I often receive requests from people around the world to blog about certain topics. I try to accommodate people, but sometimes the subject matter is just not relevant. A couple days ago I received a request from a retired Veteran of the War in Afghanistan. His request of me is more than relevant. It is important. So rather than briefly discuss his remarks, I will present them in their entirety.
“When I started to write down my vision, I wasn’t certain of my intentions. I had always felt that as a soldier it was my duty to serve and not get involved. As I wrote this, I began to realize that as a soldier I was already involved. I had taken an oath to defend the country and I needed to take a stand. My intentions became clear to me. I wanted to inspire other soldiers to take a stand for what we believe in and enact change. My intention is for veterans to get involved at home to influence the direction of the country we are willing to die for. My intention is to inspire veterans to attend the caucus on Feb 5th.
With that latest polls still showing that the war is the #1 issue for the 2008 election, it only reinforced my conclusion. The war is not a partisan issue, the war is an American issue and I want the Americans who sacrifice for that issue to be involved in the decisions on that issue. We need to have a voice in who is elected to represent us!!!
I chose the email address of [email protected] for 2 reasons. I live in the city of St Michael, MN and Saint Michael is the patron saint of Paratroopers. What better name to represent veterans.
This is meant to be a chain email. I need it to be forwarded to as many people as possible in the next month. Please keep it going until Feb 5 and please attend your precinct caucus. The only way we can implement change is to spread the word and get involved by getting elected as delegates.
Sincerely,
Jason Meszaros
U.S. Army Veteran – Afghanistan
St Michael, MN
My Vision: Courage and Integrity in Government.
As Veterans, whether a soldier, sailor, airmen or marine, we lead from the front in the GWOT everyday. It is time for Veterans to lead from the front in the Transformation of America. It is time for our leadership, experience, courage and integrity to influence the direction of America.
What does the Caucus really mean to a Veteran?
The caucus is where Americans truly have a voice. The caucus is the process in the system to choose the candidate and choose the stance the party takes on an issue, such as the Global War on Terror. What you won’t hear on TV or from candidates and what most people do not know is that ANYONE can attend the caucus. Any group (Veterans) can attend the caucus. Anyone can be elected as a delegate. The delegates are the ones who get to choose the platforms of the parties and more importantly, the delegates CHOOSE the candidates. We need Veterans, Family, Friends, and Supporters of Veterans to get elected as delegates. That will give Veterans the voice to truly influence the direction of the country. I believe veterans have earned the right to have a voice.
Why am I telling you this?
I want to inspire Veterans to attend the MN caucuses. I want Veterans to come together as a group and be represented in the political parties that run this country. I want Veterans in MN to commit to attending the caucuses on Feb 5.
Why should I care?
Veterans have the leadership, experience, courage and integrity necessary to run this country. The only way to get our voice truly heard is to get involved in the system and that will lead us to transform the system. There is no doubt that people do not trust most politicians in today’s America. By providing an influx of Veterans into the system we can create the possibility of courage and integrity in American Government. People can trust Veterans who already know how to serve.
How do we transform the system?
Attend the caucus on Feb 5. This is a non partisan movement. If you are a Democrat attend the Democratic Caucus. If you are a Republican then attend the Republican Caucus. Either way Veterans need to have a greater influence on this country from both sides of the aisle.
How do I know where my caucus is located?
MN SOS web site can tell you where your precinct is located? You can also call the Major Political parties for information on the caucus locations.
MN Secretary of State: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/docs/mnprecinctcaucuses.pdf
Republican Party: http://www.mngop.com/pf/
Democratic, Farmer, Labor Party: http://www.dfl.org/index.asp?Type=B_LOC&SEC={8B48FC37-7B24-4104-A5D7-2C3687EF1E16}
Independence Party: http://www.mnip.org/
What else can I do to make a difference?
Forward this email on to as many Veterans, Family, Friends, and Supporters of Veterans as possible. Spread the word to as many people as possible. We have 1 month to inspire as many people as we can to attend MN Caucuses on Feb 5.
Why Mission Impossible?
It may seem impossible to think that we can significantly influence the course of America. The transformation begins in 1 month with MN Precinct Caucuses. The commitment to attend is small but the impact is incredible. Imagine the impact that 10,000+ Veterans surging into the MN political system can do to enact change.
How do I get more info?
Send an email with your question to: [email protected]
What should I do if I am committed to attending?
Step 1. Identify your caucus location.
Step 2. Send me an email letting me know you will attend and the location of your caucus.
Step 3. Show up on Feb 5. It is that easy to make a difference!!!
Saint Michael
Holy Scripture describes St. Michael as “one of the chief princes,” and leader of the forces of heaven in their triumph over the powers of hell. He has been honored and invoked as patron and protector by the Church. St. Michael is the patron of grocers, mariners, paratroopers, police and sickness.”
This cause is noble. May it flourish. Thank you to all our Veterans. Thank you and welcome home.
eric
As what most people would call a “liberal” and someone who certainly was always against invading Iraq, I would like to say that I am extremely proud of our soldiers, all of them. They’re regular folks like everyone else; everyone else who wants to be famous one day, or have a family, fall in love, make a career, a business, raise happy kids, break a Guinness Record maybe, be educated, get rich one day – but they put all that on the line for America at war. Whatever their national cause, their personal cause is for the nation. Any one of them are like everyone else, but at least they try to do the best they can, for themselves and all of us. Some people are just lucky and figure that other people will have to try.
I am quite surprised to see just how well the troops are doing these days in what seemed just a year or two ago to be the impossible, but I fret for their endurance and the future of their cause. They are human beings, after all, and they need all those things the rest of us need – to be famous one day, family, love, etc… We can’t keep them over there forever. It isn’t fair to them, their families, their kids, their communities, and our nation.
As it is noble to sacrifice for a cause, it is ignoble to rally others to fight without cause and without sacrificing for it. I hope we can sacrifice more than a just pat on the back for these good people. And please, let’s be more careful with them in the future. A resource like that shouldn’t ever be squandered, let alone forgotten.
JMJ
Keep up the good work Trooper.
L/Co 75th 101