We were waiting for a High School club meeting to end. We talked about the weather, and not enough sleep, and our kids’ plans for college. When she mentioned another child considering the military so that he could pay for college, I couldn’t resist easing the conversation over a little.
“The military can be a good way to pay for college, provided you survive it.”
[Puzzled look]
“Iraq. A lot of kids have died there.”
“Yes, but they are very dedicated to the cause.”
“Actually, there have been record numbers of desertions, and a record number of West Point graduates are not reenlisting.”
“But what can we do? They hate our culture. They want to kill us.”
“They don’t hate our culture. They just don’t like us running their country.”
“They hate our culture.”
“Even in Iran, most of them like the American people. They just don’t like our government trying to run their country. They would like to have more freedom like us, but they want to do it themselves.”
“Well, a small minority of them hate our culture.”
“A small minority of OUR culture hates our culture.”
She had to stop and think about that idea. It was just small talk between two mothers passing the time, but who knows? Maybe she will consider the idea a little more. Maybe she’ll repeat it to someone else.
also at kos
