November 2005

Podcast (11/15/05) - Transcript

The following transcript is for the podcast entitled “True Sacrifice.”

Welcome to the PACT America Podcast.

I'm sitting here looking over some photographs from my recent trip. In October, I went down to Fort Benning, Georgia to see my brother graduate from the Army's Basic Training program.

(pause)

People think or people assume that these young people who join up are filled with bold visions of patriotism or serving the country and advancing democracy. And I guess that's true in part.

But everybody joins for their own reason.

You know, the economy's not doing very good right now. On TV, we hear that things are picking up and everything is doing great, but I believe the numbers in my checkbook more than the numbers on the television screen. People with college degrees and experience are having a hard enough time making it right now.

It's been really tough trying to start out. Sometimes I feel like I'm struggling for survival.

So yeah, it's tempting... They're offering these huge signing bonuses and other incentives. And my brother, well he tells our parents that he joined up because he wanted the college scholarships, but that was just a cover story.

When he and I would talk about this... it seems like the thing that really influenced his decision was when we started hearing stories of these stop loss procedures to keep soldiers in their jobs or inactive reservists or National Guard members being called up. Guys with wives and families sent off to fight in this war. He decided that he wanted to join so that he could take the place of one of those soldiers, so that that soldier could come home and be with his family.

(pause)

And I've got an awful lot of respect for that.

So when I talk about how much work this Social Security project has been or how many sacrifices I've had to make, that's nothing, because nobody's shooting at me. I feel like I'm not even worthy to shine the boots of the guys that are fighting over there.

But at the same time, I am filled with rage because my brother's life is in the hands of these politicians and the decisions that they make. They can't even handle a simple issue like Social Security, and it is a simple issue! Yeah, there's financial details and it's complicated, but it's pretty much straightforward.

So if you can't handle an issue like that, how are you supposed to handle some of these other tough problems?

If you can't even manage to unite your own country, how can you unite a people foreign to you and foreign to your ways?

This is the United States of America--not the Divided States of America, but the United States of America.

You are not the President of just the Republicans; you are also the President of the Democrats. You are not the President just of the rich but also of the poor. You are not just the President of those who agree with you but also the President of those who disagree.

This is not a corporation; it's a country! Our President doesn't... (sigh/groan)

(pause)

I don't know.

You know, Republicans blame Democrats; Democrats argue with Republicans. And it's ridiculous; it's stupid! Because there's not even that much difference between the two of them.

I am not a Republican or a Democrat; I am an American!

This is the United States of America. Yes, we've got problems. Yes, we've got challenges. But if you look back over the history of this great nation, there have always been problems. There have always been challenges, hardships to endure, and obstacles to overcome. So are we just going to quit now?

It seems like people think that the founding fathers just invented some magical formula, and now we're entitled to lasting peace and prosperity. But no, we've got to work at it!

They just laid the foundation. Previous generations have built up the framework, but now we need to finish this house. We need to build this house.

Abraham Lincoln once said that, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

Well he got that from the Bible, which says that, “Every kingdom divided against itself shall be ruined.”

(long pause)

You know, I don't claim to have all the answers.

(pause)

But... I don't know. I'm willing to take a stand, and sometimes that says a lot.

(pause)

And to be honest... I mean, I think the President... I don't know. At least he's trying to do some of this stuff, but... You know, you can be a great leader without being a great man, but not if you're so arrogant and you try to do everything on your own all the time. Don't try to invent some system for Social Security with the stock market. Ask for help with some of this stuff! (sigh)

(pause)

So I don't know... I guess that's just what I wanted to say.

(long pause)

This is the United States of America, and it's time we lived up to our name.

That's keeping it real.