Troops Gone Wild

How do people acquire perceptions and judgments about those of other cultures? Unfortunately many judge based on stereotypes, political propaganda or based on what they see through subtler but equally distorted channels like movies and TV shows. However, more striking and true toward forming ideas and learning about people of other cultures is through living and existing with them. It is always eye-opening and profound for anyone who experiences it. What happens though when the picture that is painted by a few of one group is not the one that the majority wants others to see?

The record of American troops committing rape, violence and destruction of property on the Japanese island of Okinawa is a blight on the perception that Americans should be giving abroad--especially with one of its closest allies. American troops have been stationed at Okinawa since the end of Second World War, protecting American interests in the Pacific while at the same time upholding the American-Japanese alliance. While possible hostilities with China represents a clear reason for military presence for some, the soldiers have had more of a symbolic and ambassadorial role since the end of the Cold War. It is unavoidable that those living in Okinawa and in Japan as a whole will look to these troops as representative of American values. But what what do they see?

In the most serious of recent cases, a Marine has been detained and questioned over the alleged rape of a 14-year-old Okinawan school girl. While he denies the charges of raping her, he admits that he tried to forcibly kiss her after he gave her a ride home.

Just today, a marine Corporal was arrested for breaking into the home of Okinawan woman and taking a drunk snooze. The arrest came after the woman discovered him passed out in her home this morning. The official charge is "trespassing".

It would be wrong to judge all American troops, let alone all the American troops in Okinawa as being drunken, sex-crazed party animals. That would be unfair. However, the repeated incidence of horrific crimes and complete irresponsibility by some soldiers can lead one to question the environment in which these soldiers operate that allows for these acts to continue. How can military policy be changed to stop troops from ravaging the locales where they are stationed? What perceptions do these soldiers and their commanders have of their local communities that makes them feel these actions are A) OK to commit and B) not serious enough to enact reforms to prevent? Finally, is this the image that America wants to give to the rest of the world? If the above impression is what one of America's greatest allies is getting from our overseas 'ambassadors', what is everyone else getting?