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December 30, 2005
A Simple Man With a Giant Vision
I liken my conversion to conservatism to that of Christopher Hitchens'. Prior to September 11th, my view of the world was less than optimistic. I was a teen that felt the poor should get a "hand-out" instead of a "hand-up", all politicians were out for personal gain, and war was never an option. Shortly after being blanketed in a figurative flag of camouflage patriotism, my eyes were opened and long journey to conservatism began.
I joined the Army Reserves straight out of high school, frankly, for the school benefits and extra cash each month. Upon the completion of my Basic Combat Training in Ft. Benning, I was ready to enlist in the active duty to fight wherever the enemy laid. This was during the height of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. I returned from my five months of training in March 2002, arriving home a Postal Clerk (42L) and a proud young reserve soldier.
When talk of Iraq came around nearly a year later, I was one of the first in my unit to volunteer for the mission. With eight hours notice, I packed my bags and spent the next year in Camp Victory, Kuwait and Balad, Iraq. It was one of the most changing and proud experiences of my life.
Upon return, I hopped back into college seeking a degree in Psychology to help those effected by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It soon changed to a degree in Political Science following a very inspirational class taught by my favorite professor. The pursuit remains the same to this day with a minor in History. The completion of my degree will be postponed once again because of an upcoming second voluntary tour in Iraq or Afghanistan.
I am currently married and live in Northern Kentucky attending Northern Kentucky University. Pride is all I have for my unit, 320th Postal Company in which I am a staff sergeant. When my bachelor's in P.S. is finished, I am hoping to receive a Master's in the same from the University of Cincinnati. My ambitions are set high. Following schooling, I am entering active duty as a commissioned officer, hopefully in the infantry branch - leading, traveling, and fighting.
For nearly a year, I have been writing mini-columns and editorials at my blog. It is my goal to convince others on the left that personal responsibility, small government, low taxes, and occasional war are needed to keep this nation in the traditional vision of our founders and protect our nation against further attacks. But, I'm just a simple man with a giant vision.
Posted by Rich Vos at December 30, 2005 08:35 AM
Copyright © 2007 by author. May not be copied, published, or otherwise used (except for brief quotes) without express permission of author. Articles published with permission by Pardon My English.
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Simple, very simple.
Guess we have to agree.
Posted by Um Yeah ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.pardonmyenglish.com//nav-commenters.gif)
at December 30, 2005 02:01 PM
>>It is my goal to convince others on the left that personal responsibility, small government, low taxes, and occasional war are needed to keep this nation in the traditional vision of our founders and protect our nation against further attacks.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but you're not the first person to be "on point" from the conservative perspective.
We've heard the arguments before. They're full of shit.
Posted by mattk at December 30, 2005 03:01 PM
Rich:
Thank you for your service, Soldier on. Mattk is a bottom feeder and scum is , well, scum.
Bill
11B40 along time ago.
Posted by Little Bill at December 30, 2005 04:08 PM
>>Mattk is a bottom feeder and scum is , well, scum.
Say whatever you like knuckledragger. However you and yours are the ones who have been misleading and lying to this country for years now.
Posted by Um Yeah at December 30, 2005 09:23 PM
"I did not have sexual relations with that woman..."
Posted by BornRed at December 30, 2005 09:57 PM
Wow. Still cannot let go eh?
Spit Clintons cock out of your mouth and try again.
Posted by Um Yeah at December 30, 2005 10:08 PM
And, as always, Ummy proves Li'l Bill's point.
Posted by BornRed at December 30, 2005 11:04 PM
Tiny HAD a point dickhead?
Posted by Um Yeah at December 30, 2005 11:11 PM
personal responsibility, small government, low taxes, and occasional war
Record-breaking deficits, record-breaking trade imbalance, record-breaking growth of the Federal Government, never-ending war (promised and delivered), the breaking down of our Constitutionally-guaranteed civil liberties in the name of liberty, and fake tax rebates whose cost gets tacked right on to the national debt (where they'll grow up to become real taxes, doubled thanks to interest.) Bwah-hahahaha! So funny that it hurts. Badly.
How can Republicans claim to be for any of these goals, when they've so thoroughly screwed the pooch? Please explain.
Posted by plausible_deniability at December 31, 2005 03:36 AM
whatever you libs think about what Rich has said here, you could at the very least thank him for his service. Is that not what you would say to your friends that may have served? Rich, thank you very much for being there, and especially for planning on returning.
Posted by Lisa at January 2, 2006 10:01 AM
>>Is that not what you would say to your friends that may have served?
Not if they're presenting it as evidence as to why we should listen to their political views.
Posted by mattk at January 2, 2006 02:56 PM
you got that from his comments? You should listen to him because he has served? Wow. I got that he was just introducing himself to us. Telling us about himself. Are you paranoid, or have a guilty conscience or something?
Posted by Lisa at January 2, 2006 05:06 PM
Welcome Rich, expect alot of this every time you post.
What Bill said. Ummy is usually amusing with his tenacious, abrasive buffoonery. Mutt is just useless - a shallow, self-satisfied imbecile. Everything he's ever posted is just a waste of bandwith.
Thank you for your service - some of us here actually appreciate our country.
Posted by Radical Redneck at January 2, 2006 09:36 PM
>>some of us here actually appreciate our country.
Yes, and we voted for Kerry.
Posted by Um Yeah at January 2, 2006 10:39 PM
>>You should listen to him because he has served?
We bring up his idiocy you bring up his service.
You mean you werent trying to say that we should be nice to the dunce?
Posted by Um Yeah at January 2, 2006 10:41 PM
I was responding to mattks' stating that he believed that Rich was saying that we should listen to his views because he had served, which he wasn't. If you mean that saying THANKS to him is "being nice", then YES. P.S. The quote marks are because I just quoted you.
Posted by Lisa at January 3, 2006 03:14 PM
strike that, you didn't say "being nice", you just said "be nice". My mistake.
Posted by Lisa at January 3, 2006 03:16 PM
I dont very muich feel like being nice.
He is another right wing talking point spewing bobblehead with delusions of adequacy.
As if we need ANOTHER one here.
Posted by Um Yeah at January 3, 2006 09:40 PM
As if we need ANOTHER one here.
Talk about delusional. Like you have ANY say over what goes here.
Keep nipping at the big boys' ankles little chihuahua
Posted by Radical Redneck at January 4, 2006 12:45 AM
>>Like you have ANY say over what goes here.
Never said I did.
It is not as if you guys would ever listen to reason anyway.
Posted by Um Yeah at January 4, 2006 12:50 AM
Don't feel like being nice,huh? WHEN do you EVER. So Rich Vos is a "spewing bobblehead with delusions of adequacy"? What in the name of God does that make YOU? Mr. Bobblehead keeps you safe. Yes, even the ungrateful, ignorant, and hateful are beneficiaries of our wonderful military. For your information,"HERE" is a CONSERVATIVE blog-site. If you don't want to listen to that view-point, nobody is making you. Go elsewhere, fly away and be happy!
Posted by Lisa at January 4, 2006 09:41 AM
>>>What in the name of God does that make YOU?
Smarter than you guys.
Always was, always will be.
You can go ahead and sit there in your ignorance and your lies but its not going to make anything better.
Posted by Um Yeah at January 4, 2006 12:15 PM
fly away and be free.
Posted by Lisa at January 4, 2006 04:13 PM
>>fly away and be free.
And leave you guys to lie to each other and remain ignorant?
Posted by Um Yeah at January 5, 2006 02:28 AM
I am very sorry to break this to you Um, but, I think I can unequivocally state that you have NEVER changed any of our minds on an issue where we differ. So you can go with a clear conscience. Fly, fly!! Crawling and/or slithering is o.k. too.
Posted by Lisa at January 5, 2006 10:20 AM
>>I think I can unequivocally state that you have NEVER changed any of our minds on an issue where we differ.
Oh I believe you, no amount of facts or knowledge will change your ignorant fictional worldview.
Posted by Um Yeah at January 5, 2006 11:56 AM
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