Vetron87 wrote:
Life experiences have taught me a nonjudgemental relationship with people. I have had over 25,000 students in my teaching career, from teaching swimming, small weopons and tactics, explosives, to auto shop, woods, and welding. I have had gay, lesbian and gender dysphoric students. I never judged, emotional I could turn it off, I could tell in minutes their ability for success.
Several years ago my wife and I ran across one of my gender dysphoric students, now a female, she told me that if I had made fun of him in my auto shop he was ready to pull the trigger. Yea never know who your going to influence positive or negative. Never thought it would be a matter of life or death.
I can relate to what a minority in our society goes through. Returning to San Diego after my second tour in Vietnam, I decided to buy a 69 Dodge Charger with a Hemi to try and sort my life out with drive back to Indiana. My second purchase was a Colt Python 4" 357 magnum for my exit stradegy in case I couldn't find my way home with the Charger. I had been spit on, called baby killer, emotionally I began to shut down, I was the minority, no one respected the fact that I helped give them the freedom to express themselves. I didn't asked to be treated this way, I didn't choose to risk my life, it just happened!
Maybe thats what gave me the tolerance to deal with others and their baggage. When I left the Navy I was a type A with hostile/aggressive behavior. The drive home did me a world of good, I still have the Python.
People want to put a label or stereotype people and behaviors society deems wrong. Killing is wrong but society and politics makes it ok. After spilling my guts I may not agree with behaviors and glorification of a behavior but thats what our society does. After SEAL Team 6 eliminated Bin Laden, all of a sudden Navy Recruiters were swarmered with people wanting to be SEALs without any thought of the price we pay to do this.
I just smile stay focused one my family and move on.