I’m reading another Dick Couch book on Navy SEALs. This one is The Sheriff of Ramadi. On the cover is a photo of a quintessential SEAL. His name is Michael Monsoor in full, kick-ass assault gear. He died after smothering a grenade with his body that was thrown on the rooftop where they were positioned. He saved his fellow SEALs as well as the Iraqi Army soldiers he was training as part of the Foreign Internal Defense mission he was on. He was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his sacrifice.
Although his act is incredibly selfless and heroic, it is not unusual within the Teams. Any SEAL in his position would have done the same for his brothers. That’s why, as I am reading through Chapter 1 of this book, I felt the need to stop and write. Couch says that before 1970, the SEALs used to attract non-mainstream mavericks who often made the best combat leaders and innovators because they cared more about their duty than their careers. I’d argue that they still do.
Recently I was having a conversation about how our government is no longer representative of the people because each representative is in that position for his or her own personal collection of power, which has now become our national currency.
Now, while I believe there is a lot of greed and “what’s in it for me” going around, I also believe there are still bona fide heroes among us – mavericks – individual dissenters who are the backbone of our country, taking an independent stand apart from everyone else. Granted, given our current self-indulgent climate, they may be hanging back, watching from the shadows, but I sincerely believe they are here nonetheless just waiting for the right moment to act. They have to be.
We’re a country of nonconformists; nearly an entire continent of individualist misfits and malcontents. We’re rebels. We function at our best that way. Maybe we’ve lost our way, which is why were in such deep shit. We’ve let our independence become collective instead of holding tightly onto it as individuals.
Without the rebels and mavericks, our country would just be an extension of England or France or Spain. Our strength is in that we don’t fit the mold. We don’t do what we’re told. We do what’s bold and unconventional. We believe in the impossible. We have to. It’s how we were founded. On an idea. An idea, how ridiculous! Yet here we are, 200-plus years later still striving to do what’s right no matter what the consequences. It’s hardwired into our collective unconscious.
Who knows? Maybe it’ll be me. Writing every day with a single-minded focus on completing another novel and getting it published. Maybe I’ll spark someone’s imagination. Light an internal flame and through my stories of Navy SEALs inspire people to act selflessly, heroically; like mavericks. It could happen. Anything can. I live in America.
Although his act is incredibly selfless and heroic, it is not unusual within the Teams. Any SEAL in his position would have done the same for his brothers. That’s why, as I am reading through Chapter 1 of this book, I felt the need to stop and write. Couch says that before 1970, the SEALs used to attract non-mainstream mavericks who often made the best combat leaders and innovators because they cared more about their duty than their careers. I’d argue that they still do.
Recently I was having a conversation about how our government is no longer representative of the people because each representative is in that position for his or her own personal collection of power, which has now become our national currency.
Now, while I believe there is a lot of greed and “what’s in it for me” going around, I also believe there are still bona fide heroes among us – mavericks – individual dissenters who are the backbone of our country, taking an independent stand apart from everyone else. Granted, given our current self-indulgent climate, they may be hanging back, watching from the shadows, but I sincerely believe they are here nonetheless just waiting for the right moment to act. They have to be.
We’re a country of nonconformists; nearly an entire continent of individualist misfits and malcontents. We’re rebels. We function at our best that way. Maybe we’ve lost our way, which is why were in such deep shit. We’ve let our independence become collective instead of holding tightly onto it as individuals.
Without the rebels and mavericks, our country would just be an extension of England or France or Spain. Our strength is in that we don’t fit the mold. We don’t do what we’re told. We do what’s bold and unconventional. We believe in the impossible. We have to. It’s how we were founded. On an idea. An idea, how ridiculous! Yet here we are, 200-plus years later still striving to do what’s right no matter what the consequences. It’s hardwired into our collective unconscious.
Who knows? Maybe it’ll be me. Writing every day with a single-minded focus on completing another novel and getting it published. Maybe I’ll spark someone’s imagination. Light an internal flame and through my stories of Navy SEALs inspire people to act selflessly, heroically; like mavericks. It could happen. Anything can. I live in America.
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