I visited the Vietnam War Memorial last week. I always wondered what my thoughts would be when I visited it. I found out.

But first, my Vietnam War background.

My draft number was 88. My only hope to escape the draft was my student deferment.

I would have made a rotten soldier. I still have never fired a gun in my life. I’m not anti gun, they’re just not for me. Kind of like vegetables.  My hands were made to shuffle papers. That’s why I would have made a rotten soldier. At the time the Army needed a lot more people to carry guns than shuffle papers.

Our local Draft Czar, Betty Nelson, wanted me to be a soldier. She had problems with my older brother and it was her plan to take it out on me. I know that because she told me so. She was upfront and honest about it. My brother had legitimate issues with her. If I had to bear that family cross, I was willing to do so.

Anyway, at the first chance possible, Betty revoked my student deferment. Nobody would have had their deferment revoked like I did, but it was. Call it Betty’s revenge. During my appeal process, a loophole was created for a short time that allowed myself and 250,000 others to escape the draft. Betty went ballistic! But, she was powerless to do anything about it.

So, how would this Student Deferment Draft Dodger react when faced with those names?

It wasn’t guilt. I would have been a rotten soldier. They were better off not relying on me to cover their backside.  I wouldn’t have been good at it.

It was respect. I felt overwhelming respect. Considering the treatment of returning soldiers from Vietnam, respect was probably the most appropriate feeling I could have had.

It was a moving experience for me.

While I was on vacation there was a City Council election. Don’t worry, I voted absentee before I left town. A couple of incumbents were defeated. They were both appointed incumbents. No big loss with either of them losing.

What I found interesting was the top voter getter in the at-large competition was an 18 year old high school senior. I saw a couple of yard signs for him. I know he had some buttons made up. But, not much else. Not enough to come out on top of a four way race. He did something else I am not aware of.

What’s the point of this?

Anyone can win an election if they just try.

This kid defeated a Political Science Professor and a Business Executive. He worked his base and got them to the polls. Not sure how he did it, but he did it. I suspect it was an internet based campaign aimed at his contemporaries. His victory margin was very impressive.

With 2/3 of local elections going unopposed, I tire of hearing excuses from citizens who say they want to run for office and never do. They complain about the actions of their elected officials and do nothing about it.

If Romaine can do it … anyone can.

Good luck Kid.

Here’s hoping this is the start of something big.

I just had a great vacation!

It was a 10 day trip to the Shenandoah Valley of western Virginia.

We stayed and used as a base of operations,  the Massanutten Resort.  The greatest place I have EVER stayed to take a walk. Ever.

I did not use a computer for 8 days. I did keep up with important emails (a couple that needed immediate response) using my cell phone browser, but for the most part was computer dis-connected for the first time in years. I didn’t even buy a newspaper for a few days. It was great.

Now, I have to get the pile on my desk down to a manageable level.

Next,  I will get back in touch with political reality.

Then, the  Pontificating will resume …

I can’t wait.

Insecurity. It’s a crippling disease. It keeps citizens from running for office. It keeps citizens from writing opinions to elected officials. It keeps citizens insulated from elected officials thus further empowering those who are not insecure.

The problem is just because an elected representative is not insecure and the citizen is … doesn’t mean the elected official is right and the citizen is wrong on the issues.

One of my boyhood heroes was Mohammad Ali. That was back when everyone knew who was the Heavyweight Champion. Ali was not insecure. But, he had great advice for those that were insecure.

“To be a great champion you must believe you are the best. If you’re not, pretend you are.” 

That’s right … fake it. 

You will be amazed to find out how many others are faking it. They are pretending they are the best when in reality they aren’t even close. 

Your local City Council … are they the best, or are they faking it?

Your State Legislators … are they the best, or are they faking it?

Your Federal Legislators … are they the best or are they faking it?

I rest my case.

Fake it and the world is yours.

Sad but true.

Maybe, just maybe, that could be the root cause of some of our problems?