars "rebuilding" - a country whose relationship to the U.S. is more than difficult to define.
Uncomfortable doesn't even begin to describe how I feel, knowing that my country is being represented in such a way.
Case in point #2:
At work tonight, a small group of American women came into my place of business as a family visiting from the United Arab Emirates left. They were speaking in their native language to one another. As the women, who I know to be workers for a U.S. military branch, passed the family, one remarked "Really, if they're going to come to our country, they need to speak our language."
Really, if you're going to work for your government, please don't act like an ignorant fool.
My faith in leaders of my country, both high and low?
Simmering on nonexistent.
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About case #2: They probably DO speak our language. The person who made the comment needs to realize: if an American went to another country, even after knowing the language, they would still be more comfortable with their native language, and not see the need to speak their resident country's language to their friends and family members who also speak English. It also works the opposite way.