TOP STORY >>Using acceptance, tolerance in everyday life

By Brig. Gen. Wayne Schatz
314th Airlift Wing commander

As we wind down from Thanksgiving and head toward the December holidays, it’s time again for us to gather with those we hold most dear in our lives. This may mean family, close friends or the neighbors we have come to have over the years.

The Air Force way of life is unique in that we often do not get a choice in who we surround ourselves with. The Air Force mission dictates who you share a cockpit, hangar or office with. Military family housing chooses your neighbors and more often than not chooses your home for you as well. Deployments mean a roommate – or 11 other tentmates – is issued to you. And you don’t get a say.

This sometimes may seem difficult, but I’ve come to realize over the years that it’s actually a gift. As members of the Armed Forces, we are afforded the opportunity to travel the world. Our families are able to live with us overseas. We are able to experience people and cultures that our friends and family back home can only read or dream about. We are able to broaden our experiences through our interactions with others.

The Air Force has taught us from day one to treat everyone equally and value everyone the same. We are taught to keep an open mind and respect everyone’s rights and beliefs. These are lessons that we do not take for granted but can oft times cite verbatim.

But learning doesn’t just come from interacting with people of other backgrounds. And tolerance isn’t just reserved for people with different values. Sometimes, the people you need to show the most tolerance and respect for are those closest to you. It can be as simple as that aunt everyone secretly dreads seeing at the holidays. Maybe this year, it’s time to sit down with her and listen to her stories. Maybe she has something to share that you’ve never thought of before. Or maybe it’s the coworker who sits two desks down. His musical choices may have rubbed you wrong for the past year, but if you looked past that what might you learn?

This holiday season I ask that you take the time to reach out to someone and learn from them. Bring a little extra kindness into your everyday lives. It’s acts like these, and the millions of other acts of kindness I see you display each day, that make me proud to serve along side each of you. Combat airlift!