The Cambridge scouts earned some money in an unexpected fundraiser and at first they thought about spending it on trips to Water Country, Six Flags, white water rafting or skiing. But then the discussion turned toward a service project — collecting donations for the troops at the polling sites on Election Day. The adults were somewhat amazed to the fact that these kids were choosing to spend the money on others when they could very easily just go on a fun trip.
But on Election Day, Marsha Weinerman, executive director of the Election Commission, removed the boxes from all the polling stations because one woman, a poll worker who does not deserve to be named, complained it was a political statement.
Marsha Weinerman, executive director of the Election Commission, refused to talk to local Fox 2 about her decision.
Now, after the scouts got approval from the Election Commission twice, made 25,000 flyers and distributed them, e-mailed everyone they knew, putting up flyers in city buildings, schools, libaries and local businesses and distributed boxes the day before the election, the youths’ work — not to mention over $1,500 in advertising and materials — were all for naught.
I always thought that supporting our troops included supporting their mission, but I'll accept liberal bleating about supporting the troops and not the war -- when they actually do. Stories like this prove over and over again that they don't support our troops. Not even a little bit.
Blackfive has a good idea:
The Boy Scouts in this case should get not only an apology (the effort having been approved twice by the appropriate commission), but I further feel that Marsha Weinerman should personally, repeat, personally, repay the Scouts the roughly $1,500.00 they spent on the effort to support the troops. Never happen, just following orders I'm sure, but I can dream.
What's interesting is how sending supplies and comforts from home to our soldiers is now suddenly political. Why? OK, you don't support the war. But why do you care if a Boy Scout Troop wants to send our men and women fighting overseas supplies? I will never understand these people who have such a festering hatred for the very heroes who keep us safe that they want to keep them from getting supplies that can make their time overseas a little bit easier. Even more importantly, it reminds them that we still support them over here. Sadly, these boys were just taught a cruel lesson. They wanted to do something kind for other people, people who deserve such kindness, went to incredible efforts to do so, and were shot down because of some idiots politicizing something that doesn't need to be politicized. We should all support our troops. They are the ones sacrificing, for this country's entire proud history, for our freedoms. Though they often don't ask for it, we should be thanking them every day. Hats off to the Boy Scouts for at least trying.
For what it's worth, the Election Commission Director, Marsha Weinerman, is now saying that the troop never got permission to collect for the troops.
Here's a suggestion, both for the Scouts and anyone else wanting to help out our troops: adopt a soldier. There are several great organizations you can work through. Your commitment is usually minimal -- send letters and occasional care packages -- but as someone who has adopted soldiers before, I can tell you that this lifts their spirits more than you know. You may be able to become acquainted with some extraordinary people, like one of my former soldiers, Ted Janicki, who recently returned from Afghanistan. Here are some of his writings to me about his work in Afghanistan and the appreciation his unit felt for Any Soldier:
26 Jan 2007, 11:58 am
I got your box today. Thank you. The food was all snached up in a matter of minutes.
26 Jan 2007, 3:41 am
Trust me - your notes are enough. I am just glad to see that we have some youth in our nation that are solid human beings. People that go out of their way for others. People that support the troops that are doing things not in the immediate vacinity. People usual only support the things that are directly related to them. Something that is more tangible. We could easily be forgotten over here. I am proud to see someone like you that I feel can be our future leaders. We are doing this for individuals like you.
04 Jan 2007
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. Thank you for all the support during this holiday season. It truely aided us through this difficult time away from our loved ones.
14 Dec 2006
There is no doubt that security continues to be a major challenge. Remnants of the former Taliban regime and elements of al-Qaeda continue to try to derail progress throughout the country. But just five years ago, there was no formalized rule of law; there was no respected national army; there was no national police force. The nation had been wracked by war for nearly 30 years -- and was a pariah from the international community. Only three states were willing to accord the government diplomatic recognition -- and there was little order within Afghanistan. The Taliban harbored and supported al-Qaeda, the world's most deadly terrorist organization.
While it has become fashionable in some circles to call Afghanistan a forgotten war, or to say the United States has lost its focus, the facts belie the myths. To be sure, no one doubts that great obstacles still exist; the recent up-tick in violence reiterates that the enemies of a stable, peaceful Afghanistan remain persistent and motivated.
Even so, the Afghan people -- with strong support from free nations across the globe -- are building a future they can be proud of: secure and prosperous at home, and respected abroad.
06 Dec 2006
In today's age, there is often a tendency to measure progress against an unrealizable ideal, to expect development to occur in a vaccuum that does not factor in preexisting conditions. It is hard to comprehend how destitute Afghanistan was in 2001, and how much progress has been made since. Afghanistan was one of the poorest nations in the world with little infrastructure; it was ruled by a vicious totalitarian regime; drought had decimated agricultural mainstays; the economy was a shambles; and decades of war had left it a broken, lawless nation.
02 Nov 2006
There was nothing easy about the two months of training we went through in preparation for our Afghanistan deployment. Blood, sweat, and tears were the norm. The high school attitude kept creeping back into my head: Why am I learning this stuff? I'll never use it in my lifetime. Now that we are in Afghanistan, I wouldn't have traded one second of that training, which is put to use on a daily basis. On one specific day, it made a real difference.
I recommend anyone looking for a way to help out our troops visit one of the following websites:
It's a great, easy way to support our heroes serving overseas without any politicizing from the likes of Marsha Weinerman, who can't understand that supporting our troops is something we should all be doing.
Hat Tip: Gateway Pundit
For video, see Stop the ACLU
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