Extended and poignant excerpts from Where Is The Shame? (New York Times): “In what is surely the most important election of the last half-century, we seem trapped in the politics of the madhouse. What is incredible is that these attacks on men who served not just honorably, but heroically, are coming from a hawkish party that is controlled by an astonishing number of men who sprinted as far from the front lines as they could when they were of fighting age and their country was at war.
…
“I would like to see at least some of these men, in keeping with their positions as leaders of a great nation, stand up and say it is wrong – just wrong – to try and reap a cheap political gain by defacing the sacrifices of individuals like John Kerry, John McCain and Max Cleland, who put themselves in mortal danger in the service of their country.
“It’s one thing to decline to serve. It’s quite another to throw mud at those who did serve – or to remain silent as allies hurl the mud.
“I’ve interviewed several soldiers and marines who have suffered grave wounds in Iraq, including the loss of limbs. A permanent place of honor should be reserved for them in the pantheon of American heroes. The idea that someone some years from now may trash their service for political gain is beyond disgusting.”
In other news, praise from Alan for my willingness to listen to his point of view on the world. To me, a given. I give him props for his willingness to listen to me, too. What angers me is people who just refuse to listen to other points of view and cut each other off without exploring views that may be different than their own. (Everyone, regardless of political views, should really see Fahrenheit 9/11.) From the mouth of F. Scott Fitzgerald (and included on my quotes page): “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.”
It’s been a busy social week and will continue to be so. Wednesday morning I joined David and Mary and their kids for a refreshing breakfast at the track while watching the horses warm up for the day’s races. Last night Nat and Heather came over for some BBQ chicken and salmon dinner. And tomorrow Alex, Catty, and Justin join us for Travers weekend at the “most idyllic track in the United States,” dinner fun, and perhaps even some bocce ball.
