A Call to All Tribal Servicemen and Women: Send Me Your Thoughts.

I get a little emotional when I think about what soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines are doing for this country, and this tribe. It's one of the reasons I get so angry at the tribe's leadership when they completely disregard the rights of tribal members, for which these brave individuals risk their lives defending. I was particularly disturbed when Principal Chief Michell Hicks hypocritically spoke through tears of insincerity at the VA Hospital ceremony naming the center after Cherokee hero Charles George, who gave his life in the Korean War to save his fellow soldiers. The fact is Michell Hicks has been profaning the ideals for which George gave his life and has been advancing the ideals that George was fighting and that Kim Jong Il now embraces.
I got this response from the uncle of tribal members serving in Afghanistan, after I posted about Tribal Budget and Finance Deputy Charles Penick's bloviating defense of the rights for which he defending during his military service from Vietnam through the first Persian Gulf War:
My nephews are enrolled members of this tribe. They are also serving in Afghanistan. I talked to them about this very issue and told them of Penick's response.
First, they wanted to address his woman beating ways (Penick was charged with assault on a female). They both said he dishonors himself and the oath he claims to uphold. Real men don't beat women. Secondly, they said that he does not speak for them, nor would they ever consider voting in a place that they do not live. The(y) would not take that right from the people who live here. 'It's ridiculous of those who do not live under the rules of the reservation to vote in an election that does not affect us. We would be voting blindly, especially since we do not know the issues. How many of you vote blindly?' This was (their) partial response.
However, I will tell you this. They were outraged at his 'balls' to presume to speak for (all) those who do not live on the reservation. They were still outraged at the fact that he would use his service in the armed forces as a basis for his argument."
It felt good to hear a perspective from those serving in the military responding to the arrogance of Penick. I'd like to hear more from those serving in the Armed Forces. My Grandpa Washington was a Marine who took a Japanese bullet in Okinawa. My Grandpa Martin was captain of the S.S. Norman Scott when it took a hit from a Japanese torpedo. My father and his brother both served during the Vietnam era, and my brother was a medic with a mechanized infantry unit in Fort Stewart. Family members of those in the military all know the risks and the sacrifices made by those who serve. That's why the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution, to which all in the Armed Forces swear oaths to support, defend and bear faith and allegiance, must be honored. I can think of no greater honor, than to receive and possibly post the opinions from these individuals. I respect and honor that for which you fight, even if tribal leadership doesn't.