They’re no patriots

I read today in the Spokesman-Review that Vice President Mike Pence was coming to Spokane next month to support Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers’ bid for an eighth term in the U.S. Congress. There was a picture in the article, showing Cathy walking down the airplane ladder with Vice President Dick Cheney, on April 17, 2006, at Fairchild Air Force Base. Vice President Cheney, during the Vietnam War, was able to go to college, based upon five deferments, to protect him from military service. I am not sure why Cathy would associate with such a deliberate draft dodger, however, her father had that experience. It doesn’t seem that patriotic to me, when your country needs you, you decide to flee the area for another country, with your family.

As an honorably discharged U.S. Navy veteran (1972-1979), I guess you could say that it is a mystery to me why men who didn’t serve continue to pretend that they are so patriotic, like Vice President Dick Cheney and Mike Pence, and due to their status and political influence were able to duck military service. Why can’t they just be honest with themselves and admit that they didn’t have what it took to serve their country with selfless sacrifice, like U.S. Sen. John McCain did, a U.S. Navy hero of mine, who had what it took to represent his country and personify the meaning of what patriotism really means.

James Perkins

Colville