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Final chapter: your advice to GI Jane

Posted in Q & A on Mar 07, 2008

In Parts One and Two of the GI Jane series, you recognized the spirituality of this struggling American soldier in Iraq. She loves her country and its uniform, but also loves the foreign nation she’s come to occupy.

Can she help Iraqis while retaining her integrity?

Most of you have offered a resounding “Yes,” advising our soldier to work with children because they’re less judgmental than adults and more in need of tender kindness.

Now for your final pearls of advice — in equal measures practical and merciful:

* “I am Catholic. In the Catholic areas of Northern Ireland, many were surprised to learn that I could practise my faith while serving as a British soldier who also held the Queen’s Commission. I spent most days seeing to it that old people were cared for.

Like those I served, many Iraqis will judge you by your body language. If your heart and soul are set towards helping, then that will shine through. Little things matter: gentleness in voice and listening. Mainly listening. Be a planter of seeds and try not to pull them up while encouraging them to grow!” - Jim

* “I have lived and worked as a security officer in Kuwait, Qatar, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Algeria. I found for myself that this is what it means to treat people with respect:

1. When you drink bottled water, there should be enough to share with everybody in sight.

2. If there is a problem with local workers getting paid, you deal with it on their behalf. People will learn to trust you.

3. Listen. We as Americans must learn to be patient and listen more.

These tips do not build hospitals or schools, but we must build trust first.” - Marshall, US Navy USN retired (GMC)

* “The Army officer should transform her weakness into a strength. Language is a barrier, yes? Why doesn’t she start an Arabic-English language exchange? One day per week she could run conversational English classes for local youths. In turn, they contribute to a conversational Arabic class where she and her colleagues would be the students.

With increased ability to communicate, they could start to discuss ’simple’ topics such as local customs or impressions of foreign countries (not Iraq and not the US). Over time, she might be able to discuss the issues that are closer to her heart…” - CJ

Now for the last bit of advice. This comes from a Muslim who suggests that the way GI Jane can help Iraqis is by helping her fellow soldiers:

“Compassion for any life form seems to be one of the things the military tries to wring out of a human. The fact that this military woman has maintained and perhaps even developed a greater sense of compassion is refreshing. If she can spark more compassion in even one of the other military personnel, she will have graced this world in a way that we should all strive to do.

As mere humans, we tend to think we must save the world to truly effect change. All we have to do to accomplish this is reach out and relieve one suffering human in the slightest way. This woman is in a place that needs every last drop of compassion.” - Mariam

Shukran, one and all, for your wisdom.