It is good to see members of the military serving in Congress. There were a number of outstanding military veterans such as Senator John McCain (R-AZ). If he was around now, what would he be saying about the Republicans bending them into Donald Trump pretzels today?
Army National Guard Lieutenant Colonel Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) lost both of her legs and the use of one of her arms when the Black Hawk she piloted was shot down over Iraq. She knows something about service.
She nicknamed Trump “Cadet Bone Spurs,” because he had five deferments, one for “bone spurs” to escape serving in Vietnam. Another, less wealthy young man had to take his place. There has been a desert empty of military service members in Congress in the years between McCain and more recently, those such as Representative Adam Kinzinger (R-IL).
How could we have an honorable group of legislators who believed their job was to serve the people when they served no one? How could Trump’s coup “army” call themselves “patriots” when their act was against Democracy and for Fascism?
Senator McCain gave perhaps the best speech of his career to the graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy. He spoke about sacrifice, according to The Time magazine:
‘[S]acrificing for something more important than yourself [and a commitment to] do the right thing, thanks or no thanks.’
‘[T]yranny is always a threat to peace because it is an affront to all humanity’s natural desire for freedom.’
‘[L]iberal institutions are nevertheless fragile, and must be affirmed with conviction at home and abroad.’
‘[T]he American example and American leadership are indispensable to securing a peaceful and prosperous future…Fascism was defeated in 1945.’
Representative Kinzinger served in the military. He was a pilot too, but in the Air Force, in a KC-135 Stratotanker. He flew missions in “South America, Guam, Iraq, and Afghanistan,” according to The Military Times:
‘Then, he flew the RC-26 surveillance aircraft and was stationed in Iraq twice. Kinzinger has served in the Air Force Special Operations Command, Air Combat Command, Air Mobility Command, and Air National Guard and was progressively promoted to his current rank of Major.’
He continues to serve in the Air National Guard. He is also one of two Republicans who serves on the House January 6 Select Committee and wept when the Capitol and Metropolitan Police officer testified. That took loads of courage, because telling this truth may end his career in politics. He tweeted about something extremely important to him:
‘If you didn’t serve in the revolutionary war and refer to yourself as “a patriot”— you probably are not one.’
He should know. The Illinois congressman is a member of the veteran Caucus and continues to actively support veterans.
Three White Lions podcast, Gloria Christie reads her week’s most important news/ commentary stories in the liberal online newspaper The Bipartisan Report. Gloria Christie Report her newsletter for people on the go. Written in her own unique style with a twist of humor in a briefer version of Bipartisan Report. Christie’s Mueller Report Adventures In Bite-Sizes a real-life compelling spy mystery. Find her here on Facebook.
