This is an very important topic.
What is the proper way to dissent while still remaining patriotic? Forget that stupid quote that my shipmate (John Kerry) tried to attribute to Thomas Jefferson, what really matters is this: how can we keep dialogue open on both sides while showing respect for the troops and our current status? I see this, obviously, as a dilemna mostly afflicting the Democrats.
That said I have absolutely no idea the solution to this challenge. My enlistment threw my family into a minor emotional chaos. I have some family members that became politely belligerent and began blaming George Bush’s faults on me, irregardless of the fact I had never yet voted for a Republican when I had joined. (I have since remedied that blemish.) I have not spoken to one of my brothers since he caused a scene at my OCS graduation pre-planning. (It was over the phone, but still painful.)
Abu Gharib was brought up very pointedly at one dinner conversation. It was Thanksgiving (only a handful of posts on this blog and again I bringing up that holiday!) when I was still in training. Now that I have been operational for a couple of years, and more mature, I wish I had the opportunity to address Abu Gharib more explicitly. If one claims to support the troops while bringing up Abu Gharib, I would say, that person better know the 2 names of the Medal of Honor winners from this current war. (SFC Paul Smith, USA, and CPL Jason Dunham, USMC.)
My family has grown a lot in the last couple of years. It has been a good struggle, but I only have to see them once every two years or so. It is convenient to be deployed sometimes. I can sincerely point to members of my family who have grown along with me, and while they do not support the mission or its handling, they are very supportive of my role. Every family should have at least one person in the military at any one time. It lends an interesting dynamic.
But the question still remains, how does the Left show its patriotism while supporting us? I don’t buy John Edwards or Hillary Clinton or Kerry for a second. There is a hilarious picture floating around of Hillary with a soldier, who is flashing the POW sign for coercion (middle finger) while smiling into the camera with her. (www.snopes.com) And I just read an essay on John Cary today written by a SEAL who called him a Blue Falcon. (The Blue stands for Buddy, guess what the Falcon stands for. . .) Joe Lieberman and one or two other Democrats are the few from that aisle who come across as genuine in their support. Of course, I don’t speak for the whole military, just myself and maybe my small circle of friends.
Once I became a one issue voter, terrorism, I had no place with the Democrats. They had better wise up. They are not winning elections on their own accord, but on the failure of the Right. And the Right, like the South, will rise again, hopefully very soon.
Lastly, Markus thanks for your acknowledgement. I see there exists some unexploded and exploded ordinance among you and some other posters on this site, and I appreciate your comment regarding my service. However, it is not through sheer altruism that I serve. I don’t want to die in another 9/11. And I like the fact that I don’t have to pick out my clothes every morning.
