Wednesday, April 28, 2004

Let’s remember military is there for all of us

By MICHAEL BOYLAN

Politics is a nasty, nasty business.

It is so nasty right now that it often makes me feel ill. With both sides screaming and pointing fingers, how can one not feel like a beleaguered parent, who just wants to cuff both of these irritating little pests on the back of the head and tell them to shut it.

If I was in a car with Ann Coulter and Randi Rhodes screaming and howling in the back seat, I’d threaten to turn the car around and not stop for ice cream.

The issue that is really disgusting right now is this idea that it is OK to attack someone’s military record if you don’t like the letter in parentheses at the end of their name.

I think it is grossly unjust to attack people like John Kerry and Max Cleland and I don’t think digging in to President Bush’s record in the National Guard has any bearing on anything current either. These three gentlemen were in the military, voluntarily, during a time when lots of people were not too excited about the military or the war we were in.

What’s sad is 20-30 years from now, we’ll have people who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan running for office and we’ll have to really examine just how much shrapnel got into their bodies and if it came during enemy combat or friendly fire. As if getting shot or injured in a war hurts less if an accident occurred. People who disagree with that should go out and lose a couple limbs or take a few bullets before they spout off.

I thought all people who served in the military, especially during war time situations, deserved our support and our gratitude. Do my father or friend deserve any less praise for their service to this country because they have liberal leanings?

I may not agree with all of the beliefs of one former colleague of mine, but I know he is a good man and a solid citizen who has given more to this country than I could give in 10 lifetimes.

I couldn’t do it. I would not want to be in the 140 degree heat of Iraq, frightened of taking fire while I go on the weekly convoy to gather mail. No thank you. I get hot driving in my car without air conditioning.

What’s so troubling about this whole issue is that nothing is going to change anyone’s mind. Not even this column, unfortunately. There is a lot of brainwashing going on and the country is grossly divided.

Today, the word liberal seems to equal unpatriotic or soft on terrorism in lots of people’s minds. If you look around, talk to people and think instead of just regurgitating the junk from talk radio, you can see that’s not true.

I supported the troops, sent care packages, and prayed for the safety of my friend and his colleagues. I’m not evil and I love this country, I just didn’t vote for Bush and I won’t vote for him this time either. I’m not alone in these beliefs. In fact, half the country sides with me.

Then, there is the other half and they want practically everything I want, a safe country, money in my pocket and a nice place to raise my family. They just think that under a Democrat their way of life won’t be protected or served as well.

The one constant, though, is that the military fights to protect both sides. In fact, they fight so that we can live in a country where there are two sides, at least.

We should all know by now that under any politician, Democrat or Republican, life goes on pretty much as it always has. The world didn’t end under Clinton and I’m sure the earth isn’t going to open up and swallow humanity because Bush is in the White House either.

I just suggest that everyone turn off the talking heads on all the airwaves and do their own digging and thinking. If you’re hooked on Rush or Air America, how about looking into the things they bring up to see if they’re true or not. Ever hear of a thing called context? Just as one can twist statistics to prove anything, politicians talk so much that one can always find a quote to prove whatever point they want.

Cleland fought in Vietnam and was seriously injured. He returned to this country, didn’t give up on himself and had a successful career in the Senate, where he did a lot of good over the years for the people of this state.

Kerry also fought valiantly in Vietnam, was praised by his superiors and fellow officers, and returned to the U.S. and spoke against the war. So what? He wasn’t the only one.

It is every American’s right to protest, and he not only had that right as an American, he earned it by fighting.

As for the President, it’s no secret he wasn’t that great of a guy in his early years. If there are missing documents or unaccounted time between stints in the Texas or Alabama Air National Guard, big deal. He also had a substance abuse problem that he dealt with back then. It appears he’s calmed down and cleaned up his act.

Focus on the issues at hand. What has he done during his term? Have he and his administration been straightforward with us? What would Kerry do? What does he propose?

Those are the questions to ask yourself over the next six months. Don’t let someone else answer those questions for you and don’t lump people into one category. You know you don’t fit in one simple category. Neither does the rest of America.

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