It is not in my nature to be mean to people that do not deserve it. So what if someone is slow and does not fit into the group. Why does that mean that I should be mean to him? I am a stand in team leader while mine is on leave and I am doing my best to be fair. My fellow team leader acquired his position after the previous person got fired from the platoon. He told me last week when we were chatting that I am too nice. Honestly, I could not tell you what that means.  I am not too nice, I just am not an ass to people that do not deserve it.

It’s the way mommy taught me.

While I am in this temporary position of leadership I am doing my best to not fall into the trap of being an ass. I am an infantryman, which means I have a tough skin and rough disposition. However, I do not remember anywhere in the Infrantrymen’s Creed where it says you have to be a jerk to people for no reason.

There is a guy who is attached to my platoon and is a radio operator for our F.O. (Forward Observer) He is picked on so much that I can honestly say that I am suprised he hasn’t done anything drastic. Sure he deserves getting yelled at some of the time, but for the most part he just does not have anyone that is willing to mentor him. I feel bad for him, because I know what it is like to be picked on for no reason.

My point in telling you this is that no matter what your age is, we need to be leaders and mentors to one another. Our inner dispositions are not all the same and the weak minded need to be helped by the stronger willed so that they can be molded into something better. We are all created in the image and likeness of God so that means that nobody is better than anyone else.

Teach the weak, protect the weak, and above all else defeat the devil.