Stolen from ashatay But it needs to be read.
In 1961, a young African-American man, after hearing
President John F. Kennedy's challenge to, 'Ask not
what your country can do for you, but what you can
do for your country,' gave up his student deferment,
left college in Virginia and voluntarily joined the
Marines.
In 1963, this man, having completed his two years of
service in the Marines, volunteered again to become
a Navy corpsman. (They provide medical assistance
to
the Marines as well as to Navy personnel.)
The man did so well in corpsman school that he was
the valedictorian and became a cardiopulmonary
technician. Not surprisingly, he was assigned to the
Navy's premier medical facility, Bethesda Naval
Hospital, as a member of the commander in chief's
medical team, and helped care for President Lyndon
B. Johnson after his 1966 surgery.
For his service on the team, which he left in 1967,
the White House awarded him three letters of
commendation.
What is even more remarkable is that this man
entered the Marines and Navy not many years after
the two branches began to become integrated.
While this young man was serving six years on active
duty, Vice President Dick Cheney, who was born the
same year as the Marine/ sailor,
received five deferments, four for being an undergraduate and
graduate student and one for being a prospective
father.
Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, both
five years younger than the African-American youth,
used their student deferments to stay in college
until 1968. Both then avoided going on active duty
through family connections.
Who is the real patriot? The young man who
interrupted his studies to serve his country for six
years or our three political leaders who beat the
system? Are the patriots the people who actually
sacrifice something or those who merely talk about
their love of the country?
After leaving the service of his country, the young
African-American finished his final year of college,
entered the seminary, was ordained as a minister,
and eventually became pastor of a large church in
one of America's biggest cities.
This man is Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the retiring
pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ.
President John F. Kennedy's challenge to, 'Ask not
what your country can do for you, but what you can
do for your country,' gave up his student deferment,
left college in Virginia and voluntarily joined the
Marines.
In 1963, this man, having completed his two years of
service in the Marines, volunteered again to become
a Navy corpsman. (They provide medical assistance
to
the Marines as well as to Navy personnel.)
The man did so well in corpsman school that he was
the valedictorian and became a cardiopulmonary
technician. Not surprisingly, he was assigned to the
Navy's premier medical facility, Bethesda Naval
Hospital, as a member of the commander in chief's
medical team, and helped care for President Lyndon
B. Johnson after his 1966 surgery.
For his service on the team, which he left in 1967,
the White House awarded him three letters of
commendation.
What is even more remarkable is that this man
entered the Marines and Navy not many years after
the two branches began to become integrated.
While this young man was serving six years on active
duty, Vice President Dick Cheney, who was born the
same year as the Marine/ sailor,
received five deferments, four for being an undergraduate and
graduate student and one for being a prospective
father.
Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, both
five years younger than the African-American youth,
used their student deferments to stay in college
until 1968. Both then avoided going on active duty
through family connections.
Who is the real patriot? The young man who
interrupted his studies to serve his country for six
years or our three political leaders who beat the
system? Are the patriots the people who actually
sacrifice something or those who merely talk about
their love of the country?
After leaving the service of his country, the young
African-American finished his final year of college,
entered the seminary, was ordained as a minister,
and eventually became pastor of a large church in
one of America's biggest cities.
This man is Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the retiring
pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ.