At a time when our country should be uniting for the greater good of our national security, it appears we are repeating history. Unity should be the number one issue on the campaign trail this election cycle, for we have American Military fighting a war in a foreign land. Political candidates should be encouraging every American to be supportive of those who chose to put on the uniform of our country in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. These men and woman are putting their lives at risk on a daily basis in foreign countries under our flag. Instead we have a politician who is supposed to set the example for all of us to follow, opens his mouth and says something stupid to help further divide us.
This week, Senator John Kerry (D-MA) delivered a speech to students in California wherein he stated: “those unable to navigate the country’s education system get stuck in Iraq.” This is the most degrading and insulting comment I have ever heard from any politician in my thirty years of being in the political arena. I am not only outraged as an American citizen, but feel the insult and degrading dagger plunged into the hearts of every military person in uniform who are serving in Iraq and around the world. I have been to Iraq Senator Kerry and have seen first hand the bravery and honorable service of our military in action. They’re not as uneducated as you might think. On the contrary, they are extremely educated. Let me educate you and your uneducated staff -- Not every Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine or Coast Guardsman serve because they will receive materialist rewards for their service to their country. They serve because they feel in their hearts it is right for them and most of all because they have honor, integrity and character. Did you know Mr. Kerry that 97% of the officers Corps in the military hold a degree of some kind, many hold a Masters Degree? Did you know about 40% of our enlisted hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree while the other 60% are either taking courses to gain that same bachelor’s degree, or have aspirations to do the same? I personally have a number of family members in the service of our country at this time, five of which are West Point Graduates to be exact, as well as many friends who are serving with them who are just as educated.
I am amazed at times when people who are public officials, fail to think before they open their mouth. Didn’t Senator Kerry read that speech before he made it? As I listened to the tape of his speech, I could hear my father repeating his golden rule from the military. A rule he instilled in each of his kids and used in his own political life: “Think, Decide and Act – think before you open your mouth or do something; decide if the ramifications of your actions are going to harm yourself, those around you or the nation as a whole; only then act upon those actions, but remember your actions will always have ramifications and be ready to stand firm in your decision”. My father, a career Army Officer, served during World War II and Korea and who was also a politician. Senator Kerry’s father served during World War II as my father did. I wonder if Senator Kerry thought about how his comments would fall on his father’s ears if he were sitting in the audience that day. Did he think about how his father would feel, if he were sitting in a cockpit of one of his B-29s hearing such a thing from a politician in Washington DC during World War II. Has Senator Kerry failed to remember how those kinds of negative messages delivered by politicians during the Vietnam War had a direct affect on those serving in the jungles of Vietnam? How those messages helped to perpetuate distain for our military in the minds of the American People back then and how that distain continues to this day. Has he forgotten how he felt while serving in uniform during a time of war and the feelings of betrayal by those serving in the position of authority in which he is currently serving himself for their similar comments and actions? How their disrespect and blind eye to the sacrifices of our military personnel on a daily basis. How soon they forget once they get into political office and all that power behind them. How soon we forget the important things when they are looking to get our name in the paper for other reasons! I guess history just repeated itself!
Are we destined to follow the Romans, as in historical Roman times, where power and greed of its leaders destroyed themselves because they could not govern their daily lives? Are we destined to continue to see the struggles of good versus evil because no one is doing anything to stop the evil? Are we to continue to see legislation being enacted on a daily basis that can harm us as Americans and those we care about? Are we to continue to incarcerate the innocent and allow criminals to walk the streets? Politics can be a very dangerous game when those in power feel they are elitists, self serving representatives that have lost sight of the fact they were elected by the people and for the people. When they feel they are above the common interest of the common person because they hold a degree from some university. Especially when they argue that they should not have to answer for their indiscretions. This I would say is a serious character flaw in our political environment that needs to be changed.
Ladies and Gentleman, I think it is time to search our souls in this and future elections. We need to ask ourselves, where is the leadership? Where is the leadership from which those that want to be leaders? Everyone wants to step up and get the job, but who is stepping up with something that would make us want to follow them? As in every campaign in history and this one is no different, when a candidate has no clear objective plan in any and all issues, they resort to the old school mentality of character assassination of their opponents. So in this election I have many questions: Where are the leaders for whom we are to elect that has a well thought out plan for change for immigration violations, economic reform, cleaning up government waste or holding those in public office accountable for their lack of respect and ethics violations on Capitol Hill, or better yet National Security issues; clear plan to bring Korea, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, terrorism or crime under control to safeguard America’s real interests and security. If we are not willing to accept the political propaganda from our government then why are willing to accept it from our respected political parties who want to lead us in the same government. America, wake up and educate yourself on the issues at hand. Don’t take what your political party dishes out as the solemn truth.
Any person in public office who can stand before their fellow Americans, make a statement like that, a joke or not, does not deserve my heartfelt forgiveness. I have no respect for any elected official nor will I accept their apology for any such statement that degrades or insults those in uniform!
If you are a politician reading this piece, you should adhere to the rules of etiquette of being in an elected office.
1)Speak publicly on issues before you in Congress.
2)Speak publicly about the concerns of every American, for you represent every
American while in elected office, not just your home district.
3)Set the example for citizens of our country to follow: serving with honesty,
integrity, morality and patriotism
4)You have a responsibility to safeguard unity, patriotism and most of all the
foundation of American values. Those values include service to our country in
uniform of the armed forces. This responsibility does not give the right to
degrade those who have, are and will serve in that uniform regardless of
education.
5)Most of all remember that when you open your mouth in public or in private, you
represent me and my fellow Americans – be careful in what you say because those
that are the enemy of our country are surely listening to what is said and could
ultimately cause us all harm.
I think those of who have taken up a permanent residency on Capitol Hill have become complacent and need to think about retiring. I also think its time that the system be changed on term limits, maybe then we might be able to choose leaders to while represent the people. Then maybe, just maybe we might have leadership worth respecting?
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