My good friend Zulu (real name Mehmood), a Pakistani fighter pilot I knew well as a Major at Air Command and Staff College in 2002-3.Zulu had a remarkable perspective on America.
An F-7 (Mig-21) squadron commander equivalent, he was one of the few people I have have ever known who is equally as interested in philosophy, flying fighters, music, politics,and the widest variety of other topics. Within bounds of operational security, Zulu and I routinely had conversations about all these things, and he and I developed a great friendship over time.
During one of these times, in his clipped Pakistani accent - Zulu, who doesn't live under our Constitution, said to me:
"You know JJ, you Americans have no idea how much you take your own Constitution for granted. When a policeman stops you, or even if you are a murderer- every single person in this country, from lowest to highest status - has this expectation of fair treatment.
The freedoms given you by your Constitution permeate every fiber of your society, and no one here in America seems to know what a gift that is.
I can tell you, as an outsider, it is remarkable here, and I wish all of you in America knew just what a gift it is to have such freedoms."
Next time you take or give the oath of office to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America, I hope you will remember Zulu's words.
I will.
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