Reply #155: A post script to your wonderful post Sparkly: [View All]

[Donna Zen]

Service:

Of course as a 60s survivor, I would never have picked-up on the notion of supporting a general, until in 03, a very close associate of Wellstone suggested that I explore some guy name "Clark." Okay. All of the policies were in line with people I would support, including his testimony before the war. But the more I read, the more this doubt about the General grew: why would someone so smart and able to name his price stay in the military and work his butt off for no money? It made no sense to me.

Then I read a article quoting one of his classmates. The setting was a very high-powered class in philosophy where the students, including Wes Clark, were discussing Plato. The other students had decided that Plato's gold star standing for the ruler was the most desirable. But Wes argued that it was the silver star of service that held the country together, and thus, the most important.

The General doesn't go on faux because it's an enjoyable way to spend 3 minutes out of his day. He also doesn't need the money. He does this for the country, for you and me. He understands that he was granted certain intellectual gifts, and believes that each of us must "give back" to whatever extent we can.

Yesterday he said to a group that we are endanger of loosing the country, the Constitution, and all of America's stated ideals. Wes sees regaining at least one house as more crucial than anything else we've done, or perhaps can ever do, for our country and our families. When asked about others who are taking money out of the system, and crafting their 08 messages, Wes said that they do us a disservice. It is service to the country, not the ruling of it, that drives him. Let that be an inspiration to us.

Wes Clark has taught me a great deal, but mostly he's taught me how to be a better human being and citizen.