He is! HE took this 19 year old atheist and turned him around. He's a good guy. The 1SGT was a dick, but that's always the case.
No, one thing CPT Mastriano always said, is you don't develop your character under the stress of combat, or any stress, you have to develop it before. By the time the stressful period comes around, it's too late. The poor character qualities will dominate.
Let me just add that that experience was the biggest change in my life. CPT Mastriano and Chaplain Kelso turned me away from atheism. And the Chinese instructors demolished my infatuation with communism.
One of them spend several years in a re-education camp. The rest of them just talked about the general abuse, the public humiliations, the forced self-criticism, being paraded through the streets wearing humiliating signs. One of them, she is Mongolian, from Inner Mongolia. And one thing she talked about was how the communists pretend to have these harmonious views about the ethnic minorities in China. But it wasn't the case. The communists hated Mongolians.
I'm an Orthodox Christian. Very active in my parish. I have a Master's degree in theology and a bachelor's in political science (the two things you aren't "supposed" to talk about in public at parties, LOL). I love my faith, but I also love talking to people of other faiths and even agnostics and atheists. It doesn't bother me at all, and I don't feel insecure, since I know my beliefs are true (I studied this stuff at the Master's level because I figured hey, if my soul depends on it, what could be more serious? I need to have all the facts!!) But just the act of discussion with others, especially if conducted over a meal with beer, forms brotherhood and a common cause. My atheist friends have shredded some of their more silly arguments for atheism, while I have honed my theistic arguments to avoid strawman arguments against my atheist friends.
That you had these experiences at the DLI is so encouraging. We need Trump to help us keep this society from finally collapsing!!!!
It was great. Dude, I was a full-on believer in communism. I got put in Chinese. All the teachers I learned from lived through the horrors of Mao. Totally changed me.
YES! Chen laoshi was a legend! Funny guy too, politically incorrect as hell. Made some Air Force girls upset when he gave his views on homosexuality. Sad to hear he passed away. I think I still have some the old tapes with him on them. Yes. I kept that stuff for some reason.
Yes I speak Urdu. I'm glad you can speak hindi and Urdu as well. I can't type that transliterated hindi I find it more confusing than just reading it in the target language.
HOLY SHIT! That's Captain Mastriano! He was my Company commander when I was at the defense language institute!
Dude's going for a first round knockout! Sweet Jesus!
Now he is leading the Meme Brigade
He is! HE took this 19 year old atheist and turned him around. He's a good guy. The 1SGT was a dick, but that's always the case.
No, one thing CPT Mastriano always said, is you don't develop your character under the stress of combat, or any stress, you have to develop it before. By the time the stressful period comes around, it's too late. The poor character qualities will dominate.
Great line!
So glad for your report
He's one hell of a speech writer. I
Jealous you went to the DLI. :)
I am a foreign language learner and would have loved an intense immersion experience.
Let me just add that that experience was the biggest change in my life. CPT Mastriano and Chaplain Kelso turned me away from atheism. And the Chinese instructors demolished my infatuation with communism.
Sounds awesome. What did the Chinese instructors teach you that changed your mind? Iād be really interested to know.
One of them spend several years in a re-education camp. The rest of them just talked about the general abuse, the public humiliations, the forced self-criticism, being paraded through the streets wearing humiliating signs. One of them, she is Mongolian, from Inner Mongolia. And one thing she talked about was how the communists pretend to have these harmonious views about the ethnic minorities in China. But it wasn't the case. The communists hated Mongolians.
Those are two great side-bonuses.
I'm an Orthodox Christian. Very active in my parish. I have a Master's degree in theology and a bachelor's in political science (the two things you aren't "supposed" to talk about in public at parties, LOL). I love my faith, but I also love talking to people of other faiths and even agnostics and atheists. It doesn't bother me at all, and I don't feel insecure, since I know my beliefs are true (I studied this stuff at the Master's level because I figured hey, if my soul depends on it, what could be more serious? I need to have all the facts!!) But just the act of discussion with others, especially if conducted over a meal with beer, forms brotherhood and a common cause. My atheist friends have shredded some of their more silly arguments for atheism, while I have honed my theistic arguments to avoid strawman arguments against my atheist friends.
That you had these experiences at the DLI is so encouraging. We need Trump to help us keep this society from finally collapsing!!!!
It was great. Dude, I was a full-on believer in communism. I got put in Chinese. All the teachers I learned from lived through the horrors of Mao. Totally changed me.
If people only knew. 99% of Americans have no clue how bad it is in other countries but instead romanticize it
YES! Chen laoshi was a legend! Funny guy too, politically incorrect as hell. Made some Air Force girls upset when he gave his views on homosexuality. Sad to hear he passed away. I think I still have some the old tapes with him on them. Yes. I kept that stuff for some reason.
Went through DLI twice. It is the most stressful mentally taxing situation. I met green barets who cracked under DLI.
Also DLI is great if you have good teachers I.E the Urdu department.
you will hate your life if you have shitty teachers in the Russian department.
Kya aap Urdu bolte hain? Main thodi Hindi Urdu bolta hun. Main do bar Bharat gaya hun.
Yes I speak Urdu. I'm glad you can speak hindi and Urdu as well. I can't type that transliterated hindi I find it more confusing than just reading it in the target language.