By: Keith Kappes
Columnist
Carter County Times
I’ve always considered myself a patriot who is incredibly grateful for the privilege of being a citizen of these United States of America.
In the 65 years since I turned 18, I have never missed voting in local, state and national elections. That is why I am ashamed of certain national leaders who today continue efforts to suppress voting in minority communities and to gerrymander voting boundaries.
I proudly wore the uniform of my country during more than 22 years of service in the Kentucky Army National Guard. But my military pride suffers these days when I see senior military leaders who are black or female have their careers ended without explanation.
As a father of eight and grandfather of 19, I mourn for the families of those 165 school girls who died when our nation mistakenly attacked their school on the opening day of our illegal war against Iran.
I always display my American flag on Independence Day and other appropriate holidays or tribute periods. But I was a day late hanging it up this year because I grieved for those 100 Venezuelan immigrants who were deported and then died when an earthquake leveled the hotel housing them as prisoners.
As someone who has visited and admired Washington, DC, many times, it saddens me to see how historic buildings and monuments are being either demolished or defaced while thugs disguised as ICE agents roam the streets and arrest suspicious looking persons like nuns walking to Mass.
I consider my work as a reporter for the Associated Press to be my career apex so I take personal offense when public officials demean the press or try to restrict access to legitimate reporters from the AP and other media outlets.
Without doubt, my greatest disappointment is what I consider the atmosphere of corruption in Washington that is enabling the super-rich to get even richer through crypto trading, easing of environmental protections, and acceptance of questionable gifts in what appears to be a highly effective way of monetizing their government service.
Folks, today’s shameful approach is light years away from President Harry S. Truman driving his personal car home to Missouri when he and Bess left the White House in 1953. His meager Army pension as a World War I vet was his principal income until Congress created presidential pensions in 1958.
Contact Keith at keithkappes@gmail.com.
