Real American people

If you want to understand why people running for national political office are often so concerned with the opinions of "middle-class" America, go see, talk or otherwise interact with parents and family members of young men and women undergoing basic training at any military installation. These are simple folks, mostly middle class, wearing a mix of city, town and rural clothing, with accents ranging from deep south, to midwest, to upper New England. The thing they all have in common is the fact that a loved one is about to graduate from basic training and enter the force, many soon going in harms way to Iraq or Afghanistan…all with excitement, anticipation and a willingness of one wanting to use the skills they have just been taught, in defense of freedom wherever they are needed. Many parents are veterans themselves, and one can easily recognize pride in their eyes as they follow alongside their son or daughter, dressed in Army green uniform, serving as a "guide" of the installation, all the while talking in quick sentences such as "this is where we did this, and that's where we did that." I sat today in the back of the Army Engineer Regimental Store, located in Fort Leonard Wood's museum complex, watching customers come and go, listening to them interact with the store manager processing purchases one-by-one, while answering questions, and asking his own: "Where did you folks come from?" "I bet you are proud of this fine young man here" And so it went. In less than a couple of minutes, the store manager, mom, dad, aunts, uncles, brothers sisters, cousins and the center of attention (the one wearing the clean and nicely pressed uniform) were carrying on and telling all sorts of stories. Given that the store manager is a retired Army command sergeant major, one can appreciate why it's so easy for him to interact with Soldiers and their families…he's been doing that for a long time, and he's great in that regard. Those I saw today in the store talking to the manager are relatives and close friends of men and women, who made a decision to volunteer to serve their country. From what I heard today, each could not wait to come and celebrate the graduation of their loved one. Proud to be an American? You bet. These are real people who in my view are at the absolute heart of our country.