While visiting a friend, we ended up at the Guttenberg, NJ Memorial Day Parade. A (left) a Major in the NJ National Guard 50th Combat Infantry Team which will be leaving for Iraq before the end of summer, stands before the town’s Veteran’s Memorial next to the town’s oldest living World War Two veteran.
There was singing, and twirlers; boy scouts, fire engines, the sheriff, and the police; plus soldiers and Marines from the town. And the speech that brought it home:
The sister of a young man who died in Iraq told us about her brother. He had given up his leave to take over for another soldier who had a death in the family. “Because,” she said, “soldiers take care of each other.”
Her brother was one of five soldiers killed that day by roadside bombs. She said that when she heard the knock, and saw the soldiers in dress greens, she was doubled over screaming before they even said “We regret to inform you….”
Then the Major, who looked about 25, with his young son beside him at the podium, told the assembled crowd that half of the NJ National Guard – 4,000 men and women – will be deployed to Iraq before the end of summer.
I know that each of them believes he or she is doing to right thing for our country, and I support them with all my heart. But that doesn’t stop me from hating the war or the politicians who wage it.
All I could think about when the young Major spoke was the announcer on NPR this morning who mentioned that President Bush recently said that he wanted to feel that he had sacrificed something for the war, so he gave up golf for the duration. “The president said he didn’t want families of dead soldiers to see him enjoying himself on the links.” You can’t make this stuff up. The president, that moron really said that.
Related: On 9/11, for the Boys
Take the PR blinders off for a second and look at the bigger picture. I’m not sure what is wrong with the fact that the president gave up golf for the duration of the war. As a member of the military, it has been my experience that a true leader does things like this to let the soldiers know that they are with them even though they can’t be on the battlefield or aren’t suffering through the same issues as them. Obviously the president can’t fight in a war, but the gesture here is that instead of being seen enjoying himself without thought about what is occurring half way around the world, he has made a conscious personal decision to do without something he enjoys while our nation’s warriors continue to serve in Iraq. Since returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan I have found more often than not that leaders in most communities and industries lack this kind of quality. Even President Clinton couldn’t turn down the opportunity to indulge himself repeatedly instead of being professional and conducting the business of running the country. I realize most people don’t like President Bush and that it is quite easy to jump on the bandwagon, but the next time you find yourself passing judgment upon him, try to discern for yourself if those are the actions of a true a leader or a moron. You may discover that the decision you would have made in that situation deserves more criticism than that of our nation’s leader.
josh – thank you for serving our country, and for commenting on this post
As I said in the post, and a hundred times before, i support and respect the troops 100% because I know that every one of them believes he/she is doing the right thing.
However, I have lost all respect for the president over the past 8 years. My political views are no secret.
Giving up golf is a lame gesture that is nothing more than an empty PR stunt.
Approving the bill before Congress now to aid returning veterans would be a meaningful gesture.
Nobody died because Bill Clinton couldn’t keep it in his pants. That argument goes nowhere!
and, hey, FYI, I haven’t done PR since 1995.