Why military personnel should support Dr. Paul
“I solemnly swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic…â€
When I joined the Air Force in 1983, I had to raise my right hand and say those words. I will support the Constitution. I will defend it against foreign enemies. I will defend it against domestic enemies. George W. Bush says it’s “just a goddamned piece of paper.†Is that really what I swore to support and defend?
I don’t think so. Instead, I think I agreed to support and defend the principles this country was founded on. The Constitution is a piece of paper--that’s true--but the ideas it contains are the very heart of America.
Unlike many countries, America is not populated by one people or one ethnicity. In my veins flows the ancient blood of the Goths and the Vikings, yet I am an American. My next-door neighbor is descended from African tribesmen, but he too is an American. People who call themselves Americans come from as many countries as are or ever were.
None of us are exactly the same. We have no common past to rally around. We have no shared traditions. These are an important part of life in the Old World, but not here. That’s because--instead of a common past--we share a hope for the future. And that hope is set down into words in the Constitution.
The Constitution is our creed. It is our social contract. It is the ideal that we must all agree to support and defend if we are to call ourselves Americans, if we are to call ourselves a nation. When you strip away everything else, it’s really all we have.
When I first swore my life to support and defend the Constitution over twenty years ago, nobody ever said anything about my oath having an expiration date. So though I have put away my Air Force uniform, I still honor and obey this oath even today. And I always will.
That’s why this retired Air Force Master Sergeant supports Ron Paul for President in 2008.
A Salute the the Retired Master Sergeant
M. Raborn
As a physical therapist in the Air Force myself, who met and married a career fighter pilot who served two tours in Viet Nam, who is now also retired, I cannot thank you enough for your comments above. You expressed better than I could, the feelings I also share. Thanks to you. Thanks to Dr. Paul. Now let's make sure Dr. Paul becomes the next president of the United States and he will bring home our best and brightest to defend our own borders and to defend and preserve our Constitution!
M. Raborn
GOP's Ron Paul wants all troops home
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/connelly/331321_joel12.html
I'm worried
I'm worried about many who have taken this oath. I have a good feeling that many have been dumbed down so much that they don't truly understand the constitution. I feel many understand that they must blindly follow every single order given to them, including the unlawful orders.
I have a good friend in the Marines and he told me that if he's ordered to go into American's houses with guns ready to go, he'll do it. He told me he could be put to death if he failed to follow the order. So I can assume that he would likely fire upon US citizens as well.
I can only hope that more military members, than not, do not think like that. I can only hope that they will put their money where their mouth is when they make claims like "I may not like what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
How many have been led to believe that the "domestic enemy" can only be a citizen or a terrorist? How many believe that it also includes members of the United States government too?
It may be better than you fear
jednp - Among themselves, military members do plenty of complaining about the way things are. However, being in the military carries with it the understanding that freedom of speech has to be guarded. With people outside the military, GIs pretty much have to spout the party line to avoid getting into trouble.
The bottom line is that there are plenty of people of conscience in the ranks of the armed forces. I believe--or at least hope--it's not as bad as you fear.
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Don't blame me! I voted for Ron Paul!
I took the same oath
...going into the Air Force in 1982. I doubt anything has changed in that old document since then.
Dido'
I couldn't have said that better myself. I'm a little english dutch and american indian. But in my heart it is clear that me and you share the same blood. My blood screams what you wrote. We are countryman. We are brothers. We are American's. I would spill out ever ounce of blood in my body to pass that so called "goddamned piece of paper" on to mine and your child. It is there birthright. It is or testament to pass to them. They deserve no less. These big Corp. dont understand what they are waking up. They will never have enough money to stiffle this monster. It can only spell their doom.
thank you
I'm sure that you view yourself as simply doing your duty, and you are, but it reflects well on your upbringing that your oath stays with you so firmly. I'm proud to call a few such others friends.
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What is begun in anger, ends in shame.