The ultra-conservatives from the Republicans’ Tea Party wing. The ultra-liberals from the Democrats’ Occupy (Name Your City) movement. The (shamefully small number of) dedicated citizens who got off their butts and did their duty at the polls yesterday.
Those groups, and every other American citizen who has ever taken to the streets to verbally bash his government, called his congressman to offer a piece of his mind, or has ever voted for or against elected officials/bozos thanks to the secret ballot, owe a humongous debt of gratitude to the very men and women of all ages and generations whose courage makes our free speech so precious.
They’re our military veterans. They are the reason we move about freely on our public streets, criticize the heck out of our government and are able to pursue happiness in what remains the freest land in the world.
We pay tribute to our heroes, the veterans, with a special section in this week’s Northeast Times.
If you want to perform a random act of kindness, go pay a visit to the retired soldiers at the veterans home near Southampton and the Boulevard in the Far Northeast. Go alone. Go with your loved ones. Go with your whole class if you’re a schoolteacher. Let the vets know you appreciate what they’ve done for you. It’s sure to make their day.
Like our beloved police officers and firefighters, these gentle human beings need to know you respect them, that you owe them your life, your security.
Tell them you care. It’s guaranteed to make you feel good about yourself. Even more important, it’ll make our heroes feel great. ••
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