Benderman Defense Trust

 I wrote this a while back and never posted it. I think it is as pertinent now as then. Although I must admit many more people than I thought are stading up to what is happening in our country.  Have heart, America, all is not lost to people who do not care about this country as a whole.  WE THE PEOPLE are going to be heard whether or not the ones that choose not follow our constitution want to hear. 

I AM WRITING THIS TO RECOGNIZE THE SACRIFICES OUR TROOPS HAVE MADE AND TO SUPPORT THEM AS THEY FACE ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT PERIODS IN RECENT HISTORY. THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT HAVE ORGANIZED UNDER THE BANNER OF SUPPORTING THE TROOPS AND THE ONLY THING THEY SEEM TO WANT TO TELL THE SOLDIERS AND OTHER SERVICE MEMBERS IS TO RUN FROM WHAT THEY ARE NOW FACING. I MUST SAY THAT TELLING THEM TO TURN THEIR BACK ON THE COUNTRY AND TO RUN OR GO A.W.O.L IS THE WRONG ANSWER. I BELIEVE THAT STAYING AND STANDING FOR WHAT YOU KNOW TO BE RIGHT IS THE WAY TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES FACING OUR COUNTRY TODAY.

 THERE ARE SOME WHO FEEL THIS MAY BE TOO DIFFICULT TO HANDLE AND I CAN PERSONALLY TELL THEM IT IS A DIFFICULT DECISION TO FOLLOW YOUR CONSCIENCE WHEN YOU KNOW IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. I SPENT 13 MONTHS OF A 15-MONTH SENTENCE IMPOSED BY THE COMMAND GROUP AT FT. STEWART, GA. FOR DOING WHAT I KNOW TO BE THE RIGHT THING. IF WE TRULY WANT TO MAKE SOME POSITIVE CHANGES FOR OUR NATION THEN WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO STEP OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE.

THERE ARE MANY ARE ALSO PORTRAYING THIS AS A WAY TO END ALL WARS. THIS POSITION DISPLAYS DISRESPECT TO OUR SERVICE MEMBERS BECAUSE WE ARE IGNORING OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS CITIZENS. IF WE EXPECT THE SOLDIERS TO RUN FROM OUR LAWS WHEN WE SHOULD BE STANDING UP FOR THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS THEN WE ARE ABDICTATING OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE SERVICE MEMBERS.WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING IS ORGANIZING OURSELVES INTO WELL-MANAGED GROUPS OF UNITED STATES CITIZENS WHO ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY GIVEN TO US BY THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. THAT RESPONSIBILITY WAS NOT GIVEN TO US LIGHTLY AND WE SHOULD NEVER HAVE LET IT BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED. BUT WE HAVE AND IT IS UP TO US TO STAND UP AND TAKE BACK WHAT IT IS OURS.

I SEE MANY PEOPLE WHO CLAIM TO HAVE THE SERVICE MEMBERS’ BEST INTERESTS IN MIND WHEN THESE TYPES OF STATEMENTS ARE BEING MADE. I THINK THESE PEOPLE HAVE MISSED THE MARK WHEN IT COMES TO UNDERSTANDING THAT THE MILITARY IS UNDER CIVIL CONTROL AND UNDER THE CONSTITUTION, “WE THE PEOPLE” ARE THE CIVIL AUTHORITY.WE CANNOT EXPECT THE SOLDIERS TO DO THE JOB OF BEING WATCHDOGS OVER WHAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS DOING. WE SHOULD NEVER LET ELECTED OFFICIALS ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES THAT BRING ABOUT THE CONDITIONS THAT WOULD PUT OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL INTO HARM’S WAY FOR TRANSIENT OR MISGUIDED REASONS.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS WHO WEAR THE FLAG UPSIDE DOWN AS A WAY TO DISPLAY THEIR OPINIONS OF HOW THINGS ARE BEING DONE BY SOME MEMBERS OF OUR GOVERNMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THOSE WEARING THE FLAG THIS WAY THAT THIS COUNTRY IS MUCH MORE THAN ONE OFFICE HOLDER. THIS COUNTRY IS THE TOTAL EFFORT OF ALL LIVING HERE NOW AND ALL THOSE WHO HAVE COME BEFORE US. JUST BECAUSE SOME INDIVIDUAL DECIDES TO DO THINGS DETRIMENTAL TO THE NATION DOESN’T MEAN WE SHOULD DISRESPECT THE IDEALS THE COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON.  IT IS UP TO US TO ENSURE THAT THE GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS MADE UP OF A GROUP OF EMPLOYEES OF THE UNITED STATES, IS NEVER VIOLATING THE PRINCIPLES OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. IN ORDER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BREAK OUT OF THEIR APATHY AND START PARTICIPATING MORE ACTIVELY IN WHAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS DOING.

WE MUST ENSURE THAT OUR GOVERNMENT REMAINS ACCOUNTABLE TO US AND THAT IT REMAINS OPEN AND TRANSPARENT SO THAT WE MAY SEE WHAT IS BEING UNDERTAKEN BY OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES. WE HAVE THE INHERENT RESPONSIBILITY AS UNITED STATES CITIZENS TO DO SO.

I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE THIS STATEMENT WITH A QUOTE FROM JOHN F. KENNEDY,

“The very word ‘secrecy’ is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths and to secret proceedings. We decided long ago that the dangers of excessive and unwarranted concealment of pertinent facts far outweighed the dangers, which are cited to justify it. ”

John F. Kennedy, 27 April 1961

 NEVER HAS SUCH A STATEMENT BEEN MORE RELEVANT OR NEEDED IN OUR COUNTRY AS IT IS NOW. 

                                                                                                                                                                                   Kevin M Benderman