An open letter to Senator John Kerry

Wow, dude, just wow.

I’m not sure, sir, whether it was a verbal gaffe on a pre-written speech or an off-the-cuff remark that you fumbled, but no matter what, you made an idiot out of yourself. You said this to a crowd while campaigning for gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides: “You know, education, if you make the most of it, if you study hard and you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, uh, you, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.”

Yes, Mr. Kerry: The soldiers in Iraq are poor, dumb and misguided sheep awaiting the guidance of the intelligentsia of America in order to do what’s right. That isn’t the first time I’ve heard such a remark from the fringe elements of your party, which is why I wouldn’t put it past you to say such a thing and mean it.

Well, it’s obvious to me you haven’t done your research. If you would take the time to review the statistics, kindly provided by the Department of Defense’s annual population survey, you would know several interesting facts: The average enlisted American soldier is more likely to have finished high school or obtain a GED than a civilian. In fact, about 99 percent of soldiers carry that credential, whereas less than 90 percent of the American public has done so much.

Let us progress further, Mr. Kerry. These same government statistics show that about 10 percent of these enlisted soldiers have some college time, compared with about half of Americans. Well, that must be proof that the military is composed of slightly above average citizens, but they’re not as smart as us college folk! Wrong. Let’s examine the education of commissioned officers in our military: a staggering 95 percent of our military’s leadership has at least a bachelor’s degree – more than a third have advanced degrees. Less than a third of our national population has a four-year degree.

It is also to be noted that a disproportionate number of recruits come from the more rural Western and Southern parts of our nation: Mr. Kerry, given the smaller number of educational opportunities that exist in these areas, it seems that recruits are joining the military to enhance their opportunity, not in spite of it. My own family was able to leave its small, poor New England town and is better for it because of my father’s choice to enlist.

Of course, it must be noted that you served in the Vietnam War. That’s admirable. However, you then came back and threw your medals away in opposition to the war. Later then, you accused your fellow soldiers of war crimes, to the point where other prominent veterans accused you of giving aid and comfort to the enemy during this period. It seems pretty clear on how you feel about the troops, sir. You’re a better man than they are, according to your actions and words. Or so you would like to think.

Allow me then, to conclude this open letter, senator. On the behalf of my father, and his father before him, both soldiers – on the behalf of my Delta Chi brothers and other fellow students who serve overseas while working on their educations – on the behalf of every veteran who has served this nation with honor and integrity, I’d like to say:

Mr. Kerry, go jump off a bridge, you elitist jerk.

Editor’s Note: Kerry has since apologized for his “botched joke” on Wednesday’s Imus radio show.

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