Life as we see it

As we were driving to the base yesterday we observed some men out in the middle of the road selling their wares. They were selling anything from newspapers (which we have seen in Key West and not that all uncommon) to selling bottle water and all kinds of goodies. I have no idea what the items were but the locals were buying them. It is sad in a way to see how hard these men are working to provide for their families or just to survive. You have to really admire these men for what they do, for it is honorable work. Hard but honest work. At least they are not trying to rob someone or stand in a hand out line. To many of us stick up our noses at these types of people, but it is humbling to know just how close each and everyone of us are to poverty. We are a society of wanting things now and not willing to save and sacrifice for a better tomorrow. Honestly we all could do with a little self discipline and saying no to ourselves.

As we were driving by the local prison we also saw how some of the choices people made were not good choices at that. We saw families standing outside the gate waiting for visiting hours to began. What a waste of a perfectly good day having to visit a prison. It would be nice if people could look down the road and see the consequences of their action before taking that wrong step. Not only do they have to suffer but more important their children and the rest of the family has to as well. Some of these children will never know another life exist outside of visiting a love one behind bars. They may fee like they are in prison too. Please do not think I am judging these people but really, when you stop and think about the decisions we all have to make it makes sense to think about being held accountable for those decisions. There are poor decision that may not land one behind bars but their are bars that we don't see. Financial distress caused my poor money management. Relationship problems due to people not willing to give they just want to take or not even talking to each other about your dreams and desires and turning those dreams and desires into a family adventure.
Children that are not listen to and not being allowed to share their hopes and dreams with their parents. Everyone has a voice and needs to be heard. However there is a balance to everything and finding that balance takes communicating with each other.
Okay, I know I am getting deep here but maybe this will help someone think before they act.

The longer I am here the more I am realizing that I don't treat these people with much compassion when they come to the States. We get upset when they cannot speak "our" language and we stick our holy then thou noses up at them. When we cannot speak their language here in their home land they smile and try to accommodate us the best they know how. They look for ways to communicate with us.

I walked over to the local grocery store the other day by myself and felt relax. Most of the items were in English and most of the people spoke broken English. However I was able to communicate with them and even laughed at myself which relaxed them and me. They did not shrug their shoulders or stick their nose up at me.

I bet I know what you are saying, well it is a US Territory. Yes it is, however, we fought Spain for this land and that is what ended the Spanish America War. The people here were Spaniers and there native tonuge was Spanish. So in essence it still is and that is the way it should be. They should not give up what is rightfully theirs.

It is funny to think about some people in the States will not come over here due to the fact that they "feel" uncomfortable with the language and the signs. I think it would do a lot of us some good to get out of our comfort zone every now and then. It will have a tendency to humble us and show us that we are not an island and we need each other and that just because someone is different doesn't mean they are not good and honest people.