Final out today. Terminal leave until the 4th, and it looks like Ive taken off my uniform for the last time. Fort Meade was a tough assignment, but not because of my command. Theres nothing worse than a dumb-ass whos smart enough to rationalize their own shitty attitude, and since that seems to come with the territory here at the NSA, Ive encountered some of the nastiest introverts Ive ever seen. And here I was thinking DLI was bad. >:( But if youre reading this, chances are that youre part of the 10% that arent like that and I thank you. Ive managed to stay chipper in spite of my circumstances over the last two years, but that came in no thanks to the introverts working support functions here. To paraphrase a documentary I once saw: Officials have limited me, and bureaucracy has placed limitations on where I can go and what I can do… but I dont think that I cause my own predicament under bureaucracy. And by bureaucracy, I dont mean enforcers or gate-keepers, and I dont mean administrators. Yes, those people frustrate me on an interpersonal basis; but institutionally? Not much. Because most of the toxic and lethal discrimination that I (and other individuals) experience doesnt come from THEM. It comes from moral, fair-minded people who believe that theyre lovers of justice: church-goers, and people who experience themselves as decent and actually very nice folk. And its THERE that I find my concern. Part of what it means to have an office is that you have the privilege of blaming external customers for their own victimization under that bureaucracy. Thats what been said to ME, its whats said as internal workers dismiss COMPLAINTS, its whats been said to you when YOU need help. And its the same thing said to ANYONE who challenges a bureaucrats perception of their self in the world. Public servants are here to help people, private citizens are taxed to pay those people to do so, and yet EACH of them try to subordinate each other whenever they come into contact. ( ? ) And whether these exchanges happen behind a window, desk, or on the street, this stupid attitude sets an adverse tone from the outset of the interaction. So what the HELL is wrong with this culture? Dont know, but perhaps it might behoove us to remember—no matter how big the organization were attached to, or however important we think we are… without other PEOPLE, neither you nor your titles mean squat. [ Exhales ]… Be excellent to each other, G.I.s. End rant. 1984
Posted on: Thu, 10 Apr 2014 00:22:39 +0000
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