Originally Posted by
acl65pilot
See Carl, many issues cannot be decided by politics because 100,000 lives are directly affected by what the MEC decides. That does not mean small bites to make sure you never get fat, but it means that you don't errantly waive your gun because it makes you feel good. It means that even if you politically would vote one way, that responsibility to whom your represent goes beyond your personal politics when you see a real issue. Like it, love it, or hate it, that is what leading means to me.
Col. Jessep: Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinburg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to.