Two years ago, in the weeks leading up to the historic 2008 election, I was sitting on a small forward operating base in Afghanistan.
Two years ago, in the weeks leading up to the historic 2008 election, I was sitting on a small forward operating base in Afghanistan. Only in America can a veteran return, stand up and say, "I'm going to change my country for the better," and at the age of 28 win his party's nomination to potentially serve in our highest legislative body. Our American Dream -- Hard Work, Honest Living, Placing Service to One's Country Above One's Self -- is very much still alive. Take pride in this -- I know I do.
I thought I'd share a entry from the journal I kept throughout the war:
26 SEP 2008: I got my absentee ballot from Virginia today. Even on the other side of the planet, I, a citizen of these United States, am still afforded the opportunity to vote. Democracy Rocks! As cliché as this sounds, that ballot was the ultimate example of why I wear the uniform – so that our Constitution and its inherently fragile notion that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from this Earth. I proudly cast my vote for Barack Obama. I’m guessing I’m one of a few (if not the only) people who can say they voted for him from Ghazni, Afghanistan – a fact I plan to share should I ever have the honor of meeting him. I made 1LT Porte (a fellow officer and a devout Republican) sign as my witness.
It's moments like the one I wrote about that make me proud to be an American. No matter where I go on election day, as a citizen, I am able to vote for the solution. This year, I get to be a part of the solution.