Veterans' Day

Joe Biden said something in the vice-presidential debate that I though was very interesting and it wasn’t a political attack or a policy statement. Here is the excerpt:

I have never since that moment in my first year questioned the motive of another member of the Congress or Senate with whom I’ve disagreed. I’ve questioned their judgment.

On this day above all others, what he said rings true to me. I think that the thing that’s taken the hardest beating and that’s been the most excommunicated from Washington politics is the respect for other peoples’ motives. Certainly that is no more important today than any other day, but it is certainly more poignant. We all can and should have a uniform respect for our veterans’ and soldiers’ service, regardless of our party affiliations and political views.
I think this is historically the essence of American patriotism; the idea that differing opinions are not the same as conflicting motives. Now, more than ever, I am proud to be an American.