I only turned on Air America in the car for about five minutes last night, but what I heard was very thought provoking. I missed the names of the speakers, but the people talking were the show's guest, an ex-marine now running for a public office, and a caller who is a former army artillery gunner.
The caller mentioned that he had joined the service as a Republican, and left it as a Democrat. He said something like (not an exact quote) "Most people assume that if you're in the service, you're a conservative Republican, but that's just not true. The service is made up mainly of lower-to-middle-income enlistees, and is the most successful example of racial integration anywhere, so we're exposed to a wide variety of people, cultures, and viewpoints. The government provides all of our needs: equipment, food, healthcare, which is a very socialist concept. And we take care of our own."
(more on the flip)
Some things fell into place in my head.
I'm guilty of thinking that the military in this county is made up of conservative Republicans. On some level I knew this assumption isn't necessarily true, but it's one of those subconscious things that I never really thought about. I think a lot of us are guilty of this assumption, and we
need to disabuse ourselves of this notion. The majority of military enlistees (and their families) come from a demographic that is normally our base. I believe they vote Republican because they feel somehow that it's the right, patriotic thing to do, and we need to disabuse
them of that notion. I think this is an opportunity turn this sentiment into a great Democratic motto:
We Take Care of Our Own
This could be a powerful message. Not only is it using language that resonates with military families, but it has the virtue of being true. It is simple, forceful, patriotic, and embodies a virtue of brotherhood that we all respect and aspire to. It is a positive motto without belittling or alienating anyone. It can be used as an umbrella message to encapsulate important issues that Democrats have been working for and Republicans have been (shamefully) working against.
Who is protecting soldier's pay?
Who is protecting soldier's benefits?
Who is protecting Veteran's health care?
Who is protecting your grandmother's health care?
Who is protecting your father's pension?
Who is looking after your retirement?
Who is working to ensure that you have a job?
Who is watching your back?
We Take Care of Our Own!
For each of these assertions there is a corollary: "Who is cutting soldier's pay", "Who is enabling companies to shed their pension responsibilities", etc.
I had also heard another quote recently (I think from Randi Rhodes), to the effect of "The soldiers in Iraq aren't fighting for George Bush, or for oil, they're fighting for each other". This rings true with me, and brings to mind the true definition of a hero - someone willing to support, fight for, and if necessary die for the people they care about. For no other reason than It's the Right Thing to Do. This is what the Democratic party embodies in my mind, and this is what I want to express to the rest of the country.
We need to take win back the perception of being "morally right", not just "intellectually right", we need to take back our flag from those that use it to hide their true intentions and thus weaken it, and we need to regain the perception of being the party that supports the troops. Because we do we support the troops, and in the important political and monetary fashions, not just as "rooting for our team".
This country is founded on, and has survived on the concept of "the common good": Americans taking care of Americans. We're a great country because we watch out for each other - we "Take Care of Our Own". This concept has gone by the wayside lately, and this administration has turned us around so now it's "everyone for themselves", which is great if you're wealthy, but doesn't work so well if you're just ordinary folk. I'm sick of this. "Everyone for themselves" isn't the concept I pledged my allegiance to all those years, and it's not the motto of any country I want to be a citizen of.
In my mind, I picture a "Made in America" sign, with a rustic, comfortably worn flag, and below it the words "We Take Care of Our Own". Not being a marketer or graphic artist by trade, I would love to see others take this concept and expand on it, and see where it could go.