"A microcosm of America at its best"

As with the Marines, Baby's and Aslan's focus "isn't on their weapons and tactics, but on leadership."

"We often talk about how our policies are radicalizing young men in the Middle East to become our enemies, but rarely do we talk about how their actions are radicalizing us," writes Matt Pottinger -- until recently a Wall Street Journal correspondent in China -- explaining why he gave up journalism to join the Marines:

A year ago, I was at my sister's house using her husband's laptop when I came across a video of an American in Iraq being beheaded by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The details are beyond description here; let's just say it was obscene. At first I admit I felt a touch of the terror they wanted me to feel, but then I felt the anger they didn't . . . In a brief moment of revulsion, sitting there in that living room, I became their blowback.

He talks about "the institutions that distinguish the US: the separation of powers, a free press, the right to vote, and a culture that values civic duty --  and describes the effect of a chance encounter with a Marine Corps colonel just back from Iraq:

But what got to me most was his description of how the Marines behaved and how they looked after each other in a hostile world. That struck me as a metaphor for how America should be in the world at large, and it also appealed to me on a personal level.

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 -- even Harry Truman saw them as nothing more than the "Navy's police force" -- and they have the strength of their traditions. Their future, like the country's, is worth fighting for. I hope to be part of the effort.

Give 'em hell, Matt.

Comments

[Michael]

My father was a US Marine for 23 years active duty and another 7 in the Reserves. After retirment, he was a civic, religious, and business leader in the community and state for many years. He died a very accomplished man. But the accomplishment he was most proud of, was that he was United States Marine.

God bless this young man as he seeks to fulfill his own civic duty, and to do it with the best. Semper Fi - Always Faithful. Is there a better slogan anywhere?

[Teresa]

While I happen to be partial to the Army... may I say GO MATT!!! No matter what branch of the service you look at, you find outstanding men and women like Matt, they are smart and dedicated. We are certainly blessed to have them defending us.

[Sissy Willis]

None better, Michael. Thank you for your wonderful comments honoring your father.

Teresa: I was thinking of you and your son when I was writing this, thinking about the healthy competition among the branches of the service.

I salute all of them and their home-fire-burning families, but especially you and yours, first among equals in my military-challenged world. I am in total awe.

[goomp]

A truly inspiring story, of which all Amercans should be proud. The liberals with their distorted view of what the world is and their disdain for this nation -- the finest and most outgoing of any that ever existed -- should crawl away in shame.

[Tara]

Matt Pottinger gives me great hope for the future of America.

I agree with goomp,there are many people living a bountiful and secure life in this country that should crawl away in shame.Many of them just happen to be liberals.Funny,that.

I am always awed by the incredible men and women we turn out in this country that put it all on the line so that this nation and its people can continue to live in freedom.

[Laura Lee Donoho]

I stained my finger purple today before I went to school to honor the Iraqi people but when the students asked me why my finger was purple I didn't answer them. I just told them I stuck it in purple ink. Maybe when they go home they will see it on the news. For, you see, I am not allowed to speak about politics at school. I got in trouble a few months ago when I explained (in a very vague way) about war after a student asked me why President Bush kills Iraqis. Thank God we have such young men willing to serve our country who have much more guts than I do.