The Soldier in Me - "I emerged as a Democrat. "

[kpete]

The Soldier in Me

By Markos Moulitsas Zuniga
Issue Date: 05.04.06
......................
Military service is a sacrifice from the beginning. The cheap combat boots assigned to new recruits blister the toughest of feet -- after one particularly grueling 20-plus-mile road march with a 100-pound rucksack, I literally squeezed out blood from my socks. But basic training was the best thing to ever happen to me. They say they break you down in basic training so they can rebuild you into a real man. I was already broken when I arrived at Fort Sill. For me, it was all building.

Eight weeks later, I emerged a brand new person, this one weighing 140 pounds. And after my three-year stint, while I was stationed in Germany and missed deploying to the Gulf War by a hair, I emerged as a Democrat.

There’s a reason most vets running for office this year are running as Democrats. The military is perhaps the ideal society -- we worked hard but the Army took care of us in return. All our basic needs were met -- housing, food, and medical care. It was as close to a color-blind society as I have ever seen. We looked out for one another. The Army invested in us. I took heavily subsidized college courses and learned to speak German on the Army’s dime. I served with people from every corner of the country. I got to party at the Berlin Wall after it fell and explored Prague in those heady post-communism days. I wasn’t just a tourist; I was a witness to history.

The Army taught me the very values that make us progressives -- community, opportunity, and investment in people and the future. Returning to Bush Senior’s America, I was increasingly disillusioned by the selfishness, lack of community, and sense of entitlement inherent in the Republican philosophy. The Christian Coalition scared the heck out of me. And I was offended by the lip service paid to national service when most Republicans couldn’t be bothered to wear combat boots. I voted for Bush in 1992, but that was the last time I voted Republican.

more at:
http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewPrint&articleId=11410

[w8liftinglady]

1. you find some great articles,and are a real soldiers' advocate.Thank you.

:hug:

[kpete]

2. I SUPPORT The Troops

I know many of them

They are the same age as my children

They are SO very honorable

Thanks and Peace...

[neuvocat]

3. That's what happened to me.

I was actually a fan of Reagan for a while until I joined the Army. While I'm proud that I served, I saw what was going on with the enabling of the military industrial complex and screwing over taxpayers for their dollars.

The numbers of pro-republican military are nowhere near what you would be led to believe.

[tridim]

4. Randi Rhodes has been talking about this for years

She should have this guy on the show.

[bonzotex]

5. This is more common than people think k/r

I became a solid blue Democrat when I found out St Ronnie Reagan and his pals were selling advanced arms to Iran and using the cash to finance death squads in Central America.

At the time I was an Air Force B-52 pilot tasked with, among other things, preparing for possible missions against Iran. Later, I spent 3 years in Central and South America and got to see the results of the Contra War and Daddy Bush's attack on Panama. I will never vote for another Republican, ever, for any reason.

The Republicans are pro defense industry, not pro National defense. They were liars, scammers and war profiteers 20 years ago and they still are today. The Republican simply can't be trusted with the reins of American global power.

[_ed_]

6. Amen

I'm amazed more vets aren't Democrats or independent progressives. Just look at the way Bush has slashed the VA, Vets benefits, etc. It's criminal.