Kudos to ‘silence and reflection’

I found Mr. Jaime Vergara’s column on the Sept. 14 “Opinion” section quite interesting and pretty informative. His approach in gauging one’s “mental health” is a neat technique, especially for students.

Furthermore, I especially enjoyed his implied advice to the politicians of our times, asking them to check their mental stage and putting aside those attributes that would make them uncooperative, selfish, and any others that may hinder their production and service to the citizens in our great Commonwealth. I must say that, if our leaders would just heed such advice, I am confident that we may just have more winners who would actually come out working as a team toward a common goal (the essential improvement of our island communities and way of life).

I am fortunate to be sitting here reading the Saipan Tribune over lunch, as I put together the lessons that I will teach my class tomorrow, and then coming across this helpful tip in the Tribune’s opinion section. As one of the Assistant Professors of Military Science here at Georgia Institute of Technology aka Georgia Tech, I am going to incorporate this technique of “silence and reflection.”

In the Army, we have the saying: “At the end of the day, can you look at yourself in the mirror and say that you have indeed done everything you can to accomplish the mission and take care of your soldiers?” Such tip may also work for our needy politicians who may find it useful to ask themselves if they have done everything in their power to contribute, for the benefit of the community instead of for themselves alone. I am not one who usually speaks out, but I am one who, at times, know when to provide advice which I believe will be in the best interest of the majority. So, please Mr. or Ms. Politician: Do a good “pulse check” before stepping out to venture in your expected service, and then look at yourself in the mirror at the end of the day and ask the pertinent questions.

Upon my return from one year of combat operations in Iraq, I was selected to teach here at Georgia Tech as an Army active duty officer and I must say that, after being exposed to several faculty development courses, I find Mr. Vergara’s technique as one that will further assist me in teaching and developing some of America’s future Army officers. So, I will certainly give it a shot, and I hope that our political officials do so as well.

By the way, as always, please continue to pray and support our soldiers who are still in harm’s way, especially our folks from the CNMI. Thank you and Hafa Adai!

Capt. Lawrence F. Camacho
Powder Springs, GA