Middle East Cultural Class

So today I was sent to a class/presentation about culture awareness of the middle east.

some very interesting, but also somewhat disturbing things.

Most of the things they talked about I already knew but the Army had some Air Force Major come talk to us. She specialized in Mid-East affairs. It was a Brigade level class so all ranks were there

Man oh man did she hold Islam and Middle East culture in such a high regard. The style she put that out was actually almost slightly insulting in my point of view.

It felt like she was saying to us that we are fuck ups and instead of being harsh and violent we need to do a complete 180 and pretty much put down our weapons and hug every Iraqi good or bad and things will be better. Ahem, ever been blown up or shot at?

Like one example is the Iraqi culture of kind of LYING to you, in their culture they're more likely to tell you a lie that you want to hear rather than the truth.

One of the slides she had presented the misconceptions of Iraqi's; Like lying

next to the word in bold it said "Lying? or just trying to survive?"

IT'S STILL FUCKING LYING

I don't give a shit if it's justified or not, it's still fucking lying and not what I need to hear.

You gotta understand for a second, I absolutely respect and admire the Iraqi culture and Islam, to a point.

But from 0800 to 1430 when we said screw this and left, to hear over and over that we're wrong in this and wrong in that, it's like;

OK, fuck you, here you are telling us how great they are, stories of you traveling to Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, HOW ABOUT YOU TRAVEL TO RAMADI, OR BAQUBA?

Then tell me how the hell you want me to implement your Operation Hug an Iraqi and the IED's will go away.

I understand that some sort of cultural sensitivity is needed. I ABSOLUTELY AGREE, but good lord Major, you sure do know how to go overboard.

She sugarcoated the history of Islam so much it almost seemed like crap propaganda, I know a little about Islam and what you put is TOTALLY not accurate, the shits Airbrushed, and to hell with you trying to sell it the way you did.

Fact of life, I can kiss Hajji's ass all day long and do everything they want AND THEY'LL STILL TRY AND KILL ME AND MY MEN.

Oh wait, sorry, can't say Hajji. It's culturally offensive.

You know what's also culturally offensive too? Beheading my fellow soldiers and civilians, and then dancing by their corpses...

Fucking judging us from your high top cushioned chair, come down into the sludge and then tell us all your shit