Of course, this also depends on how we define “patriotic service”. I consider something like Peace Corps equally desrving of that qualifying phrase when considered in light of a broad, global political view.
I still see this as essentially a non-issue for the presidential race, and don’t know that a whole lot needs to be made of it.
The Peace Corps, by any definition, is patriotic. It’s people doing good for others, and for their country. No argument there.
I also agree that this is a non-issue for any presidential race, which I pointed out when I said that his son’s service in the military doesn’t qualify him, as the father, for any special consideration for the job of our president. It’s nice, though, to know that there are a few politicians out there who do more than “talk the talk” when it comes to service to one’s country.
One of the current president’s daughters works as a public school teacher in the District of Columbia schools and has written a book entitled *Ana’s Story. *It appears as if she took Michelle Obama’s advice (before she gave it) and became a “public servant.”
I think, though, that the ideal of classic patriotism involves deep feelings for one’s country. That’s not to say that one can’t be disappointed in it, for surely we’ve all been hurt in the past. But that’s also to say that one would be willing to serve it to the last full measure, if that were called for. That’s what many (though not all, of course) of us who have served, or are still serving, in the military perceive to be the difference in what Senator Obama might say is patriotism and what we would say is patriotism.
This is why the McCain story, to many of us, is so compelling. He has plenty of warts, no doubt about that, but personal courage, and an obviously close family, go a long way towards easing any trepidation that some of us might feel when it comes time to step into the voting booth this coming November.
T.
