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I Disagree with Yarob

GrannyDude
@GrannyDude
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I liked Hegseth's speech. Here's why:

I appreciated that the speech was made in person---face to face, word-made-flesh. This sends its own signal of conviction and purpose. I like that it was broadcast to the public, too, so the press, the chatterati, the troops and the American people could hear it unfiltered, for ourselves.

That includes Americans who voted for Trump and agree that it is enough to have a military that is superb at fighting and winning wars. It includes Americans opposed (I wonder what they think the military ought to be good at?) Our adversaries got to hear it too, firsthand. No weasel words, no plausible deniability, and no dumb lies about the strength magically conferred by diversity.

That Hegseth is, himself, not only a veteran but obviously very physically fit meant he was not asking his people to do something he wasn't prepared to do, and was already doing, himself.

Hegseth either gave the whole speech without a teleprompter or notes, or consulted these so subtly that the impression was of a man with such energy, mastery and conviction that he didn't need mnemonics. Power move! And effective.

Naturally, I approve of the message. My dad was a Marine, my son was as well, and I know and love many combat veterans. What we ask them to do is extraordinarily demanding. They aren't exercising a "right," they are making a huge sacrifice. Even a man who comes through the battle intact will find that the experience continues to exact a price from him for decades after his war is over. Going along with the fantasy/lie that anyone can do what he has done for us? It isn't just idiotic, it's belittling and ungrateful.

Semper Fi, Dad.

This post was promoted to the Main Feed at the recommendation of Ricochet's members.

Discussion (47)

  • The Scarecrow@TheScarecrow

    Didn’t read the Yarob; I don’t unless I can tell in a paragraph that he’s writing something about himself - seems like an interesting guy. When he comments on Trump he is mostly just being a dick to be a dick, and I scroll past with a sigh.

    I agree about the speech. Sounds good. If we’re going to make America great again, we have to remember what made America great in the first place. Part of that is being deadly serious and unsentimental about our military.

  • She@She

    I liked [Hegseth's speech] too. I'd have preferred it if you'd not limited your post to the member feed, as did the not-so-interesting person you "disagreed" with.

    GrannyDude (View Post):

    Naturally, I approve of the message. My dad was a Marine, my son was as well, and I know and love many combat veterans: What we ask them to do is extraordinarily demanding. They weren’t exercising a “right”, they are making a huge sacrifice. Even a man who comes through the battle intact will find that the experience continues to exact a price from him for decades after his war his over. Going along with the fantasy/lie that anyone can do what he has done for us? It isn’t just idiotic, it’s belittling and ungrateful.
    Semper Fi, Dad.

    Totally worthy of the main feed.

  • EODmom@EODmom
    ReplyingtoShe

    She (View Comment):

    I liked [Hegseth’s speech] too. I’d have preferred it if you’d not limited your post to the member feed, as did the not-so-interesting person you “disagreed” with.

    GrannyDude (View Post):

    Naturally, I approve of the message. My dad was a Marine, my son was as well, and I know and love many combat veterans: What we ask them to do is extraordinarily demanding. They weren’t exercising a “right”, they are making a huge sacrifice. Even a man who comes through the battle intact will find that the experience continues to exact a price from him for decades after his war his over. Going along with the fantasy/lie that anyone can do what he has done for us? It isn’t just idiotic, it’s belittling and ungrateful.
    Semper Fi, Dad.

    Totally worthy of the main feed.

    Especially the belittling and ungrateful part.

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