Among the mixed emotions of sadness and outrage resulting from the last two days, also comes the inevitable. The flurry of press releases and statements hitting my email and social media feed, pumped out by elected officials at every level, as well as the candidates trying to defeat them, and by local party organizations.
Every one of them with the need to express something profound and heartfelt in the wake of tragedy.
I learned years ago I’m wasting my time decrying the apparent need to compete at such a time. Yeah, I get it. I understand. No one can risk having their opponents say they remained silent on a difficult matter.
So the statements come, one after the other, with headlines looking pretty similar, typically something along the lines of, “So and So Named Person’s Statement on Afghanistan.”
What follows is a solemn statement of some kind, a demand for change, an opinion of how things should have been handled (if only “I” were in charge), or some combination thereof.
With all due respect, if you as a politician feel you simply have to issue a statement at this time, in this instance the following should absolutely be included:
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, 20, of Jackson, Wyoming
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, 20, of Wentzville, Missouri
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David Espinoza, 20, of Laredo, Texas
Navy Hospital Corpsman Max Soviak, of Berlin Heights, Ohio
Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Riverside County, California
Marine Crps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Indiana
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, 20, of Norco, California
Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, 31, of Daggett County, Utah
Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan William-Tyeler Page, 23, of Red Oak, Iowa
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee
Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosariopichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts
Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Sacramento, California
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, California
Comments 4
Twenty years as a Marine officer, I’ve watched as a Marine gave all, escorted remains home, notified parents. They’re the hardest things I’ve done in my life. Those reading this blog, regardless of persuasion (of any manner) need to ask themselves if they are worthy of the sacrifice the Marines, sailor, soldier made. If the answer is no, then resolve to become worthy.
Well said, Barry.
Nailed it.
Today it was disclosed that the Pentagon gave a top secret warning/briefing 24 hours before this attack. They knew it was imminent the next day. However someone decided to keep the gate open so that British citizens could continue to get out. Now I just heard that the last US flight just left, a day before the deadline and “hundreds of Americans are still there.” UNBELIEVABLE!!!!
My uncle Jack Freeling, was President of the Marine Raider Association and earned a purple heart at the battle of Sugar Loaf hill on Okinawa. A bloodbath second only to Iwo Jima. I grew up with Charles ‘Chuck’ Lindbergh, an active father along with mine in my Boy Scout troop who helped raise the first flag on Mt. Suribachi. He earned a purple heart there and was kind enough to come and do a fundraiser for me in in 1996. Knowing both men well, who were quiet in their disposition over the horrors they witnessed in WWII. I can say they both would be utterly shocked over the complete incompetence that President Biden has shown in this ongoing debacle.