The Conservative Son

It gets a little old listening to the patrician class, blue blood, or as they call themselves, "Log Cabin" Republicans scold the conservative wing of the GOP, which is most Republicans, for concering ourselves with virtue and family values. They are the same guys who gave the Democrat party the unearned reputation of being the "people's party." They are the ones who helped the DNC hold onto both houses of congress for fifty years. They are the same ones who caused the GOP to become known, erroneously, as the party of the rich.

They smugly mock the lowly soldiers of the Republican party who are passionate about issues of morality. They say that Republicans shouldn't worry about such trivialities and should concentrate on the economy and defense. They seem to be mostly from the northeast and, of course, the more populated parts of the country, (blue states). We "red state" Republicans are only thought of as quaint and archaic. They want our votes, but not our voices. They seem to think that we should keep our old-fashioned values and Bible-thumping morality out of politics. So, what is the difference between this crowd and the DNC? Apparently, not that much.

What this crowd, and others, forget is that the GOP has always been about morality and spirituality. We were the answer to the spineless WHIG party when the country was on it's ear over the question of slavery. We supported freed-men in the south when the Democrats were running wild in the night with their white sheets trying to intimidate black families to "stay in their place."

The Republicans are the ones who fought for the Equal Rights bill when "Sheets" Byrd of West Virginina, et al., were doing all they could to stop it. We were the ones who were registering black voters when the southern Democrat run KKK was murdering them in the Alabama. (The DNC didn't sanction the Klan, but Klan members were exclusively Democrat.)

Now we are the same political party whose president hired the first black secretary of Defense and has helped more minorities own their homes than at anytime in history. Now, since it wasn't even a question fifty years ago, we are the ones who are fighting to protect the already beleaguered family and the rights of the weakest in our society...the unborn.

We unapologetically continue the tradition of standing up for the "little guy." We will relentlessly continue the battle for "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" for those who have no voice. We will hold fast to those old-fashioned values that made our country great. We will not be swayed by opinion polls or wavering, ever-changing values or the lack thereof.

I sometimes get very annoyed at the young people in our wonderful country who feel no obligation to defend the freedom they daily take for granted. It occurs to very few that their liberty must be occasionally defended. Many think that somehow this country just sprang into existence from thin air; many think things will always be the way they are now. You see them standing on the street corner or hear their stereos screaming obscenities so loud that they are in serious danger of acute hearing damage. You see their names in the police blotter; you see them graduated from high school and flipping burgers with no real prospect for anything better.

Many young people work hard and study and graduate from college with a very bright future. Others find a good job and manage very well working with their hands. Still, others are seemingly bound and determined to lower themselves to the gutter with no apparent aspirations for self-improvement. Some in the middle and are decent human beings, but seemingly haven't any goals for their lives. In any case, I always think when I see them, "A couple of years in uniform might just give them a different perspective on life."

Not all can serve in the military. Some are hampered by poor health or are needed more desperately by their families than by Uncle Sam. Yet, those who merely just don't join, should. All young, healthy men, and I emphasize men, should either join up or receive a nice letter of greetings from the draft board.

I'm not saying that a young man who doesn't go in the service is irresponsible or has no future. Some of my heroes have never served a day in uniform. I'm just saying that we live free or die. We all love the benefits of American citizenship, but a very small minority finds it necessary in their lives to get in the game and get knocked around, so to speak. (Just ask Corporal Pat Tillman.) How few are willing to give up just a couple of years of their life, perhaps to lose their life, to keep our country free.

For now, the armed services recruiters report that they are meeting their quotas, which shows that there is hope for our country. Patriotism is, for now, alive and well. The question is, with diminished benefits and many serving overseas and being away from home for extended times, and many of those men and women in their forties, what will be their retention or replacement rate? When will things reach the point, especially if these don't get the benefits and recognition they deserve, that those faithful few will tire of being taken for granted and grow weary of being "over there" while so many are over here enjoying the fruits of their labor.

I know the politicians, patriotic Americans, et al., are truly proud of our all volunteer Army, Navy and Marines, as well we should be. I was Regular Army myself back when the Great Communicator was our commander-in-chief. I defended the free world from the Communist hoards while driving my truck at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky and it didn't hurt me one little bit. Although my time in service was less than eventful, I feel a certain amount of humble pride when being counted, even in a small way, among those brave souls who purchased and protected our freedom by sacrificing theirs.

Having a military that can't blame someone else for being there has its certain advantages. No one in our armed forces can say that they didn't sign up for the ride. Still, asking so much from so few while so many give so little is enough to wear thin with even the most patriotic among us. Remember, you can ride a good horse to death. I think it's time to spread the labor around. If we don't, there may one day, and perhaps, one day soon, be no one left to defend a bunch of ingrates who know all about "rights," but nothing about responsibility.

I remember when I was in Basic Training at Ft. Leonard Wood Missouri, oh, I guess, April of 1981 and we were told by one of the Drill Sergeants that Pope John Paul had been shot. I remember this jerk of a Drill Corporal told me later, when I asked, that the Pope had died. I was shocked and hurt not only for myself, but for some new Catholic friends that I had made.

I'm not Catholic; I'm just an old Southern Baptist boy. Still, I've learned over two and a half decades to love a man who stood up to Nazis, Communists and the forces of immorality and slavery in our world.

I've watched this man, who I obviously didn't always agree with, stand for his convictions when everyone else told him it was time for change. He had the courage and common sense to understand that tradition and the tried-and-true should not be so easily cast aside.

Yes, I'm quite sure that the Pope is Catholic, but he is the kind of Pope, rather, the kind of man, whose influence goes far beyond the scope of those who may lay claim to be his followers. Now, he has come to the end of his days and the whole world watches while his life ebbs away. Those, like myself, who appreciate what this truly great man has done to promote the freedom and dignity of all mankind and how he has, quite literally, changed the world for the better will miss him sorely. Like Reagan, Thatcher, Roosevelt and other greats of the twentieth century, there may never be another quite like him.