Bart’s Redemption
The story of real-life Bart Simpson/MOH candidate Ross McGinnis is haunting, for what it was as an act of courage and sacrifice. As a story of redemption for youthful mistakes, it’s something more. You’ll recall the recent debate on the value and contributions of soldiers with troubled pasts and poor academic results, and the politically motivated disparagement of moves to allow more of them into the military. Then, there are the joking disparagements to which soldiers in general have been subjected by the likes of Steven King, Charles Rangel and John Kerry.
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 10:08 am on Saturday, May 17, 2008
4 Responses to “Bart’s Redemption”
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May 17th, 2008 at 11:23 am
My son was coated with teflon during his early teen years. I have a collection of stories of his brushes with the law, none of which landed him behind bars. He was amazing in his ability to be among a group who got arrested, and he’d get a ride home in the police cruiser while his associates went to jail. He just finished his second tour in Iraq and has led men in battle. Those youthful failings were not indicative of the man he has become, and they serve as life-lessons to him of the thin margins upon which life depends. He goes to Leadership School next month and then to SF assessment in July. Because of his example, 3 of his 4 best friends from childhood have enlisted in the Army since he did, despite their youthful transgressions. One friend is in basic training now to become a calvary scout, one is returning to Iraq for his second tour next month, and one is in Iraq now. These juvenile delinquents have become American soldiers, and attest to the man outgrowing the boy. I’m happy and proud for these young men and their families, whom I know, to have been given such noble purpose after a troubled start. These soldiers serve America, and a lot of people in America hate that.
May 18th, 2008 at 1:45 am
How can liberal people scream about lifting young troubled men out of the inner cities and at the same time try to close an avenue of progress for those same young men. Are we talking inclusion here or…..?
BTW, on another note, I received my GED after being activated in the Naval reserve. High school stunk so bad that I engineered an expulsion to get away from it. That was in 1965.
Stay away from the draft but keep all other means of escape from the inner cities open.
May 18th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Twolaneflash, please thank your son and his friends on our behalf. And thanks to you, too, MikeH.
May 18th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
You’re welcome. But what’d I do? The job is the job, had to be done and has to be done. Just didn’t want to be a criminal for doing it.