Posted on 07/18/2004 4:55:11 PM PDT by redrock
God Bless *ALL* of our legitimate Military Members past and present.
May *fakes and traitors* the likes of John Kerry be exposed for the scum that they are.
.
Anytime you want to "talk" you freepmail me.
And don't worry, we're all going to work to send Kerry down like a rock in water.
Thanks very much Chieftain for taking the time to share your experience with me, and of course for how you spent those 22 years.
Clinton's administration turned me from a conservative who was skeptical about the Democrats, but willing to consider that the odd one in a local election might merit my support, to one who believes that the Democrats are manipulative and dishonest from top to bottom. I was, and am still, stunned at the solidarity they displayed in standing behind Clinton's obvious lies and then behind Gore when he went so far as to have active duty military votes challenged and discarded in Florida.
My veteran friend had told me during that election that he wanted "something done for the military", then during the recount he told me "I just want all the votes to be counted." I e-mailed him a news account of the Democrat challenges to military votes and asked if that was what he had in mind for the military. He never responded to that note.
Your point about John Glenn is a good one. Certainly an admirable, heroic, man, who has served the country with the best of them. Yet even he maintained a partisan Democrat position during Senate hearings on impeachment (if I recall correctly). I think Max Cleland is probably a decent man also, and I respect his service and his injuries even if they did not come in combat. They came while on active duty in a combat zone, and that's close enough for me. Yet now he uses them for purely partisan purposes.
I've never endured anything like Cleland endures, nor have I the courage of Glenn. But if I had the experiences each has I just don't think I'd associate myself with a party that systematically lies about everything. Maybe I shouldn't say this since they protected me, but it seems to me that their association with the Democrat party cheapens their service and sacrifices. That service and those sacrifices are the best and most moving things about America. They define America. And they just should not be cheapened.
I feel bad about saying that, since Cleland and Glenn have done and given so much, while I've done and given nothing. But it's the only honest conclusion I can reach. I just don't understand it and I'm saddened by it. How can heroes do what they've done and what they are doing?
I think one needs to separate the military veteran from the politician. That's right, either party, they are politicians who decided to utilize their military service as platform to vault them into political career.
Remember also, that people who are supporters of one party or the other aren't politicians, they just identify with that party's platform.
It is a free country and as bad as I hate to admit it, there a few with a (D) behind their name that are actually decent people who actually stand for sopmething other than the leftist drivel. They are few and far between, but retiring Senator Zell Miller of Georgia (D) is one of them, he is also a fellow Marine - OOORRAAHH!!
If you separate the veteran from the politician, you will see what I mean. Example: George McGovern was a highly decorated WW II pilot, but when he became a politician years later, he was a liberal and a dove, (he also got CLOBBERED in '72 by Nixon).
Let's get as many as we can to vote for George W in November!
Hi Chieftain and thanks again for your insight. Your advice to separate the veteran from the politician is sound. Another vet friend of mine said something similar - that I should separate what they did from what they are doing.
I guess it's a bit naive for me to hold someone, even a hero, to a heroic standard for the entire rest of their lives. But the men I know at work and at church who served in combat are heroes to me, and everytime I see them I think of them as heroes. A kind word or pat on the back from them is a humbling and moving experience.
So it's hard for me to draw that distinction between the past and the present, but it's part of life I suppose. As I hope my tag line makes clear, there is only One Who is really worthy of praise.
Take care Chieftain. I'll look forward to the honor of talking with you on some other thread in the future.
bttt
If anyone has any doubt about this statement...just look at the pictures of the dead children in Russia..to gain a real UNDERSTANDING of just what is at stake this election.
redrock
redrock
Count me in! God bless ya.
5.56mm
redrock
redrock
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.