“I don't have a 'side'—I'm responsible for what I say and nothing else.”
― Glenn Greenwald.
Our current political climate is in shambles, and more than a few Senators and members of Congress take no responsibility for what they say. Bold, outright lies are zinged through Twitter, print, and the airwaves as if words have no meaning. A statement from then, Presidential Nominee Trump; "I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters." This shameless statement erodes the morals and values I was raised with and live by.
Integrity. “do what is right even when no one is looking.” Our red and blue political leaders should heed these simple but meaningful words. Senator Lindsey Graham said of President Trump, “He’s a race-baiting xenophobic religious bigot.” Representative Adam Schiff (D-California), “declared President Trump an “unindicted co-conspirator.” In fact, his indicted co-conspirator was Michael Cohen, his personal attorney. Mr. Cohen paid-off and bribed two women in the sex worker industry with hundreds of thousands of dollars; in exchange, both women agreed to not release details about their and Mr. Trump’s sexual affairs ahead of the 2016 election. What would you do if your boss wanted you to commit wire fraud and election interference?
Excellence. ”Strive for continual improvement in self and service.” Vietnam Veteran Michael Franks opined, “Like the thousands before me and those that have followed, I was called to duty and served my country. I am proud of that.” “I cannot help but wonder, if the current President of the United States had done likewise, would he be making a mockery of the election process as he is these days?” Since the 2020 election, President Trump tweeted the election was “rigged;” the election is a “fraud;” “I won the election;” and “Biden will have to prove he won.” What would you say to a child who used these words after losing a Student Council election?
Service before self. “Total commitment to the highest ideals of personal sacrifice in defense of the Constitution and the United States.” Hugging an American Flag or posing with a bible in front of a church is not service. In my 24 years of service, I learned our colors are to be treated with respect, and not as a photo opportunity for fans. President Trump’s failure to acknowledge the seriousness of the COVID-19 virus places an indelible stain on the United States flag that he keeps hugging. A few months ago, President Trump claimed the United States only had three or four COVID-19 cases and they will all be gone within a week. Less than nine months later, there were 13.6 million cases and 268 thousand deaths in the USA. What actions would you take if you were the leader of the free world?
“Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all.”
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