In light of a tragic event, an American chopper getting shot down in Afghanistan killing a total of 30 people, 22 of whom were Navy SEALS, I decided this is the opportune time to write the following post.
One of my best friends, her husband is a Navy SEAL. Fortunately, he was not in Afghanistan when this tragedy occurred, in fact he just got home not too long ago. Anyway, the SEALS understandably so, are a tight-knit group of people. There are only a handful in the entire country who reach the level of intensity that they do. So of course, there will be that mutual bond and respect for one another. Needless to say, those lost SEALS regardless if he knew them personally, were his friends. If you are interested in their training and their stories, I highly recommend, The Lone Survivor, by Marcus Luttrell. Although the story will make you cry, it is a VERY good read. You will look at your life differently, and all of your daily problems seem not so big after reading this. Your life really isn't that bad.
From knowing my friend's husband, and his friends, one of whom was in that chopper, is that they do not talk about being a SEAL. In fact, if someone does talk about being one, it is most likely they are not a SEAL. For example, my friend went out one evening in San Diego, and this gentleman knowing that a lot of SEALS live/work in San Diego because of the base there, started to chat her up. This gentleman told her that he was a SEAL and proceded to tell her how awesome he was. Well that is a red light for her considering her boyfriend at the time, now husband, is a SEAL. So, what did she do? She starting firing questions back at him, and guess what happened? He pretty much looked like an a**. The point is, where it would be easy for a SEAL to bode about what they do, they don't. Sure, they cannot talk about certain aspects of their job, but they are permitted to say certain things as well. They have a quiet confidence about them, and do not feel the need to promote themselves by suggesting that people use the title Navy SEAL when speaking to them or about them. I wish more people would take this approach to life as well.
The people to whom I am referring is actually just one person. She is the manager where I work. I am sure there are a ton of other people in this world who are hung up on titles and status, but I deal with her on a daily basis, and her use of the word doctor irks me like no other.
Upon her arrival to our building last Feburary she made it very clear that she was a doctor. So lady if you are a doctor, why are you the manager for a shipping company? O my mistake, you have a doctorate, in management. D.M. Awesome. What do you want? A cookie? I will never forget the first time she introduced herself. 'Hi, I am (insert her full name here), but people call me Chris for short. Or you can call me Dr. Chris.' When she said this, I started laughing, because I thought she was being sarcastic. Dr. Chris. It sounds like a character right out of a cartoon. APPARENTLY, she was NOT joking. This was totally serious. She wants people to call her Dr. Chris, really? I have friends who are actually doctors, like the real kind, who actually go through years and years of medical school/residencies. I do not refer to them as or speak to them, Dr. Elenee. Dr. Brandon. or Dr. Lauren. So why is Dr. Chris so adament on this doctor title? Sure, she is proud of her doctorate, but like the character that tried to pick up my friend by talking about his SEAL duties; he really wasn't really and SEAL. Similairly, Dr. Chris talking about being a doctor, where she isn't a doctor. It is all just jibber jabber to portray a particular image to facade another aspect of ther life(at least this is my opinion). The point is that people who are very successful, SEALS and my friends, who are doctors, neither talk about their accomplishments nor want people to know.
It irks me that these SEALs, along with other U.S. military personnel, are overseas sacrifing their lives by doing amazing things without the limelight and mention of their day-to-day lives. Then we have people like Dr. Chris, who are so caught up in titles and their accomplishments, they have to make metion of it in every way, shape, and form. Where is the credit to these soliders? I just wish people would get a grip on life. Maybe we do realize what these troops/soliders do for us, but we are so ignorant and so self-involved we don't really give a s***, at times myself included. These men are sacrificing their lives day in and day out, so we have what we have and we can do what we want. I know that is a John Madden statement, but I think Americans tend to forget this, and need a daily reminder.
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