"By the content of their character"

Tuck stokes the first home fire of the season in our Franklin stove upstairs in the living room last evening after Susie's awesome "That's Italian" Movable Feast belated birthday party (see pics below). All combustibles -- from crumbled and rolled Chelsea Records though kindling bits left over from shop projects to ailanthus and black cherry logs -- were off the estate. Waste not, want not.

"My son's tour of duty has been extended for six months. I beg you not to turn your back on him and his fellow soldiers," writes the proprietor of Blue Crab Boulevard [via  Fausta's Blog]  in a truly inspiring and heartbreaking -- no, Hillary, not in your ball-busting, condescending "bring-the-troops-home" sense of heartbreaking -- prayer to keep the home fires burning:

I just got off the phone with my son. One of the wonders of the modern world is that I can actually talk with my boy even though he is so far away serving his country . . .

One of the hardest things for me this past year has been watching the erosion of support for the men and women serving in this war. I remember watching almost the same scenes play out during the Vietnam war. Support flagging at home leading to morale problems, leading to more erosion at home, and on and on in a spiral. The media not helping then or now. And I know it troubles my son and his fellow soldiers. Because they are keeping the faith for those back home . . .

But the men and women serving in this war, voluntarily, continue to keep the faith. They continue to do what is asked of them. They carry out their mission. Even in the face of flagging public support, even when politicians are busy trying to use them as political weapons, they carry on. They have faith in us.

Is it too much to ask that we also have faith in them?

Movable Feast Part 1. Shrimp and something called Portabella Bites with martinis set the scene. While the crustaceans drained in a colander in the sink, Baby set up shrimp watch, and when doibs were served, Tiny brought up the rear.

As Matt Pottinger, a Wall Street Journal correspondent in China who gave up journalism to join the Marines explained a couple of years back:

In a way, I see the Marines as a microcosm of America at its best. Their focus isn't on weapons and tactics, but on leadership. That's the whole point of the Marines. They care about each other in good times and bad, they've always had to fight for their existence.

Movable Feast Part II. Salads with Good Seasons Italian, Mama Suzi's tomato sauce with hamburger on a bed of "bidsketti," Pillsbury Italian Garlic Loaf and an "adequate little" chianti -- DaVinci 2005 -- on a table set with a wooden fruit bowl, green and ivory candles and checkered green tablecloth set the scene for the "little Italian place around the corner" ambiance that brought Susie's familiar Port Town table into our own home for a memorable meal. Blondie Delight Molten Cake and giant peanut butter cup with chocolate sauce for dessert. Later on, after the game -- Go, Pats! -- we dipped into giant bowlsful of Brigham's peppermintstick ice cream with Hershey's hot fudge sauce.

But don't try telling Hillary. She knows better than we do what's best for us and will "take things away from you on behalf of the common good." The concept of voluntary military service as a life choice taken by the most honorable and brave among us is beyond her ken. To pretend one respects our military men and women while calling for them to come home before carrying out their mission is akin -- in a laughable sense -- to saying one respects cut-and-run legislators while calling for them to go back to their home states before carrying out their own not necessarily honorable mission. Don't we wish.

 

Comments

[Laura Lee Donoho]

Yum. What a cozy room with Franklin Stove. My husband was checking them out on the internet just last night. We have ice but no snow delaying our daughters return to lawschool today. I must get over to Blue Crab Boulevard to let him know of my support. So far, my son's unit hasn't been notified of any extension.

[goomp]

A birthday party worth waiting thirty days to enjoy. The marines and other volunteers allow us to keep the Home Fires Burning.

[Teresa]

Sounds like it was a yummy day! The stove sounds nice and toasty about now.

I'd comment on Hillary... but she's beyond any comment I could make. All you have to do is read Dereliction of Duty to find out just how bad.

[Gaius]

Thank you.

[Tara]

Blondie Delight Molten Cake and giant peanut butter cup with chocolate sauce for dessert. Later on, after the game -- Go, Pats! -- we dipped into giant bowlsful of Brigham's peppermintstick ice cream with Hershey's hot fudge sauce.

I gained 5 pounds just from reading that.

[Ghost Dansing]

"To pretend one respects our military men and women while calling for them to come home before carrying out their mission is akin -- in a laughable sense -- to saying one respects cut-and-run legislators while calling for them to go back to their home states before carrying out their own not necessarily honorable mission."

And their mission would be what, precisely?

To claim support for military while electing political leadership of dubious ideology and demonstrable incompetence is nothing to brag about.

The American People are in charge, and responsible... not the petty potentates elected by the Republican Party. It is our responsibility to protect the troops by ensuring the leadership placed in charge is worthy of their sacrifice.

It is obvious that the current leadership is not.

[Teresa]

Ghost Dansing said...

"It is our responsibility to protect the troops by ensuring the leadership placed in charge is worthy of their sacrifice."

No! Troops do not go to war in order to protect the "leaders" of our country. They go to war to protect our entire country and our way of life. Period.

If you haven't figured out why we're fighting by now - there is no help for you. Apparently you're okay with Muslim control of the world. The rest of us are not.

[LanceThruster]

Hillary's basically neo-con light. My friend's son Adam was with 1/5 Marines for the fall of Baghdad. They were both of the mind that the proper course of action after "Mission Accomplished" was to come home and let the Iraqis work out the details.

Shrub needed to keep his hands on the spigot (can anyone tell me if they've metered the wells yet?) because there is big off the books money still to be made at only the cost of additional US blood that he could be pretty sure would not be his.

Cheney is also feasting at that trough as well, charging top dollar for fecal contaminated water for troops. Heckuva job KBR! (the whistleblower who could not handle the guilt of doing this to troops is being hounded btw).

Last refuge of scoundrels....

[Gayle Miller]

The opinions of anyone who refers to President Bush in such a dismissive and derogatory manner has nothing useful or worthwhile to say.

[LanceThruster]

How convenient Gayle. Easier than addressing any actual points. But I honestly can't remember anything you've said that seemed useful or worthwhile. Sorry.
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