By: Hiba Obeed
Art & Life Editor
Q: What was your dream job/ occupation/craft as a child?
A: To be a police officer actually. I went to the Police Academy at Golden West College when I was 18 and passed with flying colors with one of my buddies, but no agency will pick you up until 21 so we had three years to kill. Much later, I joined the military.
Q: What’s your biggest fear? Has it always been that?
A: I wouldn’t say it’s always been this, because my biggest fear right now is the welfare for my kids. The world my kids live in and what they’ll inherit and if they’ll live a happy and productive life.
Q: What protests have you participated in, if any?
A: None.
Q: What is the scariest thing you’ve seen or experienced?
A: I mean, I guess I should say being shot at but it’s not, in the moment it’s more interesting and exhilarating, especially the aftermath. Honestly, breakups or like those moments when you feel something happening or a shift in relationships or if you know you’re not happy with your job and you have to like that fear of what are you going to do next?
Q: What’s something about you that people might not expect?
A: The artistic side of me, most people don’t expect. They see the big giant dude with the shaved head and the big giant beard. A lot of people outside of this building are usually surprised that I’m an artist.
Q: Did you vote in 2004?
A: No. To expand on that, I don’t like the two-party system. There’s a lot of red versus blue going on and
they’re equally failing. Some states have started a first second third choice voting system, and I think if we did that as a nation, it would offer up a third party system- or a third party to be a viable option. I think that’s what we need to do instead of diversity and division, we need unity and common ground.
Q: Who is your best friend?
A: Hutch, he’s my buddy. We met when we arrived in Korea on the same day. We both reinlisted and extended, and spent four years together in Korea and then the army sent us different ways. And we’ve ended up on employment together for a little bit of time. We’ve kept in touch ever since I got out. He still comes over for Thanksgiving.
Q: If you could do anything in the world, with no financial or physical limitations, what would you do?
A: Travel. The best experiences that I’ve had is going around the world and meeting people, experiencing cultures and their food. If I could just do anything I would travel.
Q: Who do you trust the most?
A: Probably Hutch.
Q: What level of power over people is too much?
A: Any. I mean, obviously we all have to abide by the rule of law, but I don’t believe that anybody should be interfering with anybody else’s life. I really believe in self-empowerment, like it’s your responsibility to be a contributing member of society, without having rules or regulations imposed on you other than don’t lie, cheat, steal, or kill.
Q: Should bombs exist?
A: Yes. They allow for tactical engagement with an enemy with minimal risk to your team. With the advancements of technology, and the way things are going, there’s less and less
collateral damage. But everything has room for improvement.
Q: Should nukes exist?
A: In a perfect world, obviously not, because of that whole collateral damage. But because they do exist and there are legitimate threats around the world then it’s “If you have them, I need them too” type of thing, so I wouldn’t say that it would be a wise decision for us to disarm first.
Q: What ar e your thoughts on American imperialism?
A: So as far as our nation goes, we do a lot of good around the world. South Korea is probably one of the best examples of how our influence can be a positive aspect on culture. But I’m also one of the ones that believes that if you have the power that we have as a nation it should be used for the benefit of mankind. I know, obviously it gets abused sometimes or misappropriated, but overall, I think we as a nation have a positive influence on the world. It’s a better place because of us. But as
far as expanding, I don’t think we are trying to take over governments, and claim more states or more territory for our own. Our goal, military wise, for a while has been to create allies and remove threats.
Q: Do you think our country has too much power?
A: No, because there are other countries that wish us harm. That if we reduced our power, we would be vulnerable to them, and it’s naive to think that we don’t have threats. You know, there are nations that would see us not exist the way we are, they would impose either our destruction or their way of life upon us and right now, we’re the most diverse culture in the world, we have the most freedoms. So I think that to maintain our quality of life and improve our quality of life, I think it’s beneficial that we have the power.
Q: Do you think we as a country wish other countries harm?
A: I mean, those nations that we deem as the adversary, or whatever-we would like to install or help install governments that would be friendly to our agendas. But I don’t think as a whole we want the destruction of another nation in its entirety. Our nation doesn’t have hate as a whole society towards another society. I don’t think we’re seeking out the destruction of anybody else. It’s just my opinion, that doesn’t represent the military.
Q: Do you trust the government?
A: No, but I love my country. There’s a big difference, and there’ s a distinction between that. I don’t trust any government implicitly. So I think right now, one of our biggest issues is people are less patriotic, because they don’t trust our government, and they can’t separate the country from the government where you could still love your country and all the positive aspects of it. It’s possible to still want to improve what needs improvement and still have mistrust.
