A day in the life of a liberal sailor

[anchorsaweigh7903]

In response to the "In the day of a Average Republican" as posted at military.com, and amongst other places, I'm going to pitch my "in the day of" column here.

Well I roll out of my rack and look out and see the sun rising over Vesuvius, and yawn and shake the cold off. I grab my towel, take a shower, dry off, put some boxers on, and give my girlfriend a kiss. I fix a pot of coffee, and turn the tv to hear that the nation is divided, the world is in turmoil, but I'm getting a pay raise, that will be streamed back to uncle sam through a raise in overseas tax. Turn the TV off, because I'm tired of the Rightist controlled military channels. I then press my uniform and get ready to go to work as I do every other morning throughout the week. I put my creases in, and make sure my trousers are sharp as a razor.

I ride my bike to work (Enviromentally Aware Sailor), and encounter no stares or taunts in a liberal society. I reach the base and present my I.D., and push off again to the office building. My day begins. I sit down to check my Outlook inbox to find the occasional Political funny from my friend who is a Republican. I respect his values, and he respects mine, he is a good person. I then scan to find messages that call me a devil worshipper and baby killer from a southern religious conservative who is constantly pushing the Right's agenda my way. I refuse to give in, as all good soldiers to their cause do. I shut down my inbox and begin to work. My superiors, who know me as the "Laughable Liberal", because they can never seem to win a debate against me, but laugh it off instead. They know that I am an intellectual person, and I am not swayed by something I dont' believe in.

I then finish the morning routine, and begin to engage in the normal political debate, which can sometimes get heated, but it always ends with a "I don't know" on the other side, after constant contradictory remarks. Once again I win, on common sense alone...These people are the true meaning of sheep. I then visit a pleothra of political sites to fill my mental tank to be prepared at any time to kill a rightist's conversation. I eat lunch amonst the biggest neocons the world will know. Finally someone who can push their point with articulation and intelligence. We talk and walk away with laughs.

To finish my day off I send my friend a political funny and shut my computer off, tell all of my coeds bye for the day and walk back out to my bike and ride home, Kiss my girlfriend, grab my towel, take a shower and go to sleep.

We are all human, and though divided, we are together in one aspect, we all love the land we live in, and no political documents, or rhetoric can or will change that. Fight on Liberal Brothers and Sisters!

Oh by the way, I have swayed 10 votes in favor of Kerry at my command...Doing good deeds over here!!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. I salute you

both for serving your country AND for swaying voters Kerry's way!

[WilliamPitt]

2. Welcome the hell aboard!

Great post.

[Red_Viking]

3. Right on!

Thanks for your service. I've always wanted to see Vesuvius. Cave canem and all that.

You're not only serving the country but serving democracy every time you make someone think before they speak or ask them to expand their world view a little.

And welcome to DU!

:dem:

RV

[mongo]

4. Welcome to DU!

And thanks for your service! Keep posting.

[anchorsaweigh7903]

5. AHH Home at last!

I posted that at military.com, which next to conservative nation is a conservative stronghold for wanna-be hate stirrers (I'm sure you intelligent ladies and gents know that ;) ) To put it short, they actually had the nerve to ban me from the site forever and delete the thread, because it "promoted deepening morale issues within the military". Total nonsense.

Anyhow THANKS!! for the welcoming.


Napoli is a very dirty city, but vesuvius looms and it proves that no matter what we do to the earth, all it has to do is shake it's back and we all fall off like a bunch of fleas, so I find sancitity in that.

[Sophree]

7. Morale issues for whom?

That is ridiculous. Your morale counts for something too!

Thanks for your service. Thanks for working hard to "change hearts and minds" within the military.

And welcome to DU! :hi:

[anchorsaweigh7903]

9. Sophree

It seems that ever since 911 came out, the military as a whole has started scanning out Libs within the ranks, and been performing somewhat of a test on them. I'm called into my Senior's office with him asking me why I question the President's actions. I simply tell him that my duty is to do what the President tells me, but that doesn't mean that I can't question it.

It seems that the Military is still hanging on to that gung-ho belief that the military is still consistant of a bunch of guys that do what they are told without questioning...Thanks to President Clinton's more leniant approach on the Chain of Command, we can now question actions, that warrant a correct answer.

To answer you question, I believe they think that my being different than them means that I am rebelling against the government while in ranks, and trying to pull people down with me. Totally not true. I joined the military to enlighten myself (hopefully a politician in the future) and enlighten others.

[Sophree]

14. Good for you.

"we can now question actions, that warrant a correct answer."

As it should ALWAYS be in a democracy. I've never been in the military, but I imagine things work a little differently there.

Actually, now that I think about it, your situation isn't all that much different from us civilian liberals, having our patriotism/loyalty questioned, etc. It's probably just a question of scale.

[anchorsaweigh7903]

20. Of course I'm out of CONUS politics

But, questioning someone's patriotism just for their political beliefs is absurd. I do not question a Republican's patriotism knowing in the back of his mind he holds a Gerald McManus approach to things, meaning I wish this guy and his whole Liberal following would be wiped off the face of the earth. To me that is more unpatriotitic than voting against the CIC, plus my patriotism is never questioned, because I wear the uniform. It's my integrity that is questioned. It's my willingness to bow to every aspect to military life that isn't within the guidelines that is question, and quite frankly I refuse to do. I refuse to Vote yellow dog Republican, just because the fact my boss is one, I refuse to live in a cookie cut base house with a wife and two hellions running around, I refuse to dress square, I refuse to follow the propoganda that is constantly dumped on us guys. It's not rebellion I'm indulging in, it's self preservation, something the repubs don't believe in.

[Joanne98]

18. Have you read "The Pentagon's New Map"?

They replace institutions 5% a year... Hold on... We're taking it back... WE REALLY ARE...

[NontoxicAvenger]

30. Enjoy Bella Napoli!

We were stationed there for 6 years - just returned to the states in July and we miss it terribly. It might be too late in the season this year, but if you're still there next summer take the USO Amalfi cruise.

You've probably been instructed if you see a protest go in the opposite direction. I was in the Galleria Umberto with my daughters when an anti-war protest broke out. We ran into the E'scuse fast food restaurant to get away, and as we were having our lunch and watching the protest from upstairs, it occured to us that the majority of the protesters were elderly. They remember.

[anchorsaweigh7903]

38. Avenger,

I took the Amalfi Coast cruise..

It is simply amazing what these people have accomplished, but they have had centuries to get this stuff in order. My favorite place here is Capri. AWWWWWW GOSH it is so clean and beautiful. They take care of their paradise and welcome us with open arms, such a great enviroment. I don't have duty too often so I go out to Capri to draw and meet with my buddies...

[The Traveler]

6. Bravo! Bravas! Bravissimo!

(Doncha love Jack Nicholson????)

Well done, sailor. Well done.

:toast:

[NightTrain]

8. Hey, swabbie! Welcome to DU.

And check out this picture of me from 1986:

:eyes:

[anchorsaweigh7903]

16. I see you had "boot bags'' under your eyes

lol, I feel ya brother, I hated waking up at 0300 having to do 8 counts and sharks, then to find out we had division photos 1 hour later. I have sweat stains all over my jumper from pt'ing in it before our shoot. ahhhh Boot camp memories

[NightTrain]

21. I went through Boot Camp in Orlando, Florida during June and July!

You wanna talk about heat and humidity???

[anchorsaweigh7903]

26. I went in Summer of 03

Wasn't too bad, but we definitely had our days

[Joanne98]

19. Look how handsome you are.........

You good looking DUer you....:)

[TahitiNut]

33. What? No wings in your dixiecup?

(tsk, tsk) Gotta learn how to shape that 'cup, gob! :silly:

[anchorsaweigh7903]

39. Fleet Wings

He had just gotten out of Boot in that pic I suppose...

My division got the bright idea that we'd all put wings in our covers before Pass and Review...I've regretted that decision since.

[Eloriel]

10. Welcome to DU!

Glad to have another military person among us. Great post, too.

[Hello_Kitty]

11. Welcome!

I was in the Navy from 1987-1997. When Reagan and Bush I were in office the President was to be respected and criticism was actively discouraged by seniors. When Clinton came into office the big deal was gays in the military and the mostly conservative guys I worked with were up in arms. The reverence for the POTUS was out the window. It was then that I began to form my liberal world view. I failed to see what they were so agitated about since they were a. already serving with numerous gays (unbeknownst to them) and b. were not generally the most moral guys around (infidelity, sexual harassment, and prostitution are rampant on most bases) despite many of them objecting to being gay on "Biblical grounds". Just for fun, I'd point out to them that Scriptures also condemn all sorts of behavior that they regularly indulged in. They'd realize that they really couldn't argue with me and get mad and storm off or mock me for being a "bleeding heart tree hugger". So I started reading and learning more about various issues and realized that I agreed with the left wing perspective on most things. Meanwhile, people around me just allowed the propaganda of the right to wash over them. Very sad. Personally, I think being a liberal made me a better sailor. I valued my team over my individual accomplishments. In the end, I probably did not get promoted as often as I could have but I'm glad I opened my eyes and was true to myself. Thanks for your post and welcome. :)

[Aristus]

12. Welcome aboard, anchorsaweigh!

Good to have you here! :hi: Let me buy you a cold one for your service to our great country. :toast::beer::toast::beer: We have a lot of veterans here, including me - Gulf War, U.S. Army. It really weirds out right-wingers when they meet me, and we talk about the current political situation. I'm a Christian, a veteran, AND a liberal! They have a hard time fitting their tiny minds around THAT!

Hope you stay a while. B-)

[Obamarama]

13. Buongiorno, Anchorsaweigh

Quello era un alberino meraviglioso. Grazie per la compartecipazione esso con noi! E benvenuto a bordo del DU, marinaio!

That was a wonderful post. Thank you for sharing it with us! And welcome aboard DU, sailor!

[walldude]

15. Great post...

welcome to DU and keep up the good work. You are to be saluted for being able to serve your country and still be able to keep a free and open mind... :toast:

[Joanne98]

17. We love you Liberal sailor........

:):):)

[Zen Democrat]

22. My Democrat son in the USN was just pinned Chief yesterday!!!

He tells me that his Republican friends won't debate him either, because they only know what Hannity and Limbaugh say and can't back up their rhetoric. Hang in there, you're certainly not alone.

[anchorsaweigh7903]

23. Congrats to your son

I just got frocked this past April...I'm a young buck, still learning the ropes, but I feel I have a huge advantage over my peers that are my age, and to an extent my superiors (on the political level). I'm a political workhorse at the age of 19 and I have no reason to give up or let up. Just give me 20 more years lol.

[Zen Democrat]

24. It doesn't take 20 years. My son went in at 19, made Chief at 31!! n/t

On edit: My son was hesitant to speak out the first year or two of his service. But he was in D.C. and had an opportunity to be around President Clinton at several functions -- and he became more and more vocal in his support of Clinton. After the 2000 election, he told me that he would always regret that he hadn't been out in the street, going door to door to get people to the polls to vote Democratic. Since then he's been gung-ho and decided that even if it cost him a promotion he was going to speak his mind and set straight all the lies about Democrats and Liberalsgoing around among the rank and file. Well, he did -- and he STILL got promoted -- twice -- in the past 3 years. I think maybe being strong enough to stand up and speak your mind does count for something in the services today.

Thank you for being a Proud Liberal Democrat and giving another face to Democrats than the ones painted by the right-wing propagandists.

You GO, AnchorsAweigh!!

[anchorsaweigh7903]

25. No, you read me wrong

Sorry I wasn't clearer, I need 19 more years to hopefully bring my political aspirations to life.

[MissMarple]

27. Hi, sweetheart. Welcome to DU.

:bounce:

[Skittles]

28. SAILORS

*swoon* - I went to high school in northern Illinois and there was always so many cute sailors from Great Lakes. YES INDEED!!!

[A_Possum]

29. Welcome to DU!

It's always fascinating to read about DU'ers currently in the service and their experiences.

You sound a bit like a young John Kerry, (who everyone said sounded like a young John Kennedy in his day. Your initials wouldn't happen to be JFK would they!? ;))

[Ironpost]

31. Reminds me of my days

in Viet-Namn as a postal clerk in the Navy. No INTERNET, no E-mail just roughly 500 sailer's to visit with. As my job was the mail man I was in constant contact with everyone, even the Captain wanted his mail. I still remember most of the faces but only a few of the names, so sad. Any way my friend thanks for reminding me to give the brave men who I served with the fond memories they so deserved. thank you. And welcome to DU Also I'm swinging voters here at home, haven't been keeping count just chugging along.

[sadiesworld]

32. Welcome to DU, anchorsaweigh7903!

You sound like a bright, energetic guy/gal with great insight at 19. Hopefully, Wes Clark and others will have paved the way for more liberal servicemen-turned-statemen/women by the time you are ready to make your move.

Again, welcome aboard! :toast:

[anchorsaweigh7903]

37. Wesley Clark...maybe

The main problem I have with Wesley Clark is that he was an Officer. Of course an officer will appeal to the public more than an enlisted guy, but I simply disagree with a "managing" approach on everything. My background makes me understand the strife and disadvantage of the poor man and common joe, because I lived that life before the military. I think that if career politicians would be bottom feeders for at least 10 years, they would make a hell of a lot more difference. Look at all of our Early 20th century presidents, sans Teddy Roosevelt. Most were either self made 'aires or were common men themselves when they were elected. They REVOLUTIOINIZED this country. After the cold war, children of destiny were shoe-ins to office.

My role model is Jimmy Carter. I know his policies were haggard, but he started off just like I did, a peanut farmer, not a penny to spare, parents poor and lacked a government funded education. He educated himself, joined the navy, and worked his way up like an honest man. On top of that, Jimmy Carter is a Great Man, a life long supporter of Habitats for Humanity, and countless other charity organizations but he still gets a bad wrap from the Reds....Shows how heartless our counterparts are.

[King_Reggae]

34. more than one liberal sailor?!?!?!

I find it somewhat amazing that no matter where you go in the Navy, the treatment of liberals is always the same. I know how it is, I get the stares on a daily basis. Granted, I'm an E6 so no one really questions my loyalty, nor my authority, at this point but people do tend to stop talking abruptly when I enter a room. My seniors enjoy debating me and even though by the end of it they normally agree with me, they still feel no less right wing than before. It's a real shame. Some see it as if 'I'm a Republican and I support our organization more than you do' while others are simply loyal because for so long in the military, it was the standard. More and more, though, I'm seeing the paradigm shift in the junior enlisted and I think things are going to change. I, too, have signed people up to vote who don't know how. And everytime I'm outside having a cigarette, it seems that there's a flock of fresh sailor faces reading the paper and talking about why we're sentenced to do Dubya's dirty work. I talk to other people I've served with and right or wrong, they agree - the new military isn't a Republican vote factory.

So anchorsaweigh, I think your story is a story we all share. Welcome to hardest job in the military: Being a liberal sailor!

[NMDemDist2]

35. welcome to DU KingR and thanks for your service! n/t

:hi:

[NMDemDist2]

36. welcome Anchors!

:hi:

[MacDo]

40. Another one.

You are just full of fine articles tonight. Good job.

[anchorsaweigh7903]

41. Thanks

Yeah I wrote this one Yesterday, it probaly shows up a day late cuz I'm half the world away.

[MacDo]

42. AHHH

That anwsers why your not in bed with your girlfriend. LOL

[anchorsaweigh7903]

43. LOL,

Yeah I've been in the dog house lately so it gives me time to think, Plus it's been a slow day at work. I can stir up all kinds of Ideas to lash around sitting latent like this.






:kick: