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| Monday, Feb 3, 2003 |
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Posted on February 02, 2003 Reserves commitment As a 17-year veteran of the S.C. National Guard, I was thunderstruck and disappointed by the Herald-Journal's recent editorial ("Sanford should rethink his commitment to military service," Friday's edition). The very headline itself is an insult to every man or woman who has ever worn a uniform. Although new to the service, Gov. Sanford rightly recognizes that a military commitment is the highest calling an American can answer. He probably could have gotten away with not going if called, but he took the tough and honorable path. He is a man of character and integrity, and his action shows it. The editorial reflects a stark disconnect between the media elite in this country and average Americans. It suggests that those men and women serving as "entry-level health services administrators" are somehow not as important as being governor. Tell that to the spouses and children of those "administrators" who have kissed their loved ones goodbye and watched them fly across the world to dangerous places for our nation's security. Anyone who has ever served in the military will tell you that every job is important to the overall success of the mission. No soldier, sailor, airman, Marine or Coast Guardsman is useless or irrelevant. I greatly admire Gov. Sanford for boldly and unapologetically stating that he will do what thousands of other Guardsmen and Reservists will do if called: He will serve. I'm a state senator, and I will gladly serve if called. Others in the General Assembly who are guardsmen and reserv-ists are ready to serve as well. And you know what? The state government will get along just fine without us until we get back. We should never be so arrogant to think that any one person -- even a governor -- is indispensable. |
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