by Michael T. Heath

Created on: July 11, 2011

An Earned Respect

The act of writing often takes you places the writer doesn't tread very often. They'll pick up an interesting fact about poodles and get right to work elucidating about the famous fighting poodles of the past, or some such thing. Those versed on a subject can spot such tepidly-earned knowledge a mile away and rightfully steer around the absurd snowman-in-the-desert like it contained an IED.

Such are my attempts to enter the field of politics as commentator and observer. The topics consist of a smorgasbord waiting to be culled, inviting my type to jump in with an assay on critical issues. Take patriotism, for example.

In an excellent article several months ago (Time 5/9/11), former President H.W. Bush responded to ten questions put to him by a reporter. This Bush has kept busy in retirement by rallying support (and big dollars) for hurricane relief efforts after Katrina and Ike together with Bill Clinton. "The Odd Couple", as former First Lady Barbara Bush once called them, is a fine example of the right way of demonstrating patriotism in our daily lives. These two former opponents work side-by-side as if they'd been lifetime buddies instead of generals of huge campaigns across from one another. Bush also endeared himself in this article by speaking to the value of humility upon leaving the top job. Responding to a question of what advice he gave his son after he left the White House, George the elder said "Make the coffee in the morning and don't forget it's your job to take the garbage out now.”

 Could the ordinary among us rise to such heights of power and yet set down soft as a feather soon afterwards? In many a country the godfathers of politics retire with stolen wealth and armed guards to keep it. Our boys go to benefit dinners and set a prime example for the rest of us.

 Which drags this discussion back around to what exactly being patriotic means and how the least among us can join the greatest who are present to cheer on the noble ideals this country strives for every once in a while. By cherry-picking the best minds, resources, infrastructure and even our very government (unfairly traded as it was from Native Americans), we Americans sit in the best seats in history whether we recognize them as such or not. So many false-faced politicos have burned us over the hundreds of years this nation has been around that we are a touch wary in our hero worship. Not a bad thing, in my book. Better to be cautious, committing to a soul when he or she has earned your respect in a fair and outright manner. When America shines in some noble moment – saving the world again – I feel patriotic.

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