dennisw
03-21-2009, 11:17
Whenever one of my sons is deployed, I find my emotional state becomes altered. Not so much that I wander around talking to myself in public, but my reaction to an article or movie that is patriotic is instantaneous and the degree is surprising. In dealing with business matters I constantly have to check myself to make sure I don’t overreact. This occurred the other day when one of the companies who we rent equipment from stated their delivery charges. On the phone with their representative I expressed my dissatisfaction with their pricing in pretty strong terms. Later I realized I probably overreacted and called them back and told the representative I was sorry and explained to him my son is currently in Afghanistan and I had not heard from him in a while which always puts me a little on edge.
Later his boss called and we talked for a while. I got the impression he wanted to talk about things other then business. He went on to tell me he had spent 16 years in the Marines and was medically retired. He had three deployments to Iraq. We talked for a while about the disconnect between our routine life in the U.S. which seems little affected by the fact that many Americans are in a life and death battle in the Middle East. He said he missed the Marine Corp, but felt comforted in that he had done his duty. It was with these words that I mentioned that unfortunately his duty was probably not finished.
It was in 1994 when some young and influential republicans formed the concept of the Contract With America; the effort to take back the government and truly start representing the best interests of the governed. Many experts may downplay the significance of this group, but I personally believe their impact on our nation was very significant. However these folks were politicians, and I cannot see in the current environment of bank failings, bailouts, and mistrust of corporate greed, Americans putting much faith in politicians, businessmen, attorneys, etc.
However, there is one group that I believe many Americans trust implicitly – combat veterans. As I told the young man on the phone, the next duty required of our combat veterans may be to lead us again, not as sheep dogs, but as shepherds. I for one have a large degree of trust in someone who has been willing to lay it all on the line in faraway places like Iraq and Afghanistan, and I am more willing to put the Country’s future in the hands of those who have sacrificed so much in the face of so much adversity. Is this a unique viewpoint, or do others see it the same way?
Later his boss called and we talked for a while. I got the impression he wanted to talk about things other then business. He went on to tell me he had spent 16 years in the Marines and was medically retired. He had three deployments to Iraq. We talked for a while about the disconnect between our routine life in the U.S. which seems little affected by the fact that many Americans are in a life and death battle in the Middle East. He said he missed the Marine Corp, but felt comforted in that he had done his duty. It was with these words that I mentioned that unfortunately his duty was probably not finished.
It was in 1994 when some young and influential republicans formed the concept of the Contract With America; the effort to take back the government and truly start representing the best interests of the governed. Many experts may downplay the significance of this group, but I personally believe their impact on our nation was very significant. However these folks were politicians, and I cannot see in the current environment of bank failings, bailouts, and mistrust of corporate greed, Americans putting much faith in politicians, businessmen, attorneys, etc.
However, there is one group that I believe many Americans trust implicitly – combat veterans. As I told the young man on the phone, the next duty required of our combat veterans may be to lead us again, not as sheep dogs, but as shepherds. I for one have a large degree of trust in someone who has been willing to lay it all on the line in faraway places like Iraq and Afghanistan, and I am more willing to put the Country’s future in the hands of those who have sacrificed so much in the face of so much adversity. Is this a unique viewpoint, or do others see it the same way?