Cookie Monster Searches Deep within Himself and Asks: Is Me Really A Monster?
That's funny.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
What am I doing here?
Fort McCoy continues to please, with two consecutive days of classroom instruction. I'll spare you the complete list of topics, but they ranged from "supervising field sanitation" to "negotiating with an interpreter". Some of it was repeat training (more on convoys, IED, and medevac) and some of it was propaganda blather. The instructors were a Master Sergeant and a Lieutenant, both infantry. Overall they seemed to be very familiar with the material, but it was all delivered via PowerPower and was devoid of conversation (other than the audience being cued to answer rhetorical yes/no questions). The Master Sergeant was sure to include a diatribe against "the liberal media that wants us to lose the war" and made mention of "the Communist News Network" as being an integral part of foiling our efforts in Iraq. He went on to use gems like the following: "we built a zoo in Baghdad a couple of years ago so that they could see a camel in it's natural environment (huh huh) and CNN didn't report that did they?" Bravo. Both instructors also made liberal use of hygiene references regarding the Iraqis, and no, this wasn't to point out differences in sanitation between the US and Iraq. It was more along the lines of: "it's our job to protect everyone over there, becaus ethey are just like us, right? Except they stink (huh huh)."
I don't want to Army-bash too much, but there is alot of bigoted commentary and veiled references related to collateral damage, Islam, and suggestions that the people live in filth and poverty because "that's part of their culture and all that freakiness they believe in." (Yes, that is an actual quote).
On to Air Force bashing: my day started off wrong when, at breakfast with two other USAF Captains and a Chief Master Sergeant, the topic of homosexuality came up. As the de facto "expert" on all things mysterious related to human nature I was peppered with questions and got wrapped up in arguing that people's sexuality had very little to do with their morality, their mental health, or anything else. I tried to argue that people's perceptions and ignorances were more relevant than anything else, and then I fell back on the suicide defense of stating that those who are the most homophobic are repressing something. Yes, it was a cop out, but they bought it and shut up. I had a poignant moment of feeling out of place, surrounded by assholes, asking myself what I was doing here, wondering where all of my friends are-- oh ya, I forgot; people like me generally don't join the military.
By the way, tomorrow is "urban ops". Going to learn how to kick in doors, clear rooms, stuff like that. I'll bring my notebook and camera...
I don't want to Army-bash too much, but there is alot of bigoted commentary and veiled references related to collateral damage, Islam, and suggestions that the people live in filth and poverty because "that's part of their culture and all that freakiness they believe in." (Yes, that is an actual quote).
On to Air Force bashing: my day started off wrong when, at breakfast with two other USAF Captains and a Chief Master Sergeant, the topic of homosexuality came up. As the de facto "expert" on all things mysterious related to human nature I was peppered with questions and got wrapped up in arguing that people's sexuality had very little to do with their morality, their mental health, or anything else. I tried to argue that people's perceptions and ignorances were more relevant than anything else, and then I fell back on the suicide defense of stating that those who are the most homophobic are repressing something. Yes, it was a cop out, but they bought it and shut up. I had a poignant moment of feeling out of place, surrounded by assholes, asking myself what I was doing here, wondering where all of my friends are-- oh ya, I forgot; people like me generally don't join the military.
By the way, tomorrow is "urban ops". Going to learn how to kick in doors, clear rooms, stuff like that. I'll bring my notebook and camera...
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