I’m not sure if you realize it but even as I write this there is an ongoing brutal battle over who is THE real hero.  Every age needs heroes. There are plenty enough to go around if you look at the military archives and see how many have died in uniform. The present battle over who looked more authentic in uniform during the Viet-Nam War is between one veteran of actual battle and the other a state-side trainee for duty in a National Guard Air-force group whose record is blemished but whitewashed by a host of self-serving needy people who benefit when the lesser hero was Appointed President by the Supreme Court of the United States.

This should be a no-brainer and no contest – Kerry is clearly the winner. But-

I personally do not think the almost two years I served in the Army during and following World War II made me into a hero or qualified me to seek votes that would elevate me to the leadership of this country.  I personally do not think Mr. G.W. Bush had any military qualifications greater than mine. His “service” was to avoid the shooting war. I think that Mr. Kerry should not have to prove over and over that he was, indeed, the recipient of real medals for behavior that marked him as one of the heroes who came back with enemy metal in his body that is still there today.  This is a brutal battle being fought by a well-oiled machine to denigrate a hero while saying nothing that can expunge the record of a flawed front runner who will accept accolades and the nomination as the Republican candidate for Presidency in New York in a few days. The Bush surrogates are not defending Bush. They attack Kerry.

There is a story on the editorial page of the NY Times this morning about how just survival as a mixed White and Black American citizen born here on U.S. territory and eligible to be elected President, has warmed the hearts of his relatives and “people” back in his Black African Grandmother’s home in East Africa. Mr. Barack (meaning blessed) Obama is a hero to many who, without looking at a picture of him, heard his speech at the Democratic Convention earlier this year. He elevated himself to that position because of the intelligence and balance of his words meant to unite and not divide America.  Our country is yet again divided. He could do this because he is authentic. Mr. Bush, who rode to victory by claiming he was a uniter not a divider, has proven himself to be a non-hero. Mr. Bush’s supporters have been separated out from thinking Americans to become blind followers of a selfish and backward looking philosophy expressed by his surrogates who constitute the war party – because Mr. Bush does not shrink from claiming he IS the War President.

There is a difference among heroes.  Some backing a “hero” will never convince us that they are genuine but they are causing tremendous damage by besmirching the credentials, history and presence of the real deal. What about the record of each between the time of service and now? This is still a no-brainer and there is no contest. Kerry is clearly the better choice.