Posted on 03/25/2003 8:59:19 AM PST by Writer1
One of the sad truths to emerge from the debate surrounding the use of force by the U.S. in Iraq has been that some Democrats demonstrably dislike veterans. Whether it is residual leftism from the 1960s, or some other form of bizarre mind warp, I do not know.
But, whatever it is, the contempt that many liberals have for combatants is palpable. I saw an interview on TV with an anti-war, liberal who said that “everyone who serves as a soldier is immoral.”
But let me give you an even more revolting example.
John Pippy – a Republican -- was running in a special election for State Senate this month in Pennyslvania. He’s a state legislator, and a business professional. He’s also an Army Reserve officer.
He was recalled for service with the 99th Regional Support Command at the Aberdeen, Md. Proving Grounds during the run-up to this week’s election for active duty service in Iraq.
What was the response of the Democrats?
Did they applaud his patriotism for putting himself in harm’s way during a time of war?
Did they give him a hero’s farewell?
No.
They gave him a bum’s rush, so to speak.
They started a media campaign against Rep. Pippy saying that Army regulations prevented him from running for public office while serving on active duty.
They also filed a lawsuit in the circuit court in Pittsburgh to have him removed from the ballot.
Never mind that those regulations are intended for career soldiers, and, rightly so, and are aimed at separating civilian and military authority.
The Democrats – as per usual – interpret laws not as they are meant to be interpreted, with the so-called literal rule of legal interpretation. Rather they used their own wishful thinking to construe laws as they wish them to be interpreted. This is what leads to anarchy, dear readers.
The attack on Rep. Pippy – just as he was preparing to help support the forces defanging the wicked madman Saddam Hussein -- caused quite a response in Washington D.C.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz, and other senior leadership at the Pentagon got involved and had to block the Democrats’ demagoguery by issuing a waiver to Rep. Pippy to ensure that the rules were not adversely interpreted against him.
“What kind of a message does this send to our reservists?” said Curt Mercadante, a spokesman for Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.), of the pandemonium over Pippy.
I don’t know about you, but to me the message is that some Democrats are so partisan that they would trash our armed forces, in time of war, for personal gain.
This week, the controversy concluded.
Pippy took a military leave from the Army to attend his swearing-in ceremony at the State Senate. He’s now the State Senator for the 37th District of Pennsylvania.
The lawsuit against him was dismissed.
And a new, special election will be held to fill his old seat in the 44th District of the State House of Representatives.
Wonder what the Democrats are going to do about that?
-- Mr. Koprowski is a contributing writer to leading national newspapers and magazines and is a lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve.
I think they'd be offended by the title of your post and rightly so.
It's soooooo nice that they support the troops.
I loathe the military.
Which is one more truth they can't stand having to deal with.
(steely)
Then they should be doing more to marginalize the anti-American whackos that are - rightly or wrongly - defining the Democrat Party.
Alan Colmes on FNC last night made an excellent point. He's against this war, but he's furious with all these anti-American comments (a la Tommy Dasshole and the "Bush=Hitler" signs at protests) because they are rightly dismissed by America, but Alan and others are wrongly lumped in with those idiots.
Here was a people whom after their works thou shalt see wept over for their lost dominion:
and in this palace is the last information respecting lords collected in the dust.
The Arabian Nights.
IN A land that the sand overlays—the ways to her gates are untrod—
A multitude ended their days whose fates were made splendid by God,
Till they grew drunk and were smitten with madness and went to their fall,
And of these is a story written: but Allah A1one knoweth all !
When the wine stirred in their heart their bosoms dilated,
They rose to suppose themselves kings over all things created—
To decree a new earth at a birth without labour or sorrow—
To declare: “We prepare it to-day and inherit to-morrow.”
They chose themselves prophets and priests of minute understanding,
Men swift to see done, and outrun, their extremest commanding—
Of the tribe which describe with a jibe the perversions of Justice—
Panders avowed to the crowd whatsoever its lust is.
Swiftly these pulled down the walls that their fathers had made them—
The impregnable ramparts of old, they razed and relaid them
As playgrounds of pleasure and leisure with limitless entries,
And havens of rest for the wastrels where once walked the sentries;
And because there was need of more pay for the shouters and marchers,
They disbanded in face of their foemen their yeomen and archers.
They replied to their well-wishers’ fears—to their enemies’ laughter,
Saying: “Peace! We have fashioned a God Which shall save us hereafter.
We ascribe all dominion to man in his factions conferring,
And have given to numbers the Name of the Wisdom unerring.”
They said: “Who has hate in his soul? Who has envied his neighbour?
Let him arise and control both that man and his labour.”
They said: “Who is eaten by sloth? Whose unthrift has destroyed him?
He shall levy a tribute from all because none have employed him.”
They said: “Who hath toiled, who hath striven, and gathered possession?
Let him be spoiled. He hath given full proof of transgression.”
They said: “Who is irked by the Law? Though we may not remove it,
If he lend us his aid in this raid, we will set him above it !”
So the robber did judgment again upon such as displeased him,
The slayer, too, boasted his slain, and the judges released him.
As for their kinsmen far off, on the skirts of the nation,
They harried all earth to make sure none escaped reprobation,
They awakened unrest for a jest in their newly-won borders,
And jeered at the blood of their brethren betrayed by their orders.
They instructed the ruled to rebel, their rulers to aid them;
And, since such as obeyed them not fell, their Viceroys obeyed them.
When the riotous set them at naught they said: “Praise the upheaval!
For the show and the word and the thought of Dominion is evil!”
They unwound and flung from them with rage, as a rag that defiled them
The imperial gains of the age which their forefathers piled them.
They ran panting in haste to lay waste and embitter for ever
The wellsprings of Wisdom and Strength which are Faith and Endeavour.
They nosed out and digged up and dragged forth and exposed to derision
All doctrine of purpose and worth and restraint and prevision:
And it ceased, and God granted them all things for which they had striven,
And the heart of a beast in the place of a man’s heart was given. . .
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