A week ago, we went to the annual ball of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society in Washington. The Society is one of the wonders of America, a totally voluntary organization that helps Marines and Sailors and their families when things get tough. They raise money for education, organize family support, provide assistance for wounded warriors, and tend to needy parents, widows and widowers.
We were worried that the economic convulsions would decrease the level of support, but the Society had a record-setting year, which suggests that, whatever the political change, the American people know that we have the finest military ever, and that our warriors are uniquely worthy of all that we can do for them. We’re going to get some of the details of the new defense budget early next week, and the rumors are alarming, so it’s good to see that popular support is strong.
Defense Secretary Gates gave the major address of the evening, along with the Chief of Naval Operations and the Marine Commandant. Gates had to pause several times to stop from crying, notably when he compared his experience as a university president with his current obligations. On campus, he was dealing with kids in tee shirts and backpacks. Now he’s got men and women in uniform, and it’s clear that he understands that he is dealing with superior people. I suspect that this realization came as a surprise to him, as it does to many non-military leaders who find themselves working alongside our armed forces.
As usual at these events, I was struck by the absence of media stars and intellectuals. Going through the list of sponsors and attendees, I could not find a single major university, newspaper, magazine, or broadcasting network or even station. And yet, many of the chief honchos of such organizations will privately brag about their friendships with military men and women, and, perhaps especially in Washington, you’d be surprised at the number of such people whose children have quietly put on a uniform and have served, are serving, or will soon serve in harm’s way. So where are they?
Shame on them all. When the publisher of the New York Times contends that the future of his newspaper has the same moral standing as saving lives in Darfur, one can only groan at the moral blindness that seizes so many American elites. If he and his ilk understood what makes this country great, he’d have sponsored a table, or at a minimum insisted that his Washington office purchase several tickets to this wonderful event, where even the music is outstanding.
Today we drove to Annapolis to attend the retirement ceremony for a great Marine officer, a full colonel who has fought on three continents. He got a sendoff that you and I can only dream of, from letters of praise from his military and civilian commanders to words spoken by his Marines along the lines of “if my son had to go into combat, I’d want them commanded by you, sir.”
No politician, no editor, no professor, no captain of industry, not even a brilliant blogger, will ever hear anything like that. But they should support those rare men and women of valor who do.
So we’ll rendezvous next spring at the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Ball. Right?
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7 Comments
1. Nick G.:“Some people spend an entire lifetime and wonder if they ever made a difference in the world. The Marines don’t have that problem.” — Ronald Reagan
Bob Gates is a good man, and a class act. Part of me feels bad for initially opposing his nomination. I had that one wrong, no doubt. I think if you’re a SecDef, it’s a guarantee you leave the post with a far greater appreciation for the heroes in the armed services. If having the honor of running the Pentagon doesn’t humble you, as a civilian, then you shouldn’t be in charge of DOD.
Apr 4, 2009 - 2:47 am 2. kourosh:If these wonderful men and women of marines and other branches of military were not doing their jobs, the appeasing Europe who really hate US, would go to toilet of history in 1943. BTW, after Norouz holiday the first edition of Kayhan the mouthpiece of IRI superman leader came out. In response to European-style appeasement of Obama in offering olive branch to Khomeinsts, the newspaper published the official response of IRI. Referring to Obama, it said’ If a baby animal lives for a while with human, it doesn’t turn into human’. This is in response to Obama offerings negotiation a to Islamists and Khomeinists and ignoring with BBC-Style, the total human rights abuses, human sufferings, and women apartheid of Iranian in the hands of Khomeinists. Calling Obama, animal, is yet another new low for Khomeinists. Here is the link for those of you capable of reading in Farsi:
Apr 4, 2009 - 9:38 am 3. JW:http://www.kayhannews.ir/Detail.aspx?cid=10049
I think more people would support these events if they were widely publicized. Those woho believe in American exceptionalism & are grateful for our fighting men & woman still outweighs the puny, smug elite that permeate the Obama media & Hollywood. Better the condescending media & hollywood types you decry for not attenting the military affairs stay at home. Who wants to be seated next to the useful Hollywood liberal idiots anyway? Just get some better publicity about these events & patriotic Americans will surely buy tables to be seated next to the marines.
Apr 4, 2009 - 10:25 pm 4. Jassem Othman, from the terrible Middle East:It’s a generous and courageous step from this organization. Yes, indeed it’s good to see that popular support.
I think the Americans moral duty to support the soldiers of freedom flag and strongly, because actions speak louder than words.
***A World without tyrannical regimes & without fundamentalist Islam***
Apr 5, 2009 - 4:00 pm 5. kourosh:It was amazing to see how closely IRI checks American media and particularly publications such as Pajamasmedia, ML articles, and comments.
Yesterday afternoon (4/5/09) I posted a comment about what Khomeinists said in response to Obama. They (IR Terrorists) of course were not polite about Obama and called him, baby Wolf, or more generally baby animal that can’t become human no matter how long he lives with them.
The article was mentioned on the first page of Kayhan on line as of yesterday afternoon. However, after the comment was published in Pajamasmedia, withing few hours, the title was taken off the first page of their on line version. However, the direct link to the page is still working. I copied the article and saved it for the record. Here is the link again:
http://www.kayhannews.ir/Detail.aspx?cid=10049
Best Regards;
Apr 6, 2009 - 7:01 am 6. David W. Lincoln:Kourosh
Leave it to Navies to be front and centre so that the world is a better place, as compared to if the greeks were not victorious after Marathon, or the Royal Navy playing
a role in the ending of the slave trade in the British Empire, or victories like Midway.
Then, there are the leathernecks. Men like Zell Miller and Ollie North command my respect.
Long may the light of liberty shine, and you can be sure that Navies will have played a
Apr 6, 2009 - 8:24 am 7. kourosh:constructive, and prominent, role in this being the case.
Please do not publish my previous (today) comment. I checked again, the article is published in Saturday (not on Sunday) publication and is still on their site. Sorry.
Apr 6, 2009 - 8:39 am