Serving in the military overseas (South Korea), you do indeed see some terrible behavior from americans towards the locals. What was worse, I saw women of color treating the Koreans like dirt, people that should absolutely know better. There were times I would just look at the poor Korean shop owner and shake my head.
It's the same all over, but our military are, for better or for worse, ambassadors to their host countries, and should walk and act as such. I was always kind and respectful when dealing with the Koreans (or anyone else when traveling in foreign countries) because, well, I should. In all my travels I've only been cross once, and that was towards an overzealous TSA agent doing a full body search because I forgot to take out a little chapstick tube out of my pants pocket.
So yes, how we treat others we come in contact every day does matter. It also matters regardless of who you are or who you represent. Leave a positive impression throughout life and try and make someone's day a little better. If we all did that, maybe the world would be a nicer place.
Two directions on this one, so I’ll address it in two messages.
I was in the city of Puerto Vallarta with several other Brothers for the Grand Lodge trip last year, featuring our very own MWB Cameron Bailey. Fortunately, I did not see such nasty behavior when I was down there – indeed, it was quite refreshing to enjoy the atmosphere due to the Lack of that rudeness.
One thing I was told over the years when you visit a foreign country is to learn the basics of the native language. So I did that, starting in earnest about 8 months before visiting. It worked pretty well, getting me from the Airport to the Hotel without using English. 161 pesos was the rate. It’s about your Approach. If you do your best to act like a guest, you will be much better accommodated than if you show up acting like an ogre. The same thing applies anywhere you go, whether you visit a foreign country or a neighboring town in your area.
In my work as a Barber, I’ve run across behavior similar to what MWB Cameron’s talking about from time to time. More often than I care to experience. I do not understand why people think it’s cool to brag about being immature and rude. It backfires in the long run, and accomplishes nothing positive. But what’s even worse is when a Brother decides to join them. One Brother (who shall obviously remain nameless) tells us of a story where he was driving a sports car across a few states when the manual transmission blows a leak and loses its oil. He pulls into a mechanic garage and tells the mechanic to fill the transmission with grease, and the young mechanic tells him that transmission takes oil, not grease. The Brother then proudly boasts how he chewed out that mechanic in every way imaginable and bullied him into filling the transmission with grease, and he was on his way and made it to his destination.
After about the 5th or 6th time he told that story over the years, there was a time when he told it in front of people we both knew, and I asked him if that mechanic was doing the Right Thing. He didn’t give a direct answer, so I asked again if the mechanic was doing what he was supposed to do. What if he gallantly filled the transmission with grease, the grease messed up the transmission, and you returned to the shop accusing the mechanic of ruining his car?
There were crickets for a few seconds, then the Brother responded in a manner that assured me I’ll never hear that story again. But frankly, my Brothers, we shouldn’t be behaving this way to begin with. Take a look at not only the Closing Charge, but also the Charges in each of the Three Degrees, as well as the Charges spoken during the Installation of Officers. Study them. Understand them. Then incorporate their principles and admonitions into your everyday life. You’ll become a good example of what a good citizen, and a good Mason should be. And this pertains to ALL of us.
Serving in the military overseas (South Korea), you do indeed see some terrible behavior from americans towards the locals. What was worse, I saw women of color treating the Koreans like dirt, people that should absolutely know better. There were times I would just look at the poor Korean shop owner and shake my head.
It's the same all over, but our military are, for better or for worse, ambassadors to their host countries, and should walk and act as such. I was always kind and respectful when dealing with the Koreans (or anyone else when traveling in foreign countries) because, well, I should. In all my travels I've only been cross once, and that was towards an overzealous TSA agent doing a full body search because I forgot to take out a little chapstick tube out of my pants pocket.
So yes, how we treat others we come in contact every day does matter. It also matters regardless of who you are or who you represent. Leave a positive impression throughout life and try and make someone's day a little better. If we all did that, maybe the world would be a nicer place.
Two directions on this one, so I’ll address it in two messages.
I was in the city of Puerto Vallarta with several other Brothers for the Grand Lodge trip last year, featuring our very own MWB Cameron Bailey. Fortunately, I did not see such nasty behavior when I was down there – indeed, it was quite refreshing to enjoy the atmosphere due to the Lack of that rudeness.
One thing I was told over the years when you visit a foreign country is to learn the basics of the native language. So I did that, starting in earnest about 8 months before visiting. It worked pretty well, getting me from the Airport to the Hotel without using English. 161 pesos was the rate. It’s about your Approach. If you do your best to act like a guest, you will be much better accommodated than if you show up acting like an ogre. The same thing applies anywhere you go, whether you visit a foreign country or a neighboring town in your area.
In my work as a Barber, I’ve run across behavior similar to what MWB Cameron’s talking about from time to time. More often than I care to experience. I do not understand why people think it’s cool to brag about being immature and rude. It backfires in the long run, and accomplishes nothing positive. But what’s even worse is when a Brother decides to join them. One Brother (who shall obviously remain nameless) tells us of a story where he was driving a sports car across a few states when the manual transmission blows a leak and loses its oil. He pulls into a mechanic garage and tells the mechanic to fill the transmission with grease, and the young mechanic tells him that transmission takes oil, not grease. The Brother then proudly boasts how he chewed out that mechanic in every way imaginable and bullied him into filling the transmission with grease, and he was on his way and made it to his destination.
After about the 5th or 6th time he told that story over the years, there was a time when he told it in front of people we both knew, and I asked him if that mechanic was doing the Right Thing. He didn’t give a direct answer, so I asked again if the mechanic was doing what he was supposed to do. What if he gallantly filled the transmission with grease, the grease messed up the transmission, and you returned to the shop accusing the mechanic of ruining his car?
There were crickets for a few seconds, then the Brother responded in a manner that assured me I’ll never hear that story again. But frankly, my Brothers, we shouldn’t be behaving this way to begin with. Take a look at not only the Closing Charge, but also the Charges in each of the Three Degrees, as well as the Charges spoken during the Installation of Officers. Study them. Understand them. Then incorporate their principles and admonitions into your everyday life. You’ll become a good example of what a good citizen, and a good Mason should be. And this pertains to ALL of us.