I recently learned I am no longer a patriotic disabled veteran, but rather have been relegated to the “basket of deplorables.” I am irredeemable, un-American, racist, sexist, xenophobic, homophobic and Islamophobic.
I have been so categorized, along with the majority of military, veterans, border guards, police and other first responders, as well as millions of hard-working Americans from all walks of life, so I submit that I am in good company. This dismissive comment on my patriotism has come from Hillary Clinton, a person who lies about everything it seems — from bravely ducking non-existent sniper fire, to the cause of the Benghazi massacre, to the reason for using private email, cellphones and tablets. The latter devices were not only used to conduct official unclassified business, but to accept and/or transmit highly classified (albeit unmarked) information. This is from a person who signed and swore to zealously and carefully protect such documents and if unmarked to appropriately mark such as well, under pain of prosecution. (I signed such a document after also receiving a lengthy briefing. You don’t need a law degree to understand clearly what you are signing.)
This insult to my patriotism and my character is from a person who has used public office and contacts to go from “flat broke” to receiving over $100 million dollars under what appear to be highly questionable circumstances.
I will remain in that “basket of deplorables” as I go to vote for a candidate whose purpose is to unite all Americans, and not be divisive by dismissing those who are not in lock-step agreement regarding plans for economic growth, job creation, foreign policies and homeland security.
While that speech was divisive and dismissive at the national level, we recently had one of our Assembly members accuse a person who questioned the wisdom and value of the Assembly vote to slash the senior citizen sales tax exemption as being “divisive.” The principal presumed justification for the epithet of being “divisive” was that the majority of the Assembly voted for it. I would remind that Assembly member that the First Amendment of the Constitution guarantees free speech, and using a “My Turn” to be disdainful of someone who disagrees with you, and thus attempt to suppress such free speech, is what itself is inherently divisive.
May God bless America, and the ideals as delineated in the Constitution.
• Jack Cadigan is a Juneau resident and a retired veteran with over 30 years of active duty.
