Respect

   Last night I got a call from the Brit, and the first thing that she said was, "I'm sorry."  I guess that she read Bizkit's blog and felt bad about what he wrote.  And like I said yesterday, I owe it to the friendship to hear her out.  So we talked about it.  She told me that she didn't remember what happened Friday night because she was too drunk.  And I accept that.  After all, I was quite pickled myself.  However, I won't accept that as a reason again.  Once, ok, but after you become aware of something, you shouldn't let it happen again.  So, we shall see this weekend.

   But what does this all boil down to?  If you ask me, its about trust.  After all, we don't make friends with people that we don't trust, in some form or another.  Every person that I count among my friends, I trust.  Some more than others, but still trust.  (Wow, using that word a lot here.)  The people that I really don't trust, I consider either acquaintances, or co-workers.  That's just how things work out for me.

   But then, the question becomes, "How far should you trust someone?"  I don't have a clue on how to answer that.  Everyone is different, and so is every situation.  All I can say is to do whatever you feel comfortable with.  I have friends that I trust so much, that I know if I drink entirely too much, they'll make sure I get home without anything happening to me.  Then there are a few I know if the same thing happened, would definitely take advantage of it.  (shudders)  Both groups are my friends, I just watch what I do more carefully around one than the other.

   Well, to change gears a little bit here.  Most of my friends here are surprised by the way I talk.  No, not my accent (Not that I have one.  Just ask me, I'll tell you.) or the words I use, but by the simple fact that I don't lie to people.  I tell people straight out what I think.  And if you ask me question on something, you better really want to know my answer.  Most people assume its because I'm arrogant and don't care how what I say affects others.  That's not it.  Its because I believe that everyone deserves enough respect to hear the truth from me.  Everyone.  That's why I got so pissed off when I believed I was being disrespected by a friend.  Strangers I can take, not friends.  Besides, you wouldn't believe how hard it is to get someone to believe the truth sometimes.  Now, there are times where lieing would be the better course of action.  Like when you don't what to hurt a friend's feelings, or sound insulting.  Sometimes its hard to do.  But I really believe that it is always for the better.  As an example, me and Kiwi (I, not II) were talking one day, and she said that sometimes the things I say turns her stomach.  Of course, I was a little confused so I asked her to explain what she said.  She told me it was because she new that everything I said was exactly how I felt about something.  So when I tell her something good, like complement her on how she looks or how I hope that things work out with her and her boyfriend, she knows that I'm not just saying what I think she wants to hear.  (long sentence there)  But, by the same token, I have said things that have upset her, which is where the turning of her stomach comes in.

   I also believe in always keeping my word once I've given it.  And, unless something prevents me from being able to do that, I will.  So, as a result, I don't say I'll do (or not do, as the case may be) something very lightly.  I have friends that have picked up on this very quickly, and have used it.  But that is neither here, nor there.  And I expect the same thing in return.  If you tell me that you're going to do something, you had better do it.

So, what this great circular route comes down to is respect.  If you give respect to other people, you'll get in return.  I have been all over the world.  And in every country I've been stationed in, the G.I.s are both liked (for the money we bring) and hated.  Or, I should say tolerated, not hated.  We're tolerated because most of us are rude and disrespectful of people in other countries.  That is where most of the problems come in, especially when drinking is involved, and why I don't like to hang out with G.I.s.  I have never had any problems with locals anywhere I've been, even ones that dislike foriegners, i.e. American G.I.s.  Why?  Because I treat evryone with respect, unless they show they deserve otherwise.  And in return, I am respected, maybe not as an American, or a soldier, but at least as an individual.  After all, everything has to start somewhere.

   I'll see ya'll later.