Veterans fought to preserve our Constitution and the rights it infers, including the freedom of expression, but do politicians have to use that freedom to add to the rifts in this nation on days we set aside to honor the personal and ultimate sacrifices of those veterans?
Some politicians can’t help themselves, can’t help injecting vitriolic partisanship or demeaning comments in their speeches. They must have temporary amnesia because they forget America is the strongest nation on Earth because of what brings us together, rather than what separates us.
When we go to services, such as last week’s Veterans Day, we see a wide spectrum of people who are being honored and an even larger number of people who are there to do the honoring. None has to pass a political litmus test. They are there because all agree our military veterans deserve a special place in our collective hearts for agreeing to put their lives on the line, for accepting the fact they may have to make the ultimate sacrifice to keep our nation free.
We all should bow our heads to those veterans who came back alive, those who came back wounded, and those who never returned, buried in graveyards where they not only protected Americans’ freedom, but helped preserve freedom in other parts of the world.
On Veterans Day we heard speeches in communities throughout the area from leaders of veterans organizations and from politicians honoring our veterans. Almost all of what we heard was in perfect context with the day, but there were a few exceptions at the Somers Point ceremony, one in a throwaway line by state Sen. Chris Brown, and a few remarks by Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson.
Brown, in trying to say how important it was to recognize wounded warriors when they come home, made a disparaging remark about the LGBTQ+ community.
We believe Brown is an honorable guy – an honorable combat veteran, no less – and he showed that by quickly apologizing for the remark after he realized many took exception to it. He understood there are many ways to make a point that our wounded warriors and other veterans need more recognition without having to disparage anyone else.
He acknowledged the LGBTQ+ service members and those not in the service.
Brown made a mistake, but he corrected it. We thank him for that, just as we thank him and all veterans for their service because politicians have become unapologetic and refuse to acknowledge their missteps.
Which brings us to Levinson.
Levinson used part of his time in his speech to attack “left-wing radicals.” That is his right and, given his political leanings, expected.
In context, however, on Veterans Day, Levinson should have been focusing on the veterans and their service to the country, not using the platform to further his political beliefs and his political career. When confronted by another media organization, Levinson did what typical, run-of-the-mill politicians do. He doubled down.
That is disappointing, but not unexpected.
He needs a quick political primer: Veterans have support across the board.
A perfect example was Nov. 3 in New Jersey with the results of a ballot question. More than three quarters of New Jersey voters decided peacetime veterans should be eligible for a $250 property tax deduction. The state has a million more registered Democrats than Republicans. That margin was only possible with widespread bipartisan support.
Russ Schneider, chaplain of American Legion Post 524 in Ocean City, in his benediction at Ocean City’s Veterans Day ceremony, closed his prayer by saying: “Use your mighty powers to unite this country and heal all of our differences. This is so needed today. Help each of us to prepare a way so all future generations continue to volunteer to protect America and the American way of life. Freedom isn’t free.”
Amen.