Probably a topic for MKs?
So I was wondering if anyone else has this perception/reaction… or if it is just me! I am an Army Brat and was raised with going to church regularly. My mother always comments that I have weird “reverence and paranoia” for authority figures. Examples: I am driving perfectly fine down the autobahn and then I see Mr. PoPo driving by as cops do, and yet I get nervous for no reason. I also feel safer at this point and want to drive ‘perfectly’. Now, for the religion thing, I am not Catholic, yet Priests and Nuns, I don’t know, I feel guilty or the need to be very good when I see one; and I am a very law-abiding good person! I have huge respect for ranking officers, and ‘those in charge’ in general (haha pardon the pun) and even when I don’t agree with them politically or whatever, I certainly have enormous amounts of respect for them while questioning them/their ideas… Anyway, is that weird? Probably!!
Amy Elizabeth White
Grew up in Louisiana, Ohio, NC, Texas, Florida, Wash St. Kansas, Jamaica, Germany and DC. As an adult I have also lived in Romania, Australia, Colorado and Virginia. Lots of UK connections. At the moment I live in the VA-DC metro area; a quality place but not decisively where I want to live forever. I went to three high schools in three countries; and I know I'm 'better' for it as experiences like this don't grow on trees. I'm an only child, of an Army Officer. I of course love to travel! I was a Peace Corps Volunteer- and I highly recommend it to all Americans with drive and passion. I recently got my MA, and I hope to be in the Dept of State as a Foreign Service Officer someday.Related Posts
5 Comments to “Probably a topic for MKs?”
July 17th, 2008 at 9:44 am
You’re not alone Amy, most Army brats and MKs are more respectful of authority than most people, IMHO…
But like everything else in life, there are exceptions to the rule. My dad was a peacekeeper and has a huge respect for authority, but I challenge authority all the time. lol
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July 17th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
I was raised as a relatively strict Catholic, and I have the same issues. Except, with Catholicism, it has a name: “Catholic Guilt.” Combined with the Irish Guilt, I’m just one big mess of perpetual I’m sorries.
Every time I’m around my elders, priest, nuns, and just about anyone in authority, I automatically clam up and adhere to the most unspoken rule of Catholics: “You should be seen and not heard.”
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July 18th, 2008 at 8:05 am
I’m neither an MK nor a military brat but I do have that paranoia… Though it mainly encompasses teachers.
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July 18th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
I’m an adult MK and I’m married to a cop…talk about a double whammy! Ever heard of the term “big brother is watching you?”
Oh, and nomad, I’m also a middle-school teacher. 
Actually, I can sometimes go from one extreme to the other with the respect…or disrespect, since I’ve seen people who are expected to be perfect followers of Christ or law-abiders, fail, or not live up to the standards I’ve expected of them.
People are not perfect…too bad I’m a perfectionist and sometimes tend put people on an undeserved pedestal unconsciously. I say unconsciously b/c I only realize that I’ve done it when I get disappointed about something.
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July 27th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Ah, now this is familiar!xD I’m a Navy Brat and everytime there are officers or whatever be it Army, Navy, Airforce it feels like this switch goes off in my head. I start goin’ into this “Military Mode” for a lack of a better word. Sit straighter, look the person straight in the eyes, salutes etc.Dx
Now, I was raised a Catholic but my family arn’t religious in general. We’re more like Agnostic theists and because of that when I’m around religious figures like nuns and priests I do this as well:
“Be seen, not heard”
I’ve caused alot of trouble religiously because of my mouth. I guess that didn’t help much either.-___-;
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