A few months ago, I was on a plane and a kid wearing a military uniform sat right next to me. I say a kid, because he looked really really young. I have noticed that he had boarded earlier, since military people have preference in the U.S. airports, along with pregnant women and old folks. Sitting right next to the kid, I had the chance to notice the kindest demonstrations that I've ever seen. All the passengers were extremely nice to him. The flight attendant even asked for his name, and where he was going, followed by a "thank you for everything you have done to us". While the rest of the plane only got a cup of water with ice, he got a soda, a sandwich, and a bag of chips. When the plane was almost landing, the pilot asked to everyone to give a round of applause to him, and when the kid was leaving, he even got a bottle of champagne by that same flight attendant.
I knew that being a military was a big deal for Americans, but it was in that flight that for the first time in two years living in the U.S. I realized how big we are talking about.
One week ago, a saw the biggest demonstration of that. I went to the movies to watch American Sniper by myself. The movie theater was crowded, and that was the first time I saw that happening in Pittsburg, Kansas. I sat in one of the only empty chairs, in the middle of two Americans.
I knew the movie was one of the favorites for the Oscars, but I was not prepared for what I was about to see. On the screen and outside of it. I'll tell you, going to the movies in a different country can be a very interesting ethnographic experience.
In the movie, Chris Kyle, performed by Bradley Cooper, leaves the pregnant wife to go fight in Iraq. And one of the most interesting parts of the film is exactly when he explains to her why he wanted to me a military: "because I believe this is the best country in the world and it needs to be protected". Maybe for an American that is a common saying, but for me that was super extraordinary. Maybe because you would never hear a Brazilian say something like that about his country. And honestly, I have a lot of international friends, but I've never heard them saying something like this about their own countries. This feeling of USA-best-country-in-the-world is something really... unique, let's put it this way.
If you know the real story of Chris Kyle you know what happens at the end of the film, and yes, that was really sad. But once the film was over I was ready to stand up and go home. Except for the fact that even when the credits were appearing on the screen none of the people in the crowded movie theater was up, and most of them (and I swear this part is true) most of them, was crying.
Usually (and specially when I go watch romances) I am the one who leaves the theater crying like a baby, and feeling bad about it, because everyone else is looking pretty normal. On that day, though, I felt bad for being one of the only one not crying. And you might put that on the fact that I am not American, or that I was not raised inside a culture in which the military are treated with that much respect and proud, and definitely, not raised in a country which such a strong feeling of patriotism.
And before start living here, I confess, I was one of those many people who used to make fun of patriotism demonstrations, just because I never truly understood them. It took me a while, but I got it.
Today, I am thankful for having the experience of spending two years living in a place like this. When I go back to Brazil in a few months, I know that is not going to be my reality.
Today, I respect these feelings of proud that Americans show. And I'm not getting into the discussion about the war, and who is right and who is wrong. That is just an article expressing how a Brazilian sees these expressions of patriotism.
After two years here, I see that I understand a lot more why they put USA flags outside of their houses. I respect the fact that every time the National Anthem plays, they all take their hats of, and put their hands on their hearts.
I not just respect, but I also think it is beautiful.
As well as it was beautiful to see all those people crying at the end of the movie.
