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My Shining City
The following post was done by my husband…let him (and me) know what you think.
~Tammy~
None of you know me from Adam….But I hope that you will take the time to read this (perhaps presumptuous) letter from my heart.
It might as well be titled: “If this country loses me, then perhaps all is lost!” …Here it goes.
Back in 1983, I was an immigrant to this country who joined the US Marines. I did so via the proper procedures…i.e. applied for resident alien status by filling out tons of paperwork, getting screened, paying money, and waiting the length of time that it took to get my “green-card”. Very shortly after receiving it, I signed up in the USMC. Some 3 months or so later I had the very distinct privilege and honor to call myself a Marine and begin my life in the USA…a country that I had so very much admired and wished to be a part of. My wish came true beyond my wildest expectations. Ronald Reagan was now my President and Commander-in-Chief. Who among you as Americans (Never mind new immigrants) can imagine how that felt? Let me tell you…It felt good. Real good! This new American lived in a country with pride oozing out of my very pores. I served my new country for a brief five years, was un-imaginably rewarded for it, and received my honorable discharge in 1988.
For the rest of my days I will seemingly have to bear that curse, it would seem to me.
Let me underscore this countless times. Nobody in this country is more of a patriot than I am. Nobody. When my best buddy( who remained in the Marines) was on his second Iraq tour, I did everything I could as a 46 year old to join the National Guard and go join him. As it turned out, my recruiter himself wound up getting yanked to Iraq…and my paperwork never got anywhere.
So, here we go…Fast-forward to today.
Today, as I worked my job here in south Florida (in the construction-related trades) I got to thinking. I was (more-or-less) the only non-illegal Mexican on the jobsite.
My government has done nothing to stop the flood of illegals coming into my country. Someone answer me as to how we would suffer even one death overseas while we have porous borders? The “War on Terror” means exactly what?, if you can walk across the border? I went through proper channels to gain my entrance into this country, whereas I clearly did not need to.
Today, they announced that ten our servicemen died in Iraq. Funny. Lately, the number had been four or so daily…four was an easy and routine number to “flip to page two” on…but TEN caught my eye. Un-believable. I have sat by as a Marine veteran, months have gone by….multitudes have died, and I most often do not even think about it, because I work 50 hours plus a week and pretty much can’t think much about it. Today I did. Today I asked a former Marine veteran (Silver-Star) hero from the Vietnam war what he thought. He thought that the only way to victory after our some 3,000 dead so far would be to drop nuclear weapons. He figured that that would win the “War in Iraq”. The Secretary of Defense and our Commander-in-Chief seem to have another plan it would seem.
North Korea has nuclear weapons, and we’re actively seeking sanctions through the U.N. Good deal!
I live in Tom Foley’s district in south Florida.
Rush Limbaugh told us today that we ought to hop into our Lamborghini’s and skip on down to the voting booth and vote Republican….the economy is good, and the Democrats are worse.
For me, Ronald Reagan…my Commander-in-Chief… did not live long enough to see future administrations take most of the luster off of his (and my) “Shining City”
Semper Fi,
Ben
I know just how you feel Ben, I’m very frustrated with my party. But in the end, I will do just what Rush said, except I won’t be driving a Lamborghini.
The democrats will stop funding the war, they will stop eavesdropping on terrorists, they will raise taxes, they will use tax dollars for abortions, they will impeach President Bush, they will destroy marriage, they will destroy healthcare, they will destroy our country.
These things are important.
Great post, Ben.
I feel for you. I yearn for Ronald Reagan’s kind of leadership as well. I’m in Ohio and Mike DeWine is my senator, and to be honest, I’m not thrilled with him. However, I like even less the thought of Sherrod Brown being my senator from Ohio. What the Democrats want to do should they take control of both houses of Congress scares the livin’ bejesus out of me. LindaSoG’s description is spot-on.
Therefore, I, too, will drive to my polling station on Election Day and pull the lever for Mike DeWine.
Ben, I agree.
Today I wrote the most pessimistic post I have ever written in three years of blogging.
I am thinking we need to take this country back from the media.
What if we just blitzed the White House and the media with support for the war? What would happen?
Blogs have power too. We are the new media. What if we stopped bitching and joined our concerted voices against the old media? Because I think if we do not do something NOW we have lost the war. And the election. Democracy is a contact sport and we need to show some support for the policies we believe in.
I am floating an idea at the Cotillion. Maybe it is not too late.
Ben that was so well written. The media is really getting to us and the opposition pulls every dirty trick out of the book to make sure we know how bad the other person is. The UN is a waste of air right now. Let’s just hope we get someone who can see past today in the office and have a bunch of supporters who could care less what party affiliation they are in.
Ben you are an awesome writter, I hope you do more of this.
Thank you with all my heart for serving our country.
I agree with you 100% and I miss Reagan so much. I thank God that he was President in my lifetime. He will for me always be the best President this country ever had.
I will be voting but with a broken heart. I wish our leaders had your outlook in things. I wish they were strong like you and my husband are about things and what has to be done. All I can do now is pray, vote and blog my heart out on how I feel about things. The Democrats with the help of the media are the true enemy within.
Thank you again Ben.
Great post, Ben; it really illustrates a lot of the problems the US (and for us in England are having.
It is so sad to hear the pain in your voice. I have a friend that emigrated here from Argentina. It took him six years to get his citizenship and I swear the day he did was the happiest day of his life. I lost touch with him and saw him again last week after ten years. He sounded very much like you do. It’s sad to think that instead of the land of opportunity, we are now the land of disillusion. I am not a Republican, but I respected Reagan. I respect you as well. Anyone who willingly goes through the immigration process deserves respect, but to also serve in the military is simply awe inspiring. Your words and your actions speak volumes about your character and you embody the ideal of what an American should be. I hope you are rewarded with something to be proud about again soon, you deserve it.
Ben -
I am a 20-year Navy man and am still close to several hispanic veterans and active duty members of the Navy and the Marines. To a man, they ALL feel the same way you do.
Normally, I am happy that President Bush has a bit of a stubborn streak in him and rarely compromises, but this time I happen to be relieved that he gave in a bit. Yes, a comprehensive bill that looks after the interests of all concerned sounds nice blah blah…but not very realistic.
Politics is messy, and messy bills don’t get passed very often. This one is fairly simple and unmistakable – and sends a clear message that we are going to stop this nonsense. As you know, it’s not about racism…it is about security and obeying the law.
Semper Fi brother…. keep the faith!
Timmer