Rainy Day

   Today was one of those days that you just want to stay under the covers.  Its been cold, wet and cloudy all day.  When the alarm went off this morning, all I wanted to do was smash it.  You know, one of those days where you feel tired all day because the sun doesn’t come out from behind the clouds.  So, I’ve been here at work trying to stay awake, and have been mostly successful. Mostly.  I caught myself once, or twice, about to nod off.

   Anyway, I don’t think you want to read about me banging my head off the desk a few times.  (Or maybe you do.)  I was riding the bus back from lunch, (Yeah, I have to ride the bus.  I’m not allowed to own a car here, not high enough rank.) and this Korean private gets on.  Before he can get to his seat, the bus starts to move and he holds on to the bar to keep from falling.  Well, there’s a Korean non-com sitting in the seat in front of me and he yells at the private because he didn’t salute him fast enough.  (Its weird, but Korean enlisted salute each other.)  I guess the non-com decided he was getting disrespected, or something.  Come on!  The kid was trying to keep from face planting himself into a seat back.  He’s already nervous enough around anyone higher in rank than he is, and here this guy has to be a dick.  Maybe his girlfriend was taken by an American, I don’t know, but it was uncalled for.

   I have never understood how people can demand respect from those in a lower position than them.  The way I see it, you can’t just say “Respect me.”  And expect that to happen.  You have to earn respect.  Both from those above you, and below.  In the military, you have to respect the rank of those above you, that doesn’t mean you respect the person.  After all, I do have to obey their lawful orders to me, but I don’t have to hang out with them.  (Usually)  There have been people in charge of me that I did not like, but I did respect.  And the opposite has happened too.  I’m sure there are people out there that don’t respect me.  (That’s ok, I really don’t care.)  And some that don’t like me.  (They just haven’t met me yet.)  But I always try to treat people respectfully.  It just makes life easier.  Especially when you’re in a country where you don’t speak the language.  They may not be able to understand you, (But you never really know) but they will understand whether, or not, you are disrespecting them.  (Which is why I hate going out with GIs, especially when they drink.)  Anyways, I’m rambling now, so this is it for today.

   I’ll see ya’ll later.