I
am required to take a writing class at Naval Post Grad. I understand why
they make this class mandatory but cmon, I know the proper use of the comma and
the semi-colon, I don’t need remedial writing. Yes, I know I’m both a snob and a nerd and
I accept that. On Day 1 the professor
admitted that some in the class probably didn't need to be here and if she
could test people out she would. But she cant. So I'm stuck.
Day
2 we did a writing assessment. She gave us two prompts to choose from and
two hours to write on it. The first topic was to discuss a significant change
you would make in the military, why and how.
The class is at 0800 in the morning, way too early to be writing on that
stuff. The second topic was to “discuss
the idea that westerners are seen
by critics to be owned by their possessions. Yet many people treasure objects
or possessions for reasons that far transcend the objects’ actual material
value. Select and discuss one such
object or possession that you personally value for reasons beyond its material
worth.” Ha. Too Easy.
Below is my writing
assessment I submitted. Based on the
professor’s feedback, pretty sure I would be excused from this class if
possible. Arrogant? Yes.
Legitimate arrogance? I think so. And don’t worry…I won’t be posting every
paper I submit for NPS. I’ll spare you
from my “Are Nuclear Weapons Special?” paper.
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A very common, often heard
criticism of western culture, especially American culture, is the focus on
material goods. While I would never
debate that America is not a materialistic society, I would argue that
Americans often place value in things that reach far above an items net
worth. To look at American society and
generalize that we are more concerned about the latest model of vehicle we can
purchase than spending time with our kids is a lazy, simplistic examination of
our society. One must delve in to the
psyche of why an individual places value on certain items before they
categorize that individual as materialistic; often times they will find that
the value is not in the item itself, but
what that item represents to the individual.
One can read various
comparative analyses of eastern versus western cultures proving that Americans
are more focused on money, possessions, “things” in general, then they are on
the more abstract concepts of family, community, and religion. There are many explanations for this, the
fact that our society is based on capitalism, a paradigm that by its very
nature makes a people focus on goods and possessions; the fact that the
“American Dream” is considered by many to entail owning a home and providing
for the family; even the fact that all parents want their children to have a
better life than they had, which typically means more education, money and spending ability. But focusing on the ownership and retention
of material items does not, in and of itself, make an individual materialistic.
Lets take my favorite topic as an example...Me. I have many things around my
house. It is not cluttered, but
tastefully decorated with objects that I value.
Some may say I own a lot of “stuff” but I would disagree. As soon as “stuff” stacks up in my house I
take a trip to Goodwill. I
downsize. I reduce. I de-clutter. I don’t like “stuff”. I do, however,
like to retain things that have personal meaning. The value I place on items in my home is
likely not readily apparent when someone walks in to my house.
I’ll admit though, sometimes
that value reaches a level that flirts with irrational. My jump wings are a prime example. They’re small and insignificant to the naked
eye. I can’t wear them on my uniform,
they’re not the right specifications.
They’re original pewter jump wings from World War II but that’s not what
makes them special. What makes them
special is the personal significance I have placed in them, value that has
nothing to do with monetary worth or materialistic usefulness. They were given to me by my step-dad upon
graduating Airborne. They’ve been in my
pocket for every jump since. They were
there when I made my first low-level night jump. They were there when I got hung up in the
trees. They were there every time I
schmoozed my way on to an aircraft line, effectively earning me the nickname
Jay-Dub. The pin almost gave me tetanus
when it unsnapped during a rough Parachute
Landing Fall and jabbed in to my thigh.
The pewter was nearly rubbed off as I was waiting to take the Jump
Master Personnel Inspection to become a Jumpmaster.
When I’m not jumping, those jump wings have a specific place in the
house. To a common visitor they look
like nothing special. Materially,
they’re right. But emotionally and psychologically,
they’re wrong.
I treasure them and will make sure they are always in my possession, not
because of their nature as a “thing”, but because of the abstract value I have
placed in them.
I haven’t, and won’t, jump
out of an airplane without them. And
that is where the irrational part enters the equation. Intellectually I understand that those wings
in my pocket have absolutely nothing to do with the mechanics of a parachute
opening and arresting the fall of a body that has reached terminal
velocity. But emotionally I know I
wouldn’t be comfortable leaving that “perfectly good airplane” without
them. I’m not a superstitious person and
it’s not superstition that makes me feel that way. Instead, the comfort and value comes from
something deeper. Those wings are a
physically manifestation of the connection I have with my step-dad and the love
both of us feel for jumping. It’s a
token of remembrance to all those American soldiers, Airborne and Legs, who have fought and died for our country and the
legacy they have charged us with carrying on.
And sure, it’s also a small security blanket, a reminder that I’ve
jumped and survived many times before and this jump will be no different…because
no matter how experienced you are, every jumper feels butterflies the second
they’re in the door.
Owning “things” does not by
default make an individual materialistic.
An item can mean many things that dive far deeper than simply material
value or net worth. Before one
generalizes, look below the surface, because what is discovered is likely much
deeper than what is seen at face value.
