As I sit down to write this article, a couple of events have occurred recently that have given me pause. Pause to really think about what is happening in our country, and the phrase “Some Give All and Some Just Take” comes to mind.
We recently observed the 14th anniversary of 9/11, a day that will forever be one of darkest days in the history of this country. It’s time to reflect on those who lost their life that day, and those who have since made the many sacrifices as a direct result of that day.
Just the day before, a tragedy occurred at Camp Pendleton in California when a transport truck overturned and 18 Marines were injured, some critical, and one lost his life. This hit home for me as I waited for a call from my son who is a Marine based at Camp Pendleton and was returning from a training exercise on a transport truck at about the same time. I cannot imagine the grief the parents are feeling right now.
In recent weeks, we have seen some of our country’s police officers being gunned down by cowardly individuals while they are doing their duty protecting the citizens of their communities. The rationale for this simply cannot be explained. You see “Some Give All” and “Some Just Take.”
These events make me think about those who make sacrifices for our government and its citizens while others just sit on the sidelines with the expectation the government will continue to provide for them. I’m not talking about the elderly, disabled or children, but those that choose to not engage in some productive behavior and maintain an attitude they are owed something. They would rather lash out at those who are proudly serving our country.
A few months ago, it came to my attention that members of our military are required to pay for their first set of uniforms. These are people who have volunteered their service and are willing to risk their lives, and we make them pay for their initial set of uniforms.
In this country, over 50 percent of our citizens are receiving some form of social welfare. Health care, food stamps, public housing, utilities, education — the list goes on. We can’t afford uniforms for our military, but we can offer free cell phones with unlimited calling and text. “Some Give All” and “Some Just Take.”
It is time for this country to get our priorities focused back on those who make daily sacrifices. It’s time to teach the next generation of children about having a work ethic and not how to work the system looking for a handout.
Politicians need to represent and stand up for those who are truly making this country great. Just maybe those that are physically and mentally able to make a contribution to society should be required to and not be a life long taker. Just maybe then we could afford to pay for those uniforms.