DAY 81 22FEB2010: My services are provided to the privileged inside these walls. As American’s we are privileged to live lives where we worry about quality. Quantity is a given unless there is an unexpected event or disease in the way, but for the most part quantity is a given. Our lives are special. Our lives should not be spent in pain. We expect our bodies to work as they should, and when they don’t we expect that something can be done about it. We do not worry so much about food, about shelter. We have moved beyond these worries.
It took a long time for me to learn how to provide my service. It was not easy. When dealing with Americans or Britons my service is appreciated and that makes me feel validated. I provide a service people are grateful for. It is strange that just outside these walls my services are basically worthless. Outside these walls back pain is not a priority and no one is worried about what shoe best fits their foot type. Outside these walls people do not search for healthy food, they search for food. They do not worry about that click in their shoulder; they worry if their Son will have a school to attend. For my services to be of value it seems you need to have what we have.
These walls keep me safe, keep me fed and give me value.
I am in Iraq, but I do not work in Iraq.
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You are a very good writer Kyle. Well I think so anyway, and everyone keeps telling me that. Missing you like crazy. Can't wait til July, actually can't wait til NOVEMBER! Love you!
ReplyDeleteAmber
Excellent piece. Two utterly different worlds with different priorities. Likely the majority live in their type of world, not ours. Even so, that in no way takes away from the value of the service, knowledge and reassurance you provide to the privileged.
ReplyDeleteI really hear you Kyle. Sometimes I even feel guilty for how much I have and most people in this country have. Even our poor do not have the adversity that countries involved in conflict experience. There is so much trauma physically and emotionally. I hope we never know that kind of hopelessness and sadness that is so prevalent there. On the news you can see how hard these every day people work to have some semblance of normalcy, only to have their own people cause such tragic events such as the car bombings. You are doing the job you were sent there to do. We all know you do your best at whatever you do. Taking good care of those soldiers is very important. Their morale is important. So take good care of yourself too!
ReplyDeleteYou bro - I have been a little bit negligent on keeping up with your blog I have to admit. Not good excuse beyond being busy and selfish I suppose. I'm starting from Feb as that's where I left off. This is a great piece actually - brief and to the point. I suppose it's an odd world for you (us) to look in on from the outside, but I think it's a life that they learn to live in and appreciate. I'm sure progress will come quickly to Iraq as things continue to stabilize.
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