I remember once when I was gov contracting for the agency I was working in a remote part of the Middle East. We had a boss who I couldn't stand, he had almost gotten us killed on multiple occasions, he couldn’t make a decision for the life of him, and overall was just a terrible leader. Everyone I worked with agreed and despised him. One day after some detected surveillance which later became an engagement directly due to his leadership I looked at my counter part and said this: “Honestly, if it wasn’t your job, would you save that piece of shit?” He looked at me dead in the eyes and said: “F*ck yes I would, that is a f*cking American.” Then he got closer knowing where I was going with this and said in a stern voice: “Wouldn’t you?” It was at that point in time that I realized I was the piece of shit, not the person I was pointing my finger at. I knew that instant that I was a horrible representation of the flag that I wore on my chest and that I didn’t even deserve to be there. I immediately adjusted my attitude, but I felt ashamed for even having thought of not rendering aid or conducting combat to save another American simply because I did not agree with his decision making. It is that exact sentiment that I see in this country today. Wishing the worst, death and beyond on another American because they think differently than you. A whole lot of finger pointing and not a lot of self reflection. We all have blood on our hands at this point. Every race Every gender Every religion, political party, sexual preference, nationality, and so on… I don’t know what it’s going to take for the country to learn this lesson, but it is not going to get any better and continue getting worse until we all realize that we are all “f*cking Americans”. Give yourself the room to say “You know what, I never thought of it like that, maybe I’m wrong about this one.” Be like my counterpart was, not like I was. We’re all in this together and we’re all American whether you like it or not. My counterpart’s name was Anthony Del Vecchio callsign “Devo”. He was a great American.