Indeed, it is very personal. I hope there will be some indulgence for those of us whose conscience won't let us abandon the field.
Ya know Jeff, as a member of the 2nd ACR, 502nd MI, I was on the last border patrol of then-Czechoslovakia and the southern sector of Germany up to the Fulda gap. That patrol took place either on Oct 1 or the last day of September, 1990. It was right before the German Wiedervereinigung on October 3. One day one of the most fearsome borders in Europe was still formally there; the next morning, poof! All gone.
By then of course the patrols were mere formalities, although we were on our way to Saudi Arabia for Desert Shield and used the field time to prep for the new mission. Anyway, that was the first time I thought to myself, "Wow, this is actually historic and I'm lucky enough to have a walk-on bit role in it." All the Communism, all the Revolutions, all the madness that bedeviled 20th century Europe was coming to a close. And although the real action at the border had been over since the Wall opened up, the formal end of it was still noteworthy. Then in Desert Storm we won the proxy battle of WW III. Their Weaponry vs. Ours, their proxy soldiers vs Us, and we swept the the field. What a time to be alive, and I got to be where the action was! A Happy End right out old Hollywood, right?
To this day I am flabbergasted that within 20 years of Germany's Reunification and our victory in the Cold War, the electorate of this country instaledl a neo-Marxist in the White House. And not just a "social-democrat" type, but a true Revolutionary, a "neo-gnostic Revolutionary" of the Voeglinian type.
I will not--I cannot--abandon the field to Barack Obama. My conscience won't let me. If this means supporting Romney and pulling out all the stops to make the Congress more like the Tea Party, so be it. The choice to me is (a) The Revolution or (b) a Possible Way Back. If Romney is a cancer and a vote for him means seeking a novel cure, so be it.
I have the nagging feeling that voting for Romney may amount no more than a political version of Picket's charge. Nevertheless, I simply can't abandon the field. It's just not in me. I am fully aware of the massive shortcomings of Gov Romney. Yet I simply cannot let the Revolution carry the day without a fight. What we are involved in now is a million times much bigger than my personal preferences and convictions. As Dr Johnson once said of the prospect of approaching death, the prospect of an Obama second term has "wonderfully concentrated the mind." I fought other battles for this country, and I'm not walking away from this one. If the country class loses, it's our ass.
That's my visceral reaction, and I know others, some of the vets like me, won't agree. I don't intend to make a nuisance of myself, but that's where I stand and can do no other.
Amen bro, and God bless you for your service.
Despite his earlier dealings, I believe Romney may pleasantly surprise us if we can get the righ congress in place.
He is one who, IMHO, as regards the military and our future delings with Red China, is saying the right things, particularly regarding the Navy right now.
We’ll see, but I too simply cannot allow by any action on my part, to low Obma a pass of any sort into a second term to deal his lethal blows to our Republic.
God’s speed and BZ.