A Change of View

I would have to say that I have changed my opinion in regard to people of the world. Growing up in the mid-west, I was not exposed to that many people of race or different ethnic backgrounds. I was definitely ethnocentric because of my environment growing up. Most of my opinion of people from various other parts of the world was one of ignorance. I had no reference point or cultural experience to lean on that could provide some kind of base. Unfortunately, movies provided me with the missing parts in regard to people from around the world. It was usually in the form of some bloody war movie where the American bad-ass goes into some third world country and brings hell with him. Most Hollywood movies were extremely ethnocentric during the 20^th century. For young, impressionable white kids from hometown USA, that was the world outside of the 618.

Then the Navy came-calling and I enthusiastically said yes. Little did I know that I was going to get a serious crash course in world culture and my naval experience would take me to 21 different nations in my nearly nine years of service.  Five years of that time was spent actually living abroad, in Japan. These experiences have definitely changed my views of not only people of different race or culture, but my view of humanity as a whole. Seeing more of the people that make up the world we call Earth gives me a sense of hope. I believe the sum of the parts can add up to something very incredible and inspiring. I just hope I am still here to see that day where ignorance isn’t bliss and everyone can appreciate what humanity as a whole, can offer us.