The Jeff Offensive
The New York Times reported yesterday that President Bush's approval rating for the war is the same as Johnson's when he decided to begin the pull out of our troops from Vietnam. In fact, the low approval for Johnson was considered such a blow that he declared he would not run again, whether his party chose him as their man or not. I can relate.
My decision to leave my former life was essentially based on similarly low approval ratings. I had made poor decisions, caused casualties and had lost allies. I was using resources to fight my fight that were exhausting myself and those around me. Sure, there were moments when I felt I was doing the right thing, that I would get what I wanted in the end, and that those around me who I had always trusted in the past, just didn't get it this time. However, there comes a time when one must either extricate from a bad situation or go down with a sinking ship.
The humility it takes for me each day to acknowledge that I have been off track is grueling. It is not glorious and ego enhancing. I don't feel like I have made the world a better place, yet. I do believe that in choosing to live in the blare of reality is the only way possible to make this situation better. I can't imagine what would have been had I been president in the past few years and not just me living my life, making my relatively small errors and ommissions.
Would I have committed teenagers to fight my war for me? Would I have snubbed the rest of the world's leaders when they questioned my motives? Would I refuse to listen to those around me when they want to discuss a difference of opinion?
I wish there was a system of checks and balances for the personal decisions I make in life. A Judicial branch to decide if what
I am doing is just and morally right. A legislative branch to argue over and vote on rules, codes and regulations by which to operate in the world. And yet, a smooth executive can still manipulate the whole enchilada, I suppose.
My decision to leave my former life was essentially based on similarly low approval ratings. I had made poor decisions, caused casualties and had lost allies. I was using resources to fight my fight that were exhausting myself and those around me. Sure, there were moments when I felt I was doing the right thing, that I would get what I wanted in the end, and that those around me who I had always trusted in the past, just didn't get it this time. However, there comes a time when one must either extricate from a bad situation or go down with a sinking ship.
The humility it takes for me each day to acknowledge that I have been off track is grueling. It is not glorious and ego enhancing. I don't feel like I have made the world a better place, yet. I do believe that in choosing to live in the blare of reality is the only way possible to make this situation better. I can't imagine what would have been had I been president in the past few years and not just me living my life, making my relatively small errors and ommissions.
Would I have committed teenagers to fight my war for me? Would I have snubbed the rest of the world's leaders when they questioned my motives? Would I refuse to listen to those around me when they want to discuss a difference of opinion?
I wish there was a system of checks and balances for the personal decisions I make in life. A Judicial branch to decide if what
I am doing is just and morally right. A legislative branch to argue over and vote on rules, codes and regulations by which to operate in the world. And yet, a smooth executive can still manipulate the whole enchilada, I suppose.
posted by Jeff at 10:53 AM
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