Earn it.

[Nordmadr]

The last couple of days have been quite the whirlwind. As many others have indicated, I feel a level of hope and optimism that has long been absent from my emotions.

I've written letters. I've attended protests. I've yelled, screamed, argued, and even cried. I'm a veteran and I have been spit at while driving in my car because someone didn't like my bumper stickers. I've worked hard and had to endure constant comparisons of my political affiliation with terrorists. I'm far from the only one, and I have endured far less than many others. Our military personnel in Iraq right now deserve better. Our Nation deserves better and so does the rest of the world. You could almost feel the wind from the collective sigh of relief that blew in from all of our borders. One needs only to check international headlines to know the truth in that. Suddenly, the world has hope for the return of the America with sanity and reason. The America with sound leadership.

As I type this I am reminded of the movie scene from "Saving Private Ryan" where Captain Miller, having endured Hell, has been mortally wounded. He has given everything he has to give. He has given all. Captain Miller leans into Private Ryan, thinking surely of all the loss, the lives, the pain, the wife he will not return to, and whispers simply "Earn this...earn it".

That is my message to our newly empowered leaders. Earn it.

Olafr

[Nordmadr]

1. Dropped like a stone. Self-kick. N/T