Good Times

The National Security Policy is detailed annually in an open source document. Although it is 60+ pages, the first two priorities can be summed up pretty easily: 1. Protect and defend the United States of America, her citizens, and their way of life; 2. Protect, defend, and provide for the commerce and trade, industry and manufacturing, and importing and exporting that provide for both the livelihood of her inhabitants and maintain the strength of the nation in international terms. I suppose this could be simplified even further to something like, “Maintain a representative democracy that continues to provide the conditions in which the American Dream is still attainable to those willing to accept responsibility for the freedoms they enjoy.” Is the military engaged in the Global War on Terror for economic reasons, over the oil, or out of the necessity of keeping the sea lanes open? Those are rhetorical questions, given priority #2 in the National Security Policy. Is the military engaged because the security of the United States, the safety of her citizens, and their way of lives are directly threatened by terrorists? A resounding “Yes,” given priority #1 in the National Security Policy.

So how do YOU back there in the States support someone like me? Easy. Take your family to Yosemite for a week or two, climb Half Dome for the first time. Visit Yellowstone, the Gran Titons, and traverse the fields of South Dakota and Iowa. Go waterskiing on a lake at a state park, or go canoeing on the Boundary Waters of Minnesota. Go white water rafting down a river in Tennessee, see the Grand Canyon, or hit the beach during Spring Break. Maybe go on a road trip and see a bunch of the country that you’ve never seen before. Then take a few moments to sit down and write a letter, type an email, or send a Motomail to a serviceman or woman and tell them of the great time you had, what you did, the people you connected with, and how meaningful it was. Next time you see someone in uniform, thank them for their service. The best way to thank those who serve is to fully appreciate the benefits their service provides. Let the good times roll.

Semper Fi, Jon G.