By: Loren Romick

I recently entered the gymnasium of a local high school to shoot some basketball photos for the school yearbook. I had been hired a few years ago to be the school photographer. Nothing too glamorous – action shots for all the sports, team pictures, dances, etc. During these years the opportunity has presented itself to “get to know” people. It’s a small school so it doesn’t take long to know who’s who. In addition, I already knew some of the parents from other employment ventures, church functions, or frequenting restaurants and stores where some of them worked. All in all, it was a rather ordinary place, at an ordinary time, with ordinary people. But as is so often the case ordinary times can provide the most fertile grounds for extraordinary moments. In itself, this moment may not be extraordinary but the train of thought that ensued cleansed my mind of thorns and thistles from an otherwise promising garden of truth.

During the lulls in the action of the game, I had chances to survey the modest crowd that had assembled. There was Jimmy who worked at the hardware store, beaming with pride for his son who’s on the team. There was Jeff. He never misses a game and escorts his elderly father to sit in the same seat for every game. There was Tim, a backhoe operator, and Margie who sells insurance. There was Linda who works at Walmart, and Cindy who works at a competing local clothier. One of the referees was Jason, a part time Post Office employee and a self employed drywall hanger, who has taken up officiating for extra income because he “has a little one on the way.” Then there was Sommer, one of the girls from the team that I had befriended. She was sitting eagerly on the edge of the bench, seemingly perched, ready for action when called upon. For some reason I was watching her. She looked anxious. I thought she was just wanting in the game. Then she suddenly leaped to her feet and ran to the main door. I curiously followed her wondering what may have been the problem. She wasn’t making an exit though, she ran right into the arms of man – a soldier in fatigues. I didn’t know her well enough to know if it was an older brother or a father. What was clear was that he was home for the first time in a while as witnessed by her tears. I watched as he made his way through the crowd to the rest of her family, each one showing the same welcome that Sommer had given. She then returned to the bench and it appeared the game would continue as if nothing had happened.

A short time later, between quarters, the loud speaker broke the relative silence. The announcer asked everyone to welcome a very special guest who had just returned from his fourth tour of Iraq. And then it happened - that extraordinary moment in otherwise ordinary times. The entire crowd broke out in spontaneous applause. But this was no polite recognition. It was enthusiastic, even thrilling. And just as if on cue, the entire crowd, from both schools, rose for a prolonged standing ovation. The soldier (whose name I never did catch) was obviously surprised and humbled. He shyly took a bow, and waved to the cheering throng. Eventually the celebration subdued and the soldier disappeared into the crowd among family and friends – just as he preferred.

I knew what everyone was thinking. Or maybe it’s what we were feeling. Of course there was gratitude, but what was even more apparent was a strange blending of humility and pride. I was perplexed. How could these two apparent diametrically opposed emotions coexist? Of course we were humbled at the thought of someone sacrificing so much for so many. Humbled that as we enjoyed the niceties of middle class America he was defending our cause, and voluntarily at that. But we were proud too. Proud of our country. Proud of a nation where dreams are achievable and nothing seems undoable. Proud of ordinary Americans showing courage in the face of peril. Yes we stood and applauded a soldier, but we were vicariously cheering the United States of America.

I wondered how many places across this blessed land had experienced similar events. I inwardly wept for those pockets where this soldier would be treated with scorn from people he defended (and would do so again). Thoughts began cascading in my mind. Thoughts of the simplicity of those gathered at a simple event in a simple town with simple needs and simple wishes. Thoughts of the diversity of vocations and ages represented there. People cheering for opposing teams, who go to different churches, shop at different stores, read different magazines, enjoy different foods, have different opinions. I thought of that soldier and how he served with a collection of people as diverse as this crowd – diverse but unified under one flag. Then it hit me like the proverbial ton of bricks. America – Real America – loves the military because it is a true representation of us. It’s a group of ordinary people from vastly different areas and stations in life that work together for the cause of their country.

Conversely this is exactly the reason Real America despises politicians. It has been generations since she has felt represented in Washington- a sentiment that is furthered entrenched in Real America’s psyche with each passing day. Remember the cry from the pre-revolution of “taxation without representation?” Granted the founders were seeking representation from the colonies as opposed to the dictates of the throne but is our present situation much different? What should we think of the career politician so removed from “real life” that he needs polls and focus groups to tell him what to do? Look at the present presidential cabinet. How can there be representation of Real America’s interest without one cabinet person having a business background? And this is just one of many possible examples. Perhaps Washington should adopt the policies they force on Real America – policies such as Affirmative Action. Wouldn’t we be better represented if a certain percentage of business people, a certain percentage of professionals, etc., be forced on a presidential cabinet or, better still the Senate, instead of the disproportionate amount of lawyers now occupying the ranks? There is real anger from Real America directed at politicians because they see lifetime senators and representatives writing laws to their own advantage, ignoring the will of the people they represent, and making ordinary Americans and their future generations absorb the pain.

We need real representation for Real America. For this reason the country is seeing the rise of groups such as the Tea Party Movement and the 9/12 Project. Let us pray that the damage already inflicted and that yet to be inflicted by our non-representative government will not be too much to undo. It’s high time that our political leaders be the real representation of Real America as our military is. Just as there is variance of opinion among friends and families we need not agree on every issue, but as our military is united under one cause – love of country – so should our politicians act in the best interest of Real America. A general survey of our history reveals founders who disagreed on issues but pounded out compromises for the betterment of the people. Today we see virtually no compromise for the good of America. What the media calls bipartisanship is in reality Republican capitulation to Democrat special interest legislation. How can we feel represented by this? Could we love a military that surrendered to the enemy every time they came under attack? Could we love a military that didn’t represent America?

Politicians are so despised today because we realize that they were loved once, and we want to love them again. Once upon a time men served for service sake, reluctant to take an office because it interfered with their “real life.” Sadly, all too many modern politicians have no real life experience to return to. Mr. Politician has either inherited his seat from a political patriarch or worked his way up the bureaucratic ladder fresh off his Political Science or Law degree. May we imagine the diminution of regulations and freedom-killing legislation if the majority of politicians had to first find their way in Real America before populating D.C.? Perhaps these politicians wouldn’t be so eager to become lifetime ones. We need politicians like George Washington who, in the face of certain re-election, simply stepped down after his second term, setting a precedent for future Commanders-in-Chief. Real America loves George Washington and many of our other founding politicians. Were they perfect? Were they always in unison? No, but they were true representatives of the people of the country.

Real America yearns for the day when she can love her politicians again, just as she loves her military and country. Look how she falls for every new politician that seems to offer something other than the status quo. Regretfully Real America is beginning to think that she and politics are star crossed lovers. I think the flames of this love affair can be rekindled, but only when that leadership becomes, once again, a representative one.

LR
March 1, 2010