A view of tomorrow:

Wednesday – November 10, 2010

A view of tomorrow:

As we continue to digest the November elections, a few things stand out. The Democrats would have you believe they lost, because of a bad economy. They would have you believe they lost, because they might not have been forceful enough in defense of their position. Truth is they lost, because the population had soundly defeated the Democratic platform through rejection and repudiation.

Fifty six percent (56%) of those who voted want a partial repeal or a complete repeal of the healthcare legislation. 8 out of 10 Republicans who voted want a total repeal of the healthcare legislation. These are not voters that voted against the Democrats, because of a bad economy. The president’s agenda is what brought defeat. The president’s agenda is why we have a stagnant economy and no job growth.

As we move on into the second half of this president’s term, we must start to compare his style of leadership and his ability to lead to that of past presidents. It is time to consider the comparisons, because of its historical implications. We should make no apologies in our attempt to compare and contrast this presidency.

Our past president, George Bush, just released his book, “Decision Points.” President Bush wrote the book to set the record straight. I have watched the interviews and I have come away with a few thoughts. President Bush loves his country. He loved to serve and he loved the Office of the President and what it stood for. His feeling of preserving the dignity of the office was his greatest concern and it still is. I will read the book with those thoughts in mind.

His greatest responsibility of the job, as he put it, was to keep the American people safe and he did. He truly lived up to his responsibility and to the oath he took. I believe President Bush will be a consequential President. I believe his actions and his decisions, when put into a historical context, will be monumental.

As we approach Veterans Day, we must celebrate it with a contextual view of history. I will view it with how George Washington led the Continental Army with a tested temper, with a tested strength and with the knowledge that he knew his mission had to succeed. He also led his Army to fight for principles yet unwritten in constitutional form.

I will view it with how George Bush had to encourage the troops and how he came to know the importance of protecting the Home Land. I will view it in a context of how The Constitution is protected by the Veterans who fought for it.

I will view it with a historical context of what the Mayflower Compact gave to the early colonies. The Compact was signed on November 11, 1620 and it provided the model for future governments of the colonies. I will view Veterans Day with the knowledge that our military history dates back to the colonies and that the veterans of the Revolutionary War had offspring that fought in the Civil War. I will view Veterans Day with the knowledge that great presidents, such as Washington and Bush, led Armies to victory and that the soldiers who gave the ultimate to country and to the Commander in Chief would be respected and would go down is history’s record as great men and great soldiers.

Both Washington and Bush were criticized in the midst of battle and in the midst of their administrations. Both were challenged and both stood their ground because they knew their mission and they knew what history told them. Both of these leaders had an opportunity to serve and to have the troops serve them. Bush now has a chance to relate his story in an historical essay on his presidency. Washington never did have that chance but then we knew what his record was because history was recorded in a true context.

Veterans Day is to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and their willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. I believe Washington and Bush worked to this end and I believe they led their troops to accomplish that end.

Our current President will be out of the country on Veterans Day. The ceremonies will still be conducted and the Vice President will lay the ceremonial wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the veterans will get their day. This will never change. The only thing that changes is that presidents will come and presidents will go. Some presidents will be great, because of their respect for tradition and some will be great because they will win revolutions. Some will keep us safe and some will be analyzed to determine what context to view them in.

What we need to view is the meaning of Veterans Day and the meaning of what our Veteran’s give to us. They protect our freedoms and they preserve the meaning of freedom and liberty because they defend it. They follow orders and they make history so that we can read their stories. A soldier is a citizen. A soldier lives by the creed of military service. A soldier is someone for us to admire and to thank.

On today’s date in 1775 the U.S. Marine Corp was founded, it is part of the tradition of why we celebrate Veteran’s Day. The Corp along with every other unit of the Military is why we continue to celebrate our exceptionalism.

Tomorrows view is one of gratitude and thanks, because of their service and their trust in us that we will preserve what they fight for by being responsible citizens.

Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives

A footnote: Tomorrow, remember to thank a vet. They don’t ask for it and they don’t require that you do, it is only out of respect that you should!