The Death of a Patriot

As I groggily crawled from bed, springing Rolan from his crib, and took up camp in the living room, I noticed Bobby was the television. I've been meaning to watch the 2006 historical film about the last day of Bobby Kennedy's life and those who were there at the Ambassador Hotel at that terrible intersection of American history. Just before the movie was released two years ago, I caught an interview with Emilio Estevez, who wrote, directed and played in it. As he spoke not just of his passion for this project, but also the place deep within him that it rooted from, I was seeded with more desire than I already would've been to see it. Bobby Kennedy was murdered 12 years before I was born, but for reasons I may never understand, I've always felt drawn to him and his brother.
So when I saw the movie had just started and then I realized that this is the Fourth of July, I thought it would be a great way to celebrate the freedom of our nation.
Bobby was the truest of patriots and, in one of the most tumultuous times in our country's span, labored to unite a people deeply divided. Even though his big brother Jack's life had violently been snuffed out prematurely in a motorcade, Bobby resisted the constant concerns of his advisers because he longed to be close to the people. Those close to him remember that Bobby often worried out loud that there would be a day that when someone referenced the Kennedy assassination, they would have to specify which one. But, in spite of that knowledge that he was exposing himself to a generous lot of danger, he fought forward for the welfare of our nation. Sadly, that grim prediction came true, not five years after his brother's death.
If Bobby hadn't been murdered, whether or not he would have won in the White House in 1968, our country's history would have been different. As I watched Bobby this morning, that thought really resonated with me. With a famous RFK speech about unity and love and resisting violence played over still images of the moments after his shooting, the solid fact that this ended not just his life, but his movement waved over me. And then I realized that six months after Bobby died, Richard Nixon was elected to the United States Presidency.
Nixon, as it is, was a total disaster. The only reason we have a FISA court in the first place was because Nixon had to be put in check. He illegally used his influenced AND the long arm of the US government to destroy those unlucky people on his enemies list. Now, you might think those he scribbled down on old paper and then carried around in his lapel pocket were some liberal political masterminds or adversaries in the Congress who blocked his legislation. Well, you would be wrong? Who was on Nixon's enemies list, you ask? Let me tell you, Tricky Dick wasn't scared to hold ridicules grudges. He put folks like the actor Paul Newman. Paul, you see, had been in one of George McGovern's political ads and, when asked during polling, voters sited it as effective. Nixon knew Paul would definitely campaign for Ed Muskie in 1972, so he sicked the IRS and other government agencies on him. He did this with the others on the list as well. He hoped that, even with unfounded charges and claims, they would have to pay frivolous attorney's fees to defend themselves, thus tying up extra funds for political donations, and their reputations would be so damaged by the fraudulent allegations that the American public would see them as a eyesore on their perfect American dream.
Now, Nixon was a crazy asshole, as crazy as they make 'em, but I'm sure he got some help cooking up this insane theories and notions. I mean, it's not like he presided over a calm time. Not only was Vietnam still in full swing, but our relations with Russia were souring, the oil fallout from OPEC's reaction to the Yom Kippur War was sending our economy into a oil-starved tailspin (sound familiar?) and omens of our future conflicts within the Middle East were appearing. He helped in overthrowing the government of Chile. He had plenty of shit to do, but he was sitting around comprising an enemies list of entertainers and reporters. His vice president Spiro Agnew had to resign because of allegations of bribery, tax evasion and money laundering. And who could forget Watergate? I mean, Lynyrd Sknyrd did sing in that song that it didn't bother them, but it certainly seemed to rile up a whole lot of folks aside from them.
The reason I bring this up is because so few people realize how Nixon's administration, more than any other including Reagan or Bush I, influenced the current one. After all, Dick Cheney and Don Rumsfield both served as Nixon's Chief-of-Staff. They already knew how to stonewall Congress on wide-spread wiretapping because they'd help Dick do it when he was all paranoid about pot-smoking hippies.
There's no way of knowing if Bobby hadn't been shot by Sirhan Sirhan, if he would have won the election in 1968. His big brother Jack had already kicked Nixon's ass when they went toe to toe in the presidential election of 1960 and I fully believe it would have been a repeat had Bobby been able to get his hands on him. We wouldn't have spent 7 more years in Vietnam. I know we quit actually drafting troops in 1972, but we didn't pull out until 1975. Because of Bobby's positive influence with minorities, I think we would have had a more productive healing period in the 1970s. The country wouldn't have to endure the global embarrassment that was Watergate.
And, there is a good chance that two future politicians, Dick Cheney and Don Rumsfield wouldn't have been stream-lined to the top. They are both dangerously ambitious men, so most assuredly they would've mucked up plenty without Nixon's pump to the top, but I don't think they would have been as powerful.
Many tragedies spawned from Bobby's untimely death, but I think most thought they were buried along with him back in the 60s. That's just not the case. We would live in a different country and a different world had Bobby not died when he did. Just look to Iraq to see the greater fallout. Rumsfield, a draft dodger, and Cheney, or "Five Deferment Dick," as I like to call him, didn't have to go to Vietnam, but they certainly didn't mind sending young kids into Iraq. Even though several Pentagon officials advised against it, they sent them without a plan. They sent them without enough money because they thought the public's support would be soured if they knew they gave the estimate defense experts expected. And now no one knows what to do because all the answers seem bad.
I hope you are all having a great Fourth of July. If you see a veteran, thank him or her for their service. After all, they and the Constitution they swear to defend is what gives me the freedom to pen my thoughts on Robert Francis Kennedy. On this holiday of our independence, I want to leave you with one of his quotes. It is one of my favorites.

“Each time a man stands for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

Oh, and for God's sake, don't pop the Black Cats.

It's Never to Late to Do the Right Thing

It's never too late to do the right thing -- Jeff Key

Flipping through the channels today, the title of one particular program leaped out of me. Semper Fi. The United States Marine Corp motto, it is short of Semper Fideleous, always faithful. I know this because I'm the granddaughter of a Marine, a man who dedicated nearly 30 years of his life to his beloved corp. For that reason, I'm always interested in learning new things about this branch of the military.
So, I scrolled to the show and pressed the information button. And I was instantly drawn in even more. This is the first-hand, true life account of not just a Marine who was deployed to Iraq with the first waves after the invasion, but of a Marine who was also a homosexual.
Jeff Key served the Marine Corp with great honor. This film is based on the one-man play he wrote about his experience. Although much of the information is anchored around balancing his sexuality with his service, he also focuses on a filthy war's impact on innocent civilians, especially children. As a mother, those thoughts run through my mind often.
The film is poignant and breath-taking. It intertwines with scenes from Jeff's play, news footage from that time and the accounts and recollections of Jeff's family, friends and, most importantly, the men who served with him. Each of his fellow soldier spoke with the highest regard for Jeff, even though most of them knew of his sexuality. As he was older than most of them, old enough to be most of their parents, he served as a mentor de facto for the group. At one point in the film, one of his fellow soldiers says that in the war zone, one's race, religion or sexual orientation did not matter. The fact that he knew Jeff Key would take a bullet to save his life did.
Jeff Key is an American hero. He enlisted in the military for the right reason, patriotism alone. Not that the GI Bill isn't a totally legitimate motivation, but he was already educated and established when he joined up. While Jeff held a great compassion for the Iraqi general populace, he was a fierce a soldier as any. But then again, Alexander the Great and the Spartans are still the greatest war machines this world has ever experienced and they practiced wide-spread homosexuality.
I could write all day long about this film and what I took from it. With the nation's birthday approaching, I suggest this viewing to honor service people past and present.

I made the difficult decision to exit the military. I could no longer be a part of a war that I knew to be illegal under the Geneva Conventions and wholly immoral. It was the most difficult decision of my life. I could not in good conscience apply for discharge as a contentious objector. To be a contentious objector, one has to believe that it is against his religious or spiritual convictions to take up arms against another human. I had been, up to the time of my return, and still was willing to kill to defend defenseless people, protect my nation and preserve the Constitution of the United States. Although it has taken me years to admit it, I probably would have relished taking the life of a tyrant who out of cruelty or greed had caused innocent people to suffer -- Jeff Key

Jeff has also founded an organization, www.mehadifoundation.org, to help alleviate the suffering of our troops who are returning home locked in the chains of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, as well as that of the Iraqis who have no real home to return to. The non-profit organization is named after a little boy Jeff met in a small, dusty town in Southern Iraq who extended kindness to him and the other American troops as they arrived. Go read about Jeff's mission. Better yet, donate. I mean, really, what sacrifices are you making for the war outside of that magnetic ribbon on your SUV. It's not like the magnetic ribbon manufacturers are donating their profits for medical care for our troops, but Jeff is. Like he said, it's never too late to do the right thing.

Black Cat Down

On Monday as I drove into Elk City, the back way as always, an advertisement of Black Cats caught my eye. This is the first one I've seen this year. Son of a bitch, it's that time again, ALREADY, son of a bitch! Now, don't get me wrong, I like the Fourth of July for many reasons. First and most important, there's the beer. You can drink as much beer as you want on the Fourth of July and not a soul will even bat an eye at you. You can pass out at 11 am and all your friends will hail you the Supreme Patriot in the group. I love it ! Now, is this wise, in light of all the semi-explosives other drunken patriots will be blasting off at random, often without warning or reason? I doubt it. Is it awesome? You betcha it is. So, just so you don't completely skip over this, I do like most fireworks.
Okay, reason number two, the Fourth of July is my mom's birthday, which has always made it an extra special holiday to me. Plus, that only solidifies reason number one. Mom's down, for shiz!
And reason number three, the Fourth of July is a day set aside solely to recognize the freedoms insured to us through the United States Constitution and the men and women who've labored selflessly for that. I'm the granddaughter of a veteran, a man who served nearly 30 years in the United States Marine Corps, including two tour in one of the most tumultuous conflict in our country's history and retiring as a Lt. Colonel. Semper Fi, word! I'm also the granddaughter of farmers and ranchers, those who work endlessly often for little profit to maintain our domestic food source. If you know anything about the vitality of countries, you know that resources are a big damn part of that. So, yeah, I love observing the luck I had in the location of my birth.
With that said, what the m-f does Black Cats have with freedom? Holy shit, are we trying to send some poor veteran who already has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder into a full-own flashback? I mean, is that seriously how we want to thank the men and women who put their lives on the line for the longevity of our nation.
"Yeah, come on out, guys. We are gonna have a day just for YOU and, of course, Uncle Sam. Grab a beer, there's gonna be parade and then watermelon. OH, and I think Aunt Sue is making that homemade banana ice cream love so much. Just take a seat in the lawn chair, relax and let us have an extravaganza in your honor!"
And just as the poor vet starts to relax, cue the 11-year-old punk to whip out a roll of Black Cats half the link of a driveway. I've never been in a combat zone, but I'm shaking and my nerves are shot. I feel like I've been put through a 30-hour "interrogation" in the Eastern Bloc. You can definitely see how this would send some old warrior back to Korea, Vietnam, Iraq or whatever other hell hole they were sent for us.
So this summer when you rush out to the firework stand, loading up on the legalized explosion you are about to ignite, freakin' pass on the Black Cats. I know many veterans and I can tell you that forcing them to relive the Tet Offensive is no way to celebrate their service and our nation.