vigilance

eta: I don't really think the book mentioned below is a security risk. I was mostly laughing at the way I instantly donned my superhero cape upon seeing that book, determined to keep America safe. The military scholarship for non-US citizens doesn't sit quite right...even without the cape.

Earlier this year our school hired a new staff member. Over dinner one night, she told us that she, a Russian national, went to the US during high school as part of a student exchange program. Great. I would've loved to be the one exchanging places with her. After her time in the US was up, she wanted to stay. She applied and received a scholarship to The Citadel.

The Citadel, founded in 1842, is a coeducational military college with a rich and storied history. Located in picturesque Charleston, South Carolina, the institution offers a classic military education for young men and women who seek a college experience that is intense, meaningful and academically strong.

Her acceptance there came shortly after the Citadel became co-ed. Hmm...the fact that a citizen of another country was allowed to attend a US military college unsettles me--especially since we've not historically been on the friendly terms. Doesn't that just seem wrong somehow?

She eventually married a US citizen. When she applied for her name change, it was discovered that the terms of her visa (issued by the previous administration--chalk another one up for Bill) did not allow her to remain in the US. The terms of her visa, as she was on a student EXCHANGE, called for her to return to her country to share her experiences and what she'd learned. She was supposed to be in her home country for at least two years before applying to return to the US. Whoops. Instead, she was allowed to attend a US military academy. So, she's back in Russia now to fulfill the two years back in her home country that she should've after her exchange program.

(My friend, Suzanne, always says of irl conversations with me, "Segues are for children." Just stay with me here. You'll see.)

Our library is discarding books that are too worn or too outdated to remain. We have little space in our library, so this weeding out was necessary. The books were given to me to donate to orphanages. Well, naturally, the orphanage don't want books in English. So, I thought about sending them to Star of the Sea. I opened the boxes of books to sort through them and see what if they were appropriate for the children there.

Much like when I heard the story of the Citadel scholarship, I was overcome with a feeling that all was not right. The safety of the American public could be at risk. I knew that this book should not be loose on the streets of Russia:

A Day in the Life of an FBI Agent in Training

Rest assured, the book, complete with many photographs of the FBI training headquarters, is safely on d2b's bookshelf and not at liberty on the streets of Russia. I just wanted you to know that I'm doing my part from across the pond to keep America safe. I remain vigilant!