After The Debate: The Case For Obama (the Marine Corps) and a Culture of Brotherhood

Before my son John joined the Marines I would have laughed at the idea that I -- a life long Republican, white, middle aged "I Want!" kind of selfish guy -- would become a loyal Obama supporter. I would also have thought that Senator Clinton's attacks on Obama (in the PA debate), were just inevitable business as usual, not a gross exercise in immorality...

Before I became connected to my country in a new and deeper way through my son's service, I would have dismissed Senator Obama's eloquent call for us to grow beyond our Red State/Blue State divisions as "just words..."

Before my son proved me wrong I would have doubted that he would be susceptible to hearing a "higher call" and wanting to, "be part of something bigger than myself..." and I never would have predicted that Obama could move so many millions of "apathetic" young people my son's age to involve themselves in politics.

My journey from cynicism to the Obama camp had an unlikely beginning. It began in 1999, when a barrel-chested Marine recruiter showed up in dress blues and bedazzled my son. I did not stand in the way. John was headstrong, and he seemed to understand these stern, clean men with straight backs and flawless uniforms. I did not. I live on the Volvo-driving, higher education-worshipping North Shore of Boston. I write novels for a living. I have never served in the military.

It had been hard enough sending my two older children off to Georgetown and New York University. John's enlisting was unexpected, so deeply unsettling. I was a "pro-military" Republican, but not with my kid! Right?

Besides, I was a snob. I didn't relish the prospect of answering the question, "So where is John going to college?" from the parents who were itching to tell me all about how their son or daughter was going to Harvard. "But aren't the Marines terribly Southern?" asked one perplexed blue blood while standing next to me at the brunch following graduation. "What a waste, he was such a good student," said another parent. One dad (a history professor at Brown), spoke up at a school meeting denounced my son's choice and suggested that the school should "carefully evaluate what went wrong in this case."

When John graduated from three months of boot camp on Parris Island, 3,000 or so parents and friends were on the parade deck stands. We parents and our Marines were not only of many races but were representative of many economic classes as well. Many were poor. Some arrived crammed in the backs of pickups, others by bus. John told me that a lot of parents could not afford the trip.

We parents were white and Native American. We were Hispanic, Arab and African American and Asian. We were former Marines wearing the scars of battle, or at least baseball caps emblazoned with battles' names. We were Southern whites from Nashville and skinheads from New Jersey and black kids from Cleveland wearing ghetto rags, and big white ex-cons with ham-hock forearms defaced by jailhouse tattoos.

We would not have been mistaken for the educated and well-heeled parents gathered on the lawns of John's private school a half-year before. And no one there thought that service and idealism are so foolish that "What went wrong?" is the "answer" to someone who wants to serve. No one was saying that the drill instructors were using "just words" when they spoke of brotherhood, honor and service.

After graduation one new Marine told John, "Before I was a Marine, if I had ever seen you on my block I would've probably killed you just because you were standing there." This was a serious statement from one of John's good friends, an African American ex-gang member from Detroit who, as John said, "would die for me now, just like I'd die for him."

Six years later, when I was researching my novel Baby Jack (about the Marines) I had the privilege of being given free rein on Parris Island's Marine Recruit Training Depot. This time I was there as a writer, not a parent standing on the parade deck stands.

I went "lights to lights" (as they call the dawn to dusk days of intense training) with various platoons of recruits at various stages of their training. I watched as terrified young recruits were transformed into confident Marines. I watched as dedicated to drill instructors fought against their fatigue to lead "from the front" and teach by example. I stood there in awe and I felt the last traces of my cynicism melt away.

Words such as patriotism, honor and service suddenly felt as if they had a real meaning. On Parris Island those words were not political catch phrases being manipulated to get votes but simple rules to live by. And those same values motivated the young Marines who went into combat at my son's side to care for him as if he was their brother.

What I see in Senator Obama is someone who manages to articulate -- and more importantly sincerely believes in and practices -- the brotherhood of selfless service and the unity of the American family. What I sense in Obama is the same moral ethic I saw in those drill instructors.

I also see a Marine-like level of discipline in Obama, as when, for instance, he refused to be drawn into Senator Clinton's nasty web of insinuation during the April 16 debate in Pennsylvania. Obama could have opened a Pandora's Box of scorched-earth counter attack--Clinton's association with communists in her youth, her 108 million and where she got it, her husband's association with dictators as a for profit "consultant"... on and on. But Obama didn't go there.

Obama answered Clinton's insinuation (that he is guilty-by-association and because of people he knew, or talked to or met, or heard of...) but refused to be drawn into the pissing contest that she was trying to start--with a big assist from the insanely petty moderators. Obama was calm under fire to a degree that was truly extraordinary.

Obama's idealism, and articulate calm inspires young men and women to join in his campaign for the same reason the Marine Corps inspires recruits: Obama (like the Marines) calls us to be part of something bigger than "me" and offers a purpose in life that adds up to more than just one more consumer choice -- just another "I want."

Obama and the Marine Corps' moral ethic is: I AM my brother's keeper. And against all odds this USMC/Obama ethic is now resonating with millions of Americans, particularly young Americans who are thronging the Obama "movement." We should rejoice. We should be grateful for a man who has broken the chains of cynicism.

John is back from war and out of the Marines. But he connected me to my diverse country in a way that has stuck. I was too selfish and insular (too typically white, Republican and affluent!) to experience this connection before. But somehow his idealism rekindled mine. John's service opened my heart so that I could hear Obama call all Americans to the sort of change and dedication my son found.

We have a choice in this election between the old cynicism and a new hope, between the mentality that meets calls for idealism with a knowing sneer, a "what went wrong?" or "it's only words" or "but what about your pastor's inflammatory remarks?" -- or the spirit I found on Parris Island and that resonates in Obama's speeches and his life of service to community, not to mention his self-control when under even the most unfair attacks.

We can listen to Obama and work with him. Or we can miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance and follow Hilary Clinton into the swamp of power for power's sake, connection for profit (108 million of profit!) and business as usual.

The choice between Obama and his opponents is clear. Hillary Clinton is a poster child for the grasping selfish America of the main chance. Her words say one thing, her 108 million dollar fortune -- earned by cashing in on the Clinton's connections--says something else. She and her husband have abused the trust the American people put in them. They talk service. What they do is greed and power at any cost, even at the cost of trashing Obama and risking our ability to change course.

The spirit that the Clinton's actions represent could not be further from that of the underpaid overworked drill instructors on Parris Island. And it couldn't be farther from the 20 years of community service Obama has lived. So the Clinton's are reduced to trying to distract us by a smear-by-association tactic: who Obama knows, or met or once talked to or went to church with...

John McCain has also sold his soul for his presidential ambition. He supports a war he knows is wrong and that he and Clinton voted for. He has curried favor with the Religious Right that he once rightly denounced as "agents of intolerance." He too wants to fight a war and lower taxes at the same time. McCain lacks the ethic of truth telling.

Inspiration is what Obama offers. A true and good life backs up his words. The presidency is a symbolic position as well as a powerful one. The nation's leader must be able to inspire. Obama does that. His life and words match. And his ability to draw all those young people to him is what leadership -- in the Oval Office or on the parade deck at Parris Island -- is. Obama is worth fighting for.

Frank Schaeffer is a writer and author of "KEEPING FAITH-A Father-Son Story About Love and the United States Marine Corps" and, "CRAZY FOR GOD-How I Grew Up As One Of The Elect, Helped Found The Religious Right, And Lived To Take All (Or Almost All) Of It Back"

Follow Frank Schaeffer on Twitter: www.twitter.com/frank_schaeffer

Comments

[rinpochet]

Thank you for such a thoughtful article. Supporting your son in his decision had to be difficult. I know as a parent, how difficult it is to support when you want your children to go in another direction. You sound like a good parent.

I agree with every word that you wrote. Obama has shown courage by absorbing the shots and not giving them back. The easiest thing is to fight back with similar ugly words. The hardest is restraint.

I am proud to call myself a contributor and supporter to his campaign.

With Obama leading us, we can turn this country around. I can't wait for it to begin!

[ATruthBeKnown]

Frank,

I compliment you on seeing the Marine-Obama connection. It is rooted in commitment and sacrifice albeit in different ways. None the less it is a powerful but important one.

Barack could have (on reflection maybe he should have) left school and gone directly to Wall Street and got that posh "elitist" job. Fortunately for us he chose community service, teaching, and politics. The politics being the most risky of the three, given his proclamations regarding DC politics. His commitment to change is the foundation this country was built on. This has put a lot of the "status quo" on notice. I have not seen this since JFK or MLK. John said we could get to the moon. We got there. Martin said we all (America) could free ...freer than we ever have been.. We are still on our way.

Barack has pointed to the wedge issues that have keep all of us divided. He has pointed to the agents who have profited from this division. Ya see, the Marines know that their life depends on getting past division and working as a team .... a unit .... like a United States of America. We as Americans need to heed this calling to "be a team...a United States of America". It is the way WE can change this mess. The life of this country depends on it.

Thank you for sharing this fine work. I shall surely pass it on.

[PumaJ]

Your story has greatly moved me. Thank you for sharing it.

[klondiker]

I always cringe at the word "brotherhood" - not very inclusive. It makes me think that good communities are necessarily built around men.

[CalGoldenBear]

In Shakespeare's "Henry V," the king addressed his weary, outnumbered army on the eve of St. Crispin's day and the battle of Agincourt (1415):

"This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered --
We few, we happy few, we BAND OF BROTHERS;
For he to-day who sheds his blood with me
Shall be my BROTHER; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And holds their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us on Saint Crispin's day.

And while Henry and his nobles were "to the manor born," the bulk of his army was made up of private men, including the famous English and Welsh archers, looking to perhaps capture a French knight who could be ransomed, and thereby enrich and advance themselves back in England.

[December7]

Does anyone have any historical data, a precedence where a politician in this country who ever left their church because of what their pastor/priest said/did?

[Daly]

You need look no futher than today... Pope B came and met with some of the children now adults that were abused by the CC; after all that pain these folks still have a deep rooted need to belong to the church family. If after all the pain that these folks and their familys have endured they still have that stronge pull to the Church, you have to think that they see something more than the few bad priest.

Now, I am guessling that you are slanting your query to Wright? He too deserves forgiveness if for nothing more than protecting his admendment of free speech of if you cannot embrace that concept how about the fact that he has proved through military service in two different branches during war time this shows a love for country that only few have dared to embrace.

[tangolopez]

I do not know how to, but I think you should send your post to both Chris Matthews and Chuck Todd. They have discript Obama's restraint in hitting Hillary as lack luster and weak, even bad performance. I think he acted very presidential. I am in my 50 and a woman and I dislike Hillary mucho.

[23000Days]

I hope Olbermann gets this.

[under]

I've read every one of your posts in recent months and not just because I'm an Obama supporter. You are a deeply thoughtful, great writer. It does me good every time to read your stuff. It honestly gives me that same feeling I get from Obama--hope.

Thank You Mr. Schaeffer.

[TinaFreeman]

Thank you

[atomicprince]

Thank you Sir:

I always read your piece. It makes my day or evening or night sometime. I am glad there are enough people in our country to understand true patriotism.

[UpstateSC]

Thanks for sharing! Bless your son for his service to this country.

[1will]

I have just a few points. The first is your neighbors are correct. The Marine Corps is mostly Southern. In fact the entire armed forces is over represented by Southerners. We have a higher sense of duty then those in the North.
Even if you were a bit of a snob you were still better than the Code Pink flakes protesting in San Francisco, those banning Marine recruiters from college campuses and job fairs and the rest of the liberals who "Support The Troops" yet think they are all stupid, psycho or baby killers.
Comparing Obama to Marines is a bit of a stretch. Marines are willing to fight and possibly die for this country. Obama is just a politician. He's smooth and well spoken. He doesn't have a long enough history in politics to have many skeletons in his closet but in the end he's just a politician. There is nothing to suggest he'll unite anyone. If his views are different from others is he going to cross over and take his oponents position or just call for unity? I guess as long as you'll change YOUR mind and agree with Obama then he'll unite us. In the end though he is just another politician and not worthy of any comparision to Marines.

[atomicprince]

Are you a Marine? If not then you have no rights to say anything. And you are saying most of the marines are from south?

Get a life dude.

[December7]

"Marines are willing to fight and possibly die for this country". Rev Wright was a marine for 7 years in between college years, how can a fellow like George ask if "Rev Wright loves America" What does George know about loving America"

[CalGoldenBear]

December 7:

Overall, you're correct that Rev. Jeremiah Wright voluntarily served (and honorably so) in the U.S. military.

However, he was BOTH a Marine and a Navy corpsman for a 6-year period.

Jeremiah Wright was in college when, inspired by JFK's "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country," he answered the clarion call of service.

He gave up his student deferment (probably what was then a "I-S" deferment), and joined the Marines in 1961. After two years as a Marine, he transferred to the Navy and went to Navy Corpsman School. Upon graduation, he was stationed in MD, and was part of the medical team that looked after LBJ after his 1966 surgery. Wright finally left military service in 1967 and went back to college.

Rev. Wright was born in 1941, the first U.S. unit (a Marine battalion) landed in Vietnam in the spring of 1965, and war (and the draft ) didn't get really hot until 1967-68. By that time, had Wright stayed in college, he probably would have been considered too old for the draft by his draft board.

So Rev. Wright should be applauded for having been a "true volunteer," not one motivated by the draft board breathing down his neck. (Compare that to The Shrub, who hid out in the TX Air National Guard, and Dick Cheney, who took advantage of five deferments).

[klmebane]

im a "northerner" and a former marine. all i can say to frank schaeffer is ooh-fuckin-rah. his post was thoughtful and right on. military service has more to do with economic status than north/south. the majority of enlisted persons enlist because they are broke and need a job with benefits. i knew very few people who joined up simply to "serve their country". they joined for the college money, or the guaranteed paycheck and medical benefits, or to see the world. that sense of duty doesn't really affect you until after boot camp. there are those who join because they want to serve, or because it is in their family so they feel it is expected. but, especially for those who joined b4 9/11, it had more to do with the necessity to survive and provide for their families than anything else.

[meltingpot101]

Tonight on Keith Oberhman he did a piece about a soldier who was serving in Iraq along with his two younger brothers. His brothers were both killed, he was sent home to ensure his family would not suffer anymore losses. I can't imagine how he must have felt or how his parents endure. The surviving soldier's wife was pregnant. In turn for his service to this country our government canceled his health insurance. They compinsated them by offering his pregnant wife prenatal care at the closest Air Force base, 45 miles. Apparently his was given a $6,000 signing bonus that the government requested to be returned. Aultimately he didn't have to pay that money back but our government shamelessly asked.

I was outraged and sad all at the same time. This should not happen in our country. That is why it takes great courage to enlist to serve your country, this is why it takes great courage as a parent to support your child. I applaud you Mr. Schaffer for supporting your son and the willingness to embrace his choice, and in a huge way making it your own.

Obama has faught for Veterans rights. I think he envelopes what this country needs right now. Thankfully, it seems like there are many people who feel like me.

For all of you service people my deepest of gratitude to you.

[December7]

Marines are willing to fight and possibly die for this country. - Rev Wright was a marine, why would G ask if he loves this country?

[CalGoldenBear]

If you're referring to George Stephanopoulos, it may be because he's never worn the uniform of any of the armed services (except maybe at Halloween or at a costume party).

If memory serves, some of Bill's staffers in the White House looked down on military personnel, officer and enlisted, assigned to serve there. Hil and her people may share that attitude.

Hil may claim to "know the military" by virtue of her membership on the Senate Armed Services committee since 2001. But she's kidding herself and deceiving the public. She (and Bill) don't know SQUAT about the military and what motivates the men and women who answer "the summons of the trumpet" to serve in the military.

She thinks she's so damned smart, but probably isn't bright enough to realize that Senate hearings, military briefings, and visits to military installations are largely "dog and pony shows" with the military putting on their best faces. Mr. Schaeffer (and Demi Moore) know more about the military than Hil .

When all is said and done, it's the "brotherhood of arms" or what the Aussies call "mateship" (or we'd call comradeship) that ties service members to each other.

[ksyellowdog]

I am midwestern Marine (Semper Fi), long since discharged but would still lay down my life for a fellow Marine. It is nice to see we aren't left out of your assumptions. (not). Seems like you need more education1will. I served with Marines from all over the US, and from without.

[1will]

I too served with Marines from all over the US. That doesn't change the fact that Southerners are over represented in the Armed Forces. Do a little research and look it up.

[Countess]

You have written an excellent post about how important it is for us to get beyond the garbage politics of people like Hillary Clinton and everything she represents. You understand what this has done to our culture in a very profound way and I thank you for your writing.

[Ethioqn08]

great story..Oba­ma 08!!!